What Now?
A Creative Workbook Journal Thing
What Now? A Creative Workbook Journal Thing is an interactive journal featuring creative prompts to help users process and express emotions in a visual, cheeky way.
The prompts in the journal draw influence from several existing therapeutic approaches and theories, but mainly from the skills and philosophy of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). DBT is a treatment model that centers around mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. At its core, DBT is rooted in validation and in the synthesis of acceptance and change.
The book is split into four sections. The first, "I Have No Idea," covers core emotions
and how to identify how you're feeling. The other three sections are based on those core feelings explained in the first section: Fear, Anger, and Sadness.
The project was funded on Kickstarter and raised 269% of the goal with the help of 95 backers. The books have been purchased by people living with mental illness, college students, therapists, psychiatrists, and social workers.
While this journal doesn't substitute for treatment, it can be an aid in managing the
difficult emotions that may come with a mental health condition. The goal of this journal
is to help people- especially young adults- improve emotional regulation, build
resilience, and increase (and destigmatize) help-seeking.
What Now? is a 2017 Active Minds Emerging Scholars project and a degree project for a BFA in Graphic Design from the Maryland Institute College of Art
The journal has been purchased by people all over the world- Australia, China, England, Canada, and more. It has been requested for translation to Chinese and is in the process of seeking further publication past its first small print run of 300 books.
Get one for yourself, a friend, or someone who might need it here.
