LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Many students experience more anxiety and stress than generations before.
To help children better understand their emotions Bloom Counseling and Wellness Studio hopes to help with art therapy.
Christy Weber is a licensed professional clinical counselor and owns the practice.
The new five week art therapy sessions are offered by one of her therapists Erica Quarles.
"Erica works with the kids to be able to identify what they're feeling, and then to be able to learn coping skills," Weber said.
Those skills can be difficult for some parents who didn't experience those lessons themselves as a child Weber acknowledged.
"A lot of adults our age, they were told, stop crying and basically just suck it up," Weber said. "And so now I think this generation is doing a better job of saying, it's okay that you're really upset."
"I think where we forget as parents is we don't then tell them what they can do."
In a time when children's worries have escalated to the level of active shooters, Weber's first piece of advice for parents is to start conversations with their children on normal days.
"Trying to have those open conversations with your children, so that if they do experience some worry or depression, that this is not the first time you've ever had a conversation," Weber said.
That allows children to come to parents with more difficult topics.
"If your child is asking you a question, it means developmentally, they are ready to hear the answer," Weber said. "That doesn't mean you tell them everything, but in an age appropriate way, you need to be able to answer what they're asking."
As for what the kids learn, there's art projects to relieve stress, pipe cleaners with beads to practice breathing and homemade suggestion cards for the kids to take home for practical use at home. Overall, the hope is they have a better understanding of themselves and working through stress and anxiety.
The next five week session starts Tuesday. There will be another group later this fall as well.
To learn more about Bloom Counseling and Wellness Studio, click here.
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