Make Your Own Courage Art Therapy Project

Welcome to the Make Your Own Courage Art Therapy Project, a set of programs that highlight themes related to mental health and well-being noted in the middle-grade novel THE BOY, THE BOAT, AND THE BEAST (Paula Wiseman Books/Simon & Schuster) by Samantha M Clark.

The Boy, The Boat, and The Beast bookcoverIn the book, a boy wakes up on a mysterious beach where everything’s scary and he doesn’t know who he is or how he got there. After a bright light shines over the Green Wall of trees, the boy gathers up his courage and follows it, hoping to find answers and his family. But when he discovers the terrifying truth, he must face his biggest fear—going home.

During his journey, the boy uses a number of tools to help himself deal with his insecurities, anxiety and fear, both from outside and inside forces.

Do you know kids who feel insecure or anxious? Do you know kids who have experienced traumatic events? Do you know kids who could enjoy fun exercises to build up their confidence and courage? You’ve come to the right place.

The Make Your Own Courage Art Thereapy Project was developed by THE BOY, THE BOAT, AND THE BEAST author Samantha M Clark and clinical therapist Bonnie Thomas LCSW, who specializes in working with children and is the author of Creative Coping Skills for Children: Emotional Support Through Arts and Crafts Activities, among other books.

“Children’s literature and stories have always provided rich material for exploring life’s experiences,” said Bonnie Thomas. “In this regard, stories and books are a valuable resource for counselors like myself that work with children—there’s a synergistic union where counseling and storytelling collide, where people can explore the beautiful, magical moments of the human condition, as well as the heart wrenching, hard to look at, hard to feel experiences. So, when Samantha M Clark contacted me about collaborating on an art therapy project related to THE BOY, THE BOAT, AND THE BEAST, I was instantly interested. The characters, the power of place, and the emotional content of Samantha’s book speaks to some of the rawness, and resiliency, of the human experience, which makes it prime for creative expression and art-based projects. I look forward to sharing this book and the activities with clients.”

The Make Your Own Courage Art Therapy Project has two programs: one suitable for use by professional clinical therapists and the other suitable for use by parents, teachers, librarians and other caregivers. Each program is available below as a free downloadable PDF. Please click on the links below to access the appropriate program.

Caregiver Program – These activities are appropriate for use by parents, teachers, librarians or other child caregivers. Download the Caregiver Program

Clinical Program – These activities are intended for mental health professionals to use with clients and/or a therapeutic population. Download the Clinical Program

THE BOY, THE BOAT, AND THE BEAST is written by Samantha M Clark

Paula Wiseman Books/Simon & Schuster

ISBN 9781534412552 (hardcover), 9781534412576 (ebook) ORDER HERE

Learn more about the book.

Learn more about author Samantha M Clark.

Learn more about author and therapist Bonnie Thomas LCSW.