this teenage life x culture therapy
today’s stories come from a collaboration between culture therapy and this teenage life, a global youth podcast normalizing conversations about mental health. led by an incredible group of teens and adults (shoutout to molly josephs and evelyn mckenney), the program empowers youth to explore their creativity, embrace vulnerability, and share their stories with the world.
culture therapy sponsored two teen-led workshops with ttl, requiring no prior skills—just a willingness to try something new.
here’s what happened:
kashika’s calligraphy workshop
calligraphy isn’t just pen and paper for kashika—it’s her refuge.
“i started doing calligraphy when i was lonely,” she shares. “even though i had people to talk to, they weren’t as close as i wanted friends to be. calligraphy became my way to pass the time and calm my mind. it feels like therapy and meditation. when i do it, it’s like zoning out into a beautiful place where i feel unburdened.”
kashika joined ttl, leading seven other teens through a calligraphy workshop. one attendee, prithika gushed, “calligraphy is my new favorite hobby now. i loved taking my time to make each letter look cool and seeing everything come together. experimenting with styles felt like finding my own voice. plus, it was relaxing—like forgetting about everything else for a bit.”
“if calligraphy can help me unwind, i believe it can help others unwind and relax for a while as well. that’s why i had a lot of fun teaching calligraphy to those who joined the workshop. doing that or something similar, some kind of meditation, is important for emotional and mental well-being. it helps one relax one’s mind and just stop worrying for some time.” — kashika
cloe’s comic workshop
for cloe, comics are her language for processing feelings she doesn’t always know how to express in words.
“i don’t really like talking about my feelings,” she admits. “but when i’m sketching a comic, i start with an idea and figure out how it looks in the panels. it’s my chance to reflect. ‘why am i feeling this way? how do i communicate it?’ creating comics helps me understand myself first—and then others.”
cloe’s workshop shattered the myth that you need a specific set of skills to make comics.
“anyone can express themselves through a picture,” she told attendees. “it doesn’t have to be realistic. i’ve seen zines where people express emotions through shapes and colors. comics are about connecting with others and unpacking your emotions layer by layer—in a safe, creative way. vulnerability is strength, and when you share that, you open the door for deeper connections.”
her workshop was a hit. participants learned to create their own comics and found unexpected joy in the process. for cloe, it was a chance to reflect on her own art:
“it went really well. i wasn’t expecting how special it would feel to see the faces of people enjoying my art. it rekindled my love for making comics. talking about my older work reminded me of all the good experiences i’ve had. i have felt like a fraud before, but this helped me see that my art really means something.”
whether it’s calligraphy, comics, or your own creative passion, there’s something grounding about making space to express yourself.
what’s your go-to creative outlet? drop us a comment or send us a message.
this teenage life
this teenage life has reached hundreds of thousands of teens globally, building authentic community and giving young people the tools to thrive. you can follow their journey on substack, spotify, and instagram.
you can follow this teenage life on substack, spotify, and instagram.