Adults

The Willow Domestic Violence Center
Kansas
  • Self-Care & Personal Growth
  • Domestic Violence
  • Self-Care & Personal Growth
We have a survivor at our shelter that has really been through so much. She has been with us for about 3 months and has lost her house to a fire, her job due to her abuser, had her children in her sister's care and other family issues. Through it all she ha…
Chicana Service Action Center
California
  • Domestic Violence
  • Domestic Violence
For many years I experienced both physical and verbal abuse by my husband, the father of my children. It was something I always hid. I felt that I was the only one who was wrong. My abuse was something that I lived every day and I was completely blind. I took …
Los Angeles Unified School District
California
  • Schools & Universities
  • Mental Health
  • Schools & Universities
In the midst of devastating wildfires in LA County, I facilitated an art workshop for staff and students in grades 1-5 to help them explore their emotions through creativity. The fires had left many students and staff grappling with fear, sadness, and uncertai…
Catalyst
California
  • Domestic Violence
  • Domestic Violence
  • Homelessness
  • Substance Abuse Recovery
Leading the workshop "Inspiration Rocks!" to introduce A Window Between Worlds to the group at the domestic violence shelter where I work just made sense. Survivors in shelter have done rock painting for far longer than my tenure at the agency. Those who jo…
Umbrella
Vermont
  • Sexual Assault
  • Child Abuse / Neglect
  • Sexual Assault
The woman I was supporting is a 56-year-old survivor of child sexual abuse that lasted a decade. Her daughter had also been sexually assaulted by the same offender. She holds a lot of guilt and shame in her heart and has difficulties forgiving herself and m…
The Nest
Kentucky
  • LGBTQIA+
  • Domestic Violence
  • LGBTQIA+
“Being a part of AWBW makes me feel supported and connected to this community of healers working to make this world a better place,” shares Patricia, an AWBW facilitator. After being trained by AWBW in early 2017, Patricia and her colleague Katie began offe…
Private Practice
Mexico
  • Facilitator Spotlights
  • Community Engagement
  • Facilitator Spotlights
  • Self-Care & Personal Growth
In this "Uplifting Voices: Facilitator Stories" video, Eva Latapi-Silva, a clinical psychologist with a private practice in Mexico tells the story of 130 women participating in AWBW's "Messages of the Heart" workshop. Through this experience, they found empowe…
Proud Mama Bears
California
  • Facilitator Spotlights
  • Advocacy
  • Community Engagement
  • Facilitator Spotlights
  • Self-Care & Personal Growth
This "Uplifting Voices: Facilitator Stories" video features Founder of Proud Mama Bears and AWBW Board Chair, Stacia Kato. In this moving video celebrating Pride Month, Stacia shares about using her training as a Windows Facilitator in her journey as the mothe…
Silent No Longer Tennessee
Tennessee
  • Community Engagement
  • Community Engagement
  • Sexual Assault
I work with adult survivors of sexual assault and use various forms of art to help them process their trauma and tell their stories. Several of my clients said they wanted to do a project for the 5th anniversary of the #metoo hashtag. I decided to do an art ex…
PAVE - People Against A Violent Environment
Wisconsin
  • Self-Care & Personal Growth
  • Domestic Violence
  • Self-Care & Personal Growth
Since it was snowing outside at the time, the group thought it would be neat to do this as a "snowflakes of thanks" activity. So we adapted on the spot and changed out supplies to do snowflakes. We all had fun with it and the kids were really excited to get…
Shepherd's Door Domestic Violence Resource Center
California
  • Domestic Violence
  • Domestic Violence
I facilitated the Brick Wall workshop for survivors of domestic violence at Shepherd’s Door. All seven women engaged fully and authentically in the workshop, each creating a unique interpretation of their brick wall symbolizing the things that protect and give…
Insight Human Services Women's Recovery Center
North Carolina
  • Substance Abuse Recovery
  • Substance Abuse Recovery
We began our art group late one day because a fight broke out between two participants just before we started. I was really worried we would have to ask one or both of the women to leave our treatment program, and for one of them, leaving the program would hav…
Safe Passage
MA
  • Domestic Violence
  • Domestic Violence
  • Homelessness
  • Immigration
  • Mental Health
I recently facilitated the "Mask of Survival" art workshop for a group of caregivers at Safe Passage, an organization that supports survivors of domestic violence.  We had five wonderful participants, all of whom shared some common life experiences: they were …
A Window Between Worlds
California
  • Domestic Violence
  • Domestic Violence
  • Grief & Loss
I have facilitated the My Traveling Story workshop many times, but one experience truly stands out. I worked for years with a woman who survived domestic violence. Violence from her partner that tragically took the lives of her unborn twin babies. At the time,…
Shepherd's Door Domestic Violence Resource Center
California
  • Domestic Violence
  • Domestic Violence
This modified story tree workshop using a floral format allowed participants (survivors of domestic violence at Shepherd’s Door) to access vulnerability while staying grounded in creativity. Participants connected deeply to the symbolism of the flower bloom…
  • Self-Care & Personal Growth
  • Mental Health
Teresa Smith of Being the Best Me and Cathy Salser of AWBW share the origins of the Butterfly Journey Wheel and invite others to create their own resource for transformation and support.  They created the Butterfly Journey Wheel together as a way to journey…
A Greater Hope
California
  • Foster Care
  • Domestic Violence
  • Foster Care
The structure of the AWBW training (online and interactive), coupled with the detailed curriculum that provides easy to follow step by step instructions any paraprofessional can follow, combined with the universally engaging nature of the workshops makes AWBW …
Just Detention International - South Africa
Gauteng Province
  • LGBTQIA+
  • Incarceration
  • LGBTQIA+
  • Sexual Assault
“Therapeutic,” “Educational,” “Healing,” “Phenomenal” and “Spiritual” are some of the words used by participants to describe JDI-SA's three-day trauma-informed art and human sexuality workshop with members of the LGBTIQ+ community, some of whom are survivors o…
Blossoms Windows
California
  • Grief & Loss
  • Grief & Loss
  • Mental Health
  • Self-Care & Personal Growth
A good friend of mine, Dougie, crossed over the Rainbow Bridge at the end of May. He was only 56 years old. Within days of his passing, his widow, Sigrid, and I began talking about how brave he was – the way he handled his diagnosis, the thousand decisions tha…
A New Leaf
Arizona
  • Self-Care & Personal Growth
  • Domestic Violence
  • Self-Care & Personal Growth
Throughout my journey with AWBW, I have grown spiritually and emotionally. I have been through my own traumas from Domestic Violence and have had many life-changing situations thrown in my path. These life lessons have helped me connect with the survivors that…
Child and Family Services
New York
Child and Family Services
New York
This “Uplifting Voices: Facilitator Stories” video features Lucy Tschachtli, one of our longest serving facilitators. She first experienced art as a tool for healing in 1991, on AWBW Founder Cathy Salser’s first tour across the country sharing art as…
Homeboy Industries
California
Homeboy Industries
California
This “Uplifting Voices: Facilitator Stories” video features Vivian Jojola, Domestic Violence Prevention Specialist at Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles, CA. A Windows Facilitator since 2023, Vivian shares about her work with formerly incarcerated and…
Teresa Smith of Being the Best Me and Cathy Salser of AWBW share the origins of the Butterfly Journey Wheel and invite others to create their own resource for transformation and support.  They created the Butterfly Journey Wheel together as a way …
Los Angeles Centers for Alcohol and Drug Abuse
California
Los Angeles Centers for Alcohol and Drug Abuse
California
I work at a substance use disorder treatment facility, supporting adults in an outpatient setting. I facilitate a group specifically for clients with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders. Recently, I facilitated the Lotus Flower …
Children's Institute, Inc.
California
Children's Institute, Inc.
California
The Community Health Programs at Children’s Institute support care coordination, system navigation, and a full range of support for health services to improve day-to-day living and wellbeing. These programs include Enhanced Care Management, United Me…
Families Together of Orange County
California
Families Together of Orange County
California
I co-facilitate a group called Healthy Relationships for residents of Yale Navigation Center, a 24 hour shelter for people experiencing homelessness in Santa Ana. While at Yale, residents are provided with resources to help in the transition to perma…
South Asian Helpline and Referral Agency
California
South Asian Helpline and Referral Agency
California
On June 20th, I facilitated a virtual community art workshop titled Exploring Your Resiliency Zone. This session was developed in response to the recent wave of fear, panic, and trauma experienced by immigrant communities due to intensified ICE raids…
The Artistry Circle
North Carolina
The Artistry Circle
North Carolina
I facilitated the Vision Flowers art workshop for a group of community members looking to reconnect with their inner voice and reflect on the personal values guiding their lives. Inspired by Manuela Rojas’ Personal Needs Flower, this workshop invited…
Shepherd's Door Domestic Violence Resource Center
California
Shepherd's Door Domestic Violence Resource Center
California
I facilitated the Brick Wall workshop for survivors of domestic violence at Shepherd’s Door. All seven women engaged fully and authentically in the workshop, each creating a unique interpretation of their brick wall symbolizing the things that protec…
Shepherd's Door Domestic Violence Resource Center
California
Shepherd's Door Domestic Violence Resource Center
California
This modified story tree workshop using a floral format allowed participants (survivors of domestic violence at Shepherd’s Door) to access vulnerability while staying grounded in creativity. Participants connected deeply to the symbolism of the fl…
Shepherd's Door Domestic Violence Resource Center
California
Shepherd's Door Domestic Violence Resource Center
California
At Shepherd’s Door—a safe haven for survivors of domestic violence—a group of women gathered just before Mother’s Day to participate in a guided art experience centered around affirmations, identity, and healing. For many, this was more than a worksh…
The Adult Skills Center
California
The Adult Skills Center
California
I facilitated the Riding the Grief Coaster art workshop for a group of three adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities, aged 35 to 38. All three participants shared a common experience: the loss of a parent. I chose this workshop to …
Los Angeles Unified School District
California
Los Angeles Unified School District
California
I facilitated a parenting workshop that invited participants to reflect on the qualities they believe make a good parent. Many of the parents in the group have experienced significant challenges—ranging from financial stress to past trauma—and are ac…
Women’s & Children’s Crisis Shelter
California
Women’s & Children’s Crisis Shelter
California
I work at a domestic violence shelter that provides safety and support for victims fleeing abusive intimate partner relationships. Currently, we are housing three families with children ranging in age from 1 to 8 years old. Every year, we participate…
The AMAAD Institute
California
The AMAAD Institute
California
I work for an organization that provides services with a focus among LGBTQ+ people of color. The participants in this workshop were part of a re-entry population, looking to gain facilitating skills as part of their personal and professional developm…
Riverside County District Attorney's Office
California
Riverside County District Attorney's Office
California
Kintsugi, the art of repairing broken pottery with gold metals, is a powerful metaphor for life and personal growth. The fragments of broken pottery symbolize the challenges and trauma in our life journey. We acknowledge that our scars do not diminis…
Los Angeles Unified School District
California
Los Angeles Unified School District
California
I was invited to do a parent workshop at Cardenas Elementary School. We chose the Journey Footprints workshop and translated it into Spanish. The footprint seemed timely for the close of the workshop series. The parents created wonderful art, but whe…
Jewish Family Services
California
Jewish Family Services
California
I am a residential counselor at Jewish Family Service, a domestic violence shelter for women and children. Oftentimes, residents arrive at the shelter feeling hopeless and helpless, believing there’s nothing good in their lives. I chose to facilitate…
Los Angeles Unified School District
California
Los Angeles Unified School District
California
I am a Psychiatric Social Worker for two elementary schools, supporting the mental health and wellbeing of children from Pre-K through 5th grade. My role also extends to the adults on campus—teachers, administrators, and support staff.  The teache…
A Window Between Worlds
California
A Window Between Worlds
California
Join Kat, Training and Outreach Coordinator, as she shares about facilitating the "Take a Break, Self Regulate!" art workshop at AWBW's two-day facilitator training. The activity invites participants to reflect on taking breaks and create personalize…

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