Jesus came to Stanford Youth Solutions not willing to talk about his challenges until he saw our Expressive Art and Play Therapy room. Using art therapy as part of his treatment plan, he decided to create a video to describe what it is like learning to safely experience and take control of his feelings.

“The world needs you,” says Jesus into a digital voice recorder, alongside Linda, his Stanford Youth Solutions therapist, as he narrated a series of pictures for a video about how a young boy named Ben learns to manage his feelings.

In the video, Ben must save the world from destruction by helping monsters on each planet overcome their feelings. Ben successfully helps each monster shift their feelings from sad, grumpy and angry using coping strategies such as deep breathing, being silly, playing games to feel happy and most importantly, walking away from situations that trigger their anger.

Jesus’ ability to let others know what it feels like for a child to navigate through the complicated land of emotions is remarkable, and his expressiveness will serve him well as he continues to do the hard work of learning to manage his feelings.

Stanford Youth Solutions thanks volunteer Jenna Cederburg for compiling Jesus’ artwork and narration into a completed video.