Domestic Violence

YWCA Pierce County
Washington
I worked with a group of children ranging from age four to twelve. While their parents are in a domestic violence support group, we do AWBW workshops. The child…
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 h…
Women’s & Children’s Crisis Shelter
California
I facilitated a vision board art activity with a group of women residing at our shelter. All of the participants are survivors of domestic violence who are in the process of rebuilding their lives and navigating uncertainty about their futures. The art work…
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 protect and give…
Northwest Arkansas Women's Shelter
Arkansas
This six-year-old girl loves to write and will often use some of her time in art class to write in her notebooks that she brings. Today I provided printouts of the tools we use in our DV group. I also printed a wheel that the client could use to create a wh…
Center for the Pacific Asian Family
California
I had an individual session with an 8-year-old girl on an activity called Coat of Arms. She had come to the shelter with her mother. It was the second time they had been in the shelter within a year. The girl had witnessed a lot of verbal arguments between her…
Catalyst
California
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…
YWCA San Gabriel Valley
California
Ceirra and Melissa are AWBW facilitators who work in the WINGS (Women in Need Growing Strong) Domestic Violence Program at YWCA San Gabriel Valley. They provide educational support groups in both emergency and transitional shelter settings, as well as through …
South Gate Police Department Family Violence Prevention & Education
California
I have been working with a 45-year old Latina woman, who has one 11-year old child. In 2012, this client was pleased to announce to our support group that she had finally started the divorce process that she had contemplated for many years. Seven months later,…
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 in the Sh…
Sure Helpline Center
California
This “Vision Seeds” video features Johana Ramirez, of Sure Helpline Center in El Centro, California. A Windows Facilitator since 2024, Johana reflects on her own journey of using art to anchor herself in the midst of trauma and chaos, and how today, she is hon…
Center for the Pacific Asian Family
California
I had an individual session with a 6-year-old girl on an activity called A Day of Feelings. She and her family had just moved into the emergency shelter about two weeks ago. Her mother was a survivor of domestic violence and sexual assault. She came in with th…
Huntington Park Police Department
California
One eight year old girl I work with in the after school program, Stephanie, was so closed off that she refused to speak and never smiled. She always followed others and would constantly defer to her sister. Whenever we asked her to express herself she would lo…
A Window Between Worlds
California
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,…
New Economics for Women
California
Prior to the workshop, our group gathered for a mindful walk around the Silver Lake Reservoir. The participants, ranging in age from 28 to 35, came together seeking connection, emotional support, and an opportunity to practice self-care through creative expres…
Healing Through Art
California
This artwork was from women survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. The art was expressions of places in their heart that gave them peace. The art of the woman with teardrops was her pain from loving and not receiving love back. As the women bega…
Chicana Service Action Center
California
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 …
Women’s & Children’s Crisis Shelter
California
I worked with a group of women residing in our domestic violence shelter on an activity called Flowers of Hope. All participants are survivors of domestic violence who are rebuilding their lives while coping with trauma, uncertainty, and major life changes. Pa…
Sitkans Against Family Violence
Alaska
A 7-year-old boy had witnessed a lot of domestic violence and traumatic events in a short period of time. When he came to the shelter with his mom and family, he was extremely impacted by these events and had many behavioral issues. He acted out constantly — a…
Laura's House
California
​​We recently facilitated the AWBW workshop “Vision Boards” for a group of three teens at our Domestic Violence Emergency Shelter. As dependents of individuals seeking refuge from domestic violence situations, these young people often struggle with being uproo…
Teta's Workshops
Massachusetts
This story is from a workshop with survivors of violence who are isolated from family and friends during this pandemic. I chose this workshop to teach the art of journaling and its use as a meditative practice. One participant shared “I wasn't very eager to…
Center for the Pacific Asian Family
California
I had an individual session with a 7-year-old girl on an activity called Treasure Boxes. The girl had come to the shelter with her mother due to domestic violence. She liked staying in the shelter. The purpose of the session was to help her create a treasure b…
Alhambra Unified School District
California
Alhambra Unified School District
California
The Inside/Outside art activity provided me with an opportunity to pause and reflect on the difference between how I believe others perceive me and how I perceive myself. Through the activity, I identified traits and adjectives that others might use …
Safe Parking LA
California
Safe Parking LA
California
Working in the nonprofit sector during this time has become increasingly difficult. There is a greater need for services, yet fewer resources to meet those needs. Over the last few months, I’ve experienced an increase in workload and a lack of resour…
Safe Parking LA
California
Safe Parking LA
California
The past few months have been especially taxing with life and work. I found myself not being able to put things into words since nothing major had happened. I soon realized it was a culmination of small things that began to feel heavy and overwhelmin…
A New Leaf
Arizona
A New Leaf
Arizona
I invited my children to participate in the AWBW workshop Container of Overwhelming Feelings. The beginning of the school year brings a lot of anxiety for them. One of my children experiences the nervousness of being in a new classroom while the othe…
Arts Connection
California
Arts Connection
California
For this workshop, I chose to do the “Comfort Journals” activity. I love getting to do these workshops myself because it’s been therapeutic for me.  Before I started the activity I did some breathing exercises while playing soft music throughout m…
A New Leaf
Arizona
A New Leaf
Arizona
During a recent "Bookmark in Time" workshop, participants were invited to create a personalized bookmark using magazine cutouts, words, and images, or by coloring a blank bookmark design. The activity provided an opportunity for creativity, self-expr…
Los Angeles Unified School District
California
Los Angeles Unified School District
California
I worked with a 28-year-old Latino male who describes himself as deeply family-oriented and someone who has historically prioritized the needs of others over his own. The activity selected was Absorb and Release. Although the participant is currently…
UCLA Health
California
UCLA Health
California
For our Spring project, I wanted to incorporate the idea of blossoming and hope. Initially, a colleague of mine brought up the idea of planting flowers/plants, which then sprung on the idea for this project.  Personally, I spent the last year doin…
Arts Connection
California
Arts Connection
California
For this workshop I had my partner do the “Cup of Gratitude” activity. I chose this activity for my partner because he typically works in a stressful environment at work and I wanted to bring a sense of calmness to his mind and space by doing this wo…
Yoga & Art for Recovery and Healing
California
Yoga & Art for Recovery and Healing
California
It had been a long time since my girlfriends and I had all been able to gather together. We are each in different seasons of life, with some raising kids, some caring for pets, and all of us, including me, balancing busy schedules and responsibilitie…
Families Together of Orange County
California
Families Together of Orange County
California
This quarter, I wanted to facilitate a workshop for my local women’s group, Ladies Mingle. This group was created to help women in Orange County and nearby cities find joy. I found the group while on maternity leave and seeking connection with other …
YWCA Greater Los Angeles
California
YWCA Greater Los Angeles
California
I chose to create inspiration rocks but had to improvise a bit! Initially, I had planned to create inspiration rocks with clients, but as a client-centered therapist, I meet my clients where they are at. I decided to move forward with the activity du…
The Way Resource Center
California
The Way Resource Center
California
It was an honor to facilitate a Financial Healing workshop that created a safe and supportive space for participants in our career development program to explore their relationship with money through a healing-centered lens.  Throughout the sessio…
Arts Connection
California
Arts Connection
California
I chose to do a workshop for myself because I felt like I needed to have a day of healing art. There can be a lot of stressors that occur in our day to day and lately I've been having low energy, so I wanted to create a journal for the new year to re…
Shelter from the Storm
California
Shelter from the Storm
California
I recently began going to school again and have been juggling many things at once to stay afloat. I started therapy as well and a big focus has been to make time for self-care. That is why I did an art workshop on my own, for myself. The activity I d…
EveryStep
Iowa
EveryStep
Iowa
I partnered with an Occupational Therapist I know in Des Moines, IA to host a “Befriending Your Feelings” AWBW group for kids ages 7-12 with their parents participating too. We did several activities to explore our feelings. We started with a scribbl…
The Artistry Circle
North Carolina
The Artistry Circle
North Carolina
Values Ornaments was a workshop centered on reconnecting with the qualities that guide, ground, and inspire us, especially as we move into a new year. Together, our community explored how personal values shape our choices, our relationships, and our …
YWCA Glendale and Pasadena
California
YWCA Glendale and Pasadena
California
As part of our prevention work at YWCA Glendale and Pasadena, we provide afterschool programs for girls in grades 5–9 across Los Angeles County. Our curriculum includes a variety of enrichment activities designed to empower youth, build confidence, a…