I gave Chill & Spill to “Casey” to work on at home. Casey was a 16 year old student dealing with severe mental health issues. When I sat down with her to discuss the book, Casey was in tears. She showed me her drawings and it was immediately clear that she was in significant danger of hurting herself and others. She said it was too painful to discuss her drawings.

Casey had used the book to draw her feelings instead of act on them. The book was a valuable tool in keeping Casey safe.

I told her that she could use the book unconditionally, that she did not have to discuss her drawings with me. I since spoke with her case manager, and she is now taking the book with her to therapy sessions to help her deal with some of the more serious issues in her life.

After seeing her drawings, I had a much better understanding her strengths and weaknesses. I was able to implement changes in the structure of her participation in our program which will make the experience safer and more productive for her.

Submitted by Heidi, volunteer youth worker, Cleveland, OH