Our project focuses on the therapeutic benefits of creative expression, especially for young Asian American women who may face internal and external pressures around identity, academic achievement, and emotional vulnerability. Art therapy can provide a safe, non-verbal space for exploring feelings and reducing stress, anxiety, and depression. Activities such as drawing, coloring, or creating with clay allow people to process their emotions without having to verbally express them, and it can be especially helpful in cultures where mental health is not openly discussed (Shik, 2012).

Our project is supported by research, including the article Integrating Creative Art into a Community-Based Mental Health Program for Asian American Transition Age Youth by Angela W.Y. Shik (2012). In this study, Shik explores how a California-based program used art therapy to help Asian American youth navigate stress, identity struggles, and mental health challenges. The case study showed how art helped break through cultural and language barriers, making mental health care feel safer and more accessible. This helped participants feel empowered, seen, and supported in ways traditional therapy might not have provided.

We hope this site serves as a helpful and healing resource for both individuals and counselors working with Asian American communities. Our goal is not just to offer art activities but to advocate for more inclusive, culturally sensitive approaches to mental health care. Creativity is a powerful tool and we believe everyone deserves a space to use it for their own well-being.

Mental health struggles in Asian American communities are often misunderstood or minimized due to cultural stigma, model minority stereotypes, and limited access to culturally aware care. These issues especially impact Asian American women between the ages of 14 and 25, a group that is often left out of mainstream mental health conversations. We created this website as a way to help close that gap by using art therapy to support emotional healing and self-expression.

Our interactive website includes:

• Downloadable coloring pages (made by us)

• Clay and origami activities with step-by-step instructions

• Drawing/Painting activities for stress relief and mindfulness

• Journal Art for creative exploration

• A Nature/Green Therapy section that uses calming nature imagery

These tools are easy to access, do not require any prior art experience, and are designed to be used either at home or during counseling sessions. We also include before-and-after self-reflection surveys to track how users feel before and after trying the activities, along with mental health hotline information for those in crisis.