.ARTeens

Working with teens has always been special for me.

Finding ways to connect with them must be difficult for some people and parents, but when you use the right tools and strategies, the so feared “teenage years” are not so scary as everyone says.

The strategy I use is obviously ART.

Most teenagers start the sessions very shy, which is something so natural if you see it from their perspective. Imagine this, you are growing into an adult and just want to make sure you are doing everything right and have others admiring you for that. Bam! Here’s the root of the fear. Approval.

The thirst for approval can be very damaging in many ways at this age as we all know. Using art as a tool to build self confidence, to break some of their fears and as a support helping teenagers to externalize many of their internal conflicts is what I always have as a goal when im planning and during these sessions.

It always starts with very quiet teens, that self doubt every little move they are guided to do, but with a lot of encouragement and with the right Art Therapy tools applied, it always ends with a group full of excitement, confident and awe filled by what they are capable of doing.

- Natalia Thomaz