“To Know Someone Gives a Sh*t”

This project looks at what art materials youth tend to gravitate to when given the choice and offers a Tool Kit for potential directives and approaches when working within this specific population in an art therapy setting. This project also underlines the importance of the relational aspect and therapeutic presence when working with adolescents who are “at risk” and discusses the benefits observed during groups I have facilitated with youth in group home settings using materials and activities outlined in the Tool Kit. I have used some of the youth’s art created during our sessions together, with their informed consent, in order to demonstrate ways in which selected art materials have been or could be used. The art examples offered in this guide were created using six art materials that I witnessed youth gravitating to, and staying engaged with. The hope for this project is that it is accessible, straightforward and relevant to non-art therapy individuals, social workers, youth workers, and youth themselves, to spark some ideas when working with this population. This list is not exhaustive and does not speak for all youth, but within the two-year practicum I completed with multiple youth programs and group home environments, these have been the top materials that youth consistently gravitated towards, when given the choice.