As a senior student in a Bachelor’s of Social Work program, I completed my practicum placement at a domestic violence resource agency in Tacoma. When recognizing how little support is available for youth, especially youth seeking support without parental knowledge, the idea of creating a journal was formed.

My work history is strengthened through working with kids in multiple settings - a peer-to-peer mental health hotline, an emotional crisis intervention program geared towards youth who witnessed death, case management for young adults struggling in college, residential sexual offense rehabilitation for male youth, juvenile corrections in another country, and a hospital setting for youth experiencing severe mental/behavioral health challenges. Using these experiences combined with my education and work at the domestic violence agency, I created a journal that allows youth to learn about patterns of abuse, coping skills, healthy conflict resolution, safety planning, and more.

The content was chosen both from evidence based models and my own personal experience. Growing up, I witnessed domestic violence at home. The content in this journal is driven just as much by lessons I had to learn the hard way as they are by research. My goal is that youth who utilize this journal can learn some of these skills through practice rather than mistakes and they can learn to foster healthy relationships just like I have.