PAINT

Youth who have experienced trauma can find it difficult to express with words what has happened to them. Often youth can find a way to share their perspective through creative expression, the visual arts, poetry, dramatic play, music, and movement, and thereby begin the process of traumatic stress integration.

WHAT WE DO | HOW WE PAINT | RESOURCES | CONTACT

What We Do

PAINT (Psychotherapeutic Art Interventions for Navigating Trauma) is an innovative mental health initiative that seeks to contribute to reducing the negative impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences and toxic stress. This developmentally flexible approach has been offered in counseling-enriched classrooms, elementary, middle, and high schools in both Alameda and Contra Costa Counties since 2016. Our mind-body framework, anchored in the science of relationship and expression, is geared towards promoting resilience in the context of chronic and relentless stressors. Developed and overseen by Francine Ostrem, Ph.D., LMFT, LPCC, Expressive Arts Therapy Specialization, this art-based procedure has been adapted for Telehealth application.

PAINT was a 20/21 ACEs Aware Provider Grantee during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Shelter-In-Place mandates. We were able to support and inspire 55 school-based mental health providers around the state during this crisis. PAINT, in collaboration with the West Oakland Health Council and Lincoln Families Family Resource Centers is a 2022-23 recipient of an ACEs PRACTICE grant.

HOW WE PAINT

Oakland students, from pre-school through high school, have been supported through the PAINT intervention. Because the kids we work with show signs of distress--for example, worry that gets in the way of learning or sad feelings and feelings of hopelessness that interfere with a kid's natural desire to learn and grow--we offer individual and group supports. This art-based work is designed to reduce the negative impacts of Adverse Childhood Experiences and toxic stress while promoting adaptive expression of feelings and resilience.

With significant increases in youth depression and suicidality, there is no time to lose when providing mental health supports. The PAINT intervention not only provides opportunity for processing grief and loss as a result of COVID-19 related experiences. In small groups our teams are working with kids to tap into their strengths and to promote buffers. Through "The Wonder Box," for example, kids get to explore curiosity, a state of mind and skill vital for learning and joyful social interaction.