OUR IMPACT
TESTIMONY
CULTIVATING CONFIDENCE
These books have been a FANTASTIC resource to help facilitate and teach social emotional learning and are extremely powerful for me as a school psychologist because of the conversations it helps facilitate with my students. With reflective topics like exploration, growth, and kindness, we learned about ourselves, set goals for the future and set ourselves up for success. We had incredible discussions about identity, cultures, customs and what makes us unique. We talked about how to cultivate confidence and how we could lift others up. The books cultivate balance in our students’ lives by providing them an outlet to use their minds to reflect and tap into their hearts and emotions through creativity and coloring. What a lot of students appreciated about this book was it gave them a space to talk about what was on their mind, their feelings, their goals, their hopes, their fears, their dreams. As a school psychologist, this is one of my favorite tools in work with my students.
Adam Parker - School Psychologist
Heritage Elementary School, Denver, CO
TESTIMONY
FOSTER COURAGE
When children and youth are experiencing something traumatic, they find it difficult to talk about what they are feeling. Creativity allows for a safe way for them to express their emotions and gives us a window in their heart and how to meet them where they are. We appreciate how the reflective questions in your expressive art activity books incorporate mindfulness activities, and really aids in reducing anxiety in a child. It also helps our patients reflect on their experiences, process their emotions, and positively cope during their hospitalization. Your expressive art books are valuable tool we use in helping traumatized children cope with what they are experiencing. Thank you for your support!
Colorado Children’s Hospital
Art Therapy Team
Denver, Colorado
TESTIMONY
REDUCE ANXIETY
The Maui Youth and Family Services School-Based Counselors who work in the schools are all invested in the well-being of our Maui keiki and how we can help them with their journey of hope, healing, and growth. Mahalo for creating such a helpful and beautiful counseling tool that we can use with our students for social emotional wellness, trauma care and prosocial skills development. We love the layout of the workbook, the writing prompts, space for self-expression and the amazing cultural and nature artwork for the coloring pages. These books have enriched our program participants' journey of healing in this difficult time. Mahalo Christina, for creating these valuable and helpful resources.
Heather Long - School-Based Counselor
Baldwin High School
Maui Hawaii
TESTIMONY
CALM & REGULATING
As a leader, I appreciated how the books gave students time to relax, reflect, and be creative. I also loved that the books connected to Colorado—its nature, culture, and surroundings—and encouraged students to spend more time outdoors rather than on electronics. The books helped me build rapport and healthy relationships with students who faced challenges such as housing instability, food insecurity, mental health struggles, and substance use. They offered a gentle, creative outlet for students to express themselves and explore who they were becoming. The experience empowered them to reflect on their goals, build confidence, practice self-care, and develop healthy coping skills as they prepared for the future.
Jamie Felton – School Social Worker
Loveland High School
Loveland, Colorado
TESTIMONY
POSITIVE COPING SKILLS
We have been honored to receive the Discover at The River expressive art coloring books and we have loved utilizing these books in both our inpatient and outpatient settings statewide. The books serve as a wonderful diversionary tool for our patients and promote reflection and growth throughout the hospitalization experience. Our mission is to elevate and transform pediatric healthcare delivery for children and their family’s improving health and providing positive coping skills and peace of mind.
Logan Health Children’s
Art Therapy Team
Montana
TESTIMONY
KNOW THEIR VALUE
Our teens had been struggling with mental health challenges, including anxiety, low self-worth, and even suicidal ideation. These books made a significant impact on their well-being. They offered students space to slow down, check in with their emotions, and stay present in the moment. Students deeply appreciated the journey of combining nature, art, and self-discovery. Many of them formed meaningful connections to both the reflective prompts and the natural beauty of the state they lived in. Most importantly, the books helped students feel more grounded, more capable, and more aware of their inner world. For many, this simple daily practice made a real difference in their emotional health and their ability to cope with stress.
Veronica Bechara - Mental Health Specialist
Wellington High School, Colorado
TESTIMONY
REFLECT & GROW
Using these books on our CoPack backpacking trips helped our students engage in meaningful SEL activities while exploring the outdoors. The structured art and reflection exercises supported their healing, confidence, and personal growth. Many of our youth have experienced significant trauma, and the books offered them a calming, creative outlet that strengthened their connection to nature and to themselves. They also complemented our SEL curriculum and helped students see their ability to contribute positively to the world.
Sarah Bolduc – School Counselor
Lincoln Middle School, Colorado