Bookbinding in REHAB!

[artorbust]

Hello Craftsterers,
ARTORBUST been making books!  This time, I worked with a group of adolescents in a residential substance abuse facility; we made 24 one-of-a-kind journals as a collective undertaking.  No one made a book specifically for themselves and in the end we split them up and people were able to choose which ones they wanted.  The pictures document a project that began back in October and just finally finished this week.  The pictures do not have any people in them due to the fact that in rehab confidentiality isn't a thing to take lightly.  I hope you are inspired by thus project.  Can anyone think of ways that a project like this might help someone struggling with a severe substance abuse disorder?

[fluffybaka]

Great books, and a good cause, too!

Learning to create seems like a great way to help combat substance abuse.  Maybe you can teach them how to knit or make jewelry too?

[ShammyCrafty]

Those are beautiful. What a great job your students have done.

[daludestar]

Awesome.

[beckyheartscrafting]

This is wonderful! Such a beautiful project! (both the process and the product!)

[MunLtStmpr]

Great work on the books!  And creating something has wonderful therapeutic benefits.  Not that financial gain is really therapeutic, but I once had at-risk kids make jewelry that was then sold at a holiday gift fair.  We actually never got the $ (seriously, what kind of soul steals from kids!!??) but the kids were so excited that they made things that other people gave as gifts.

And journaling can often be a part of treatment.  Using journals that they make often supports stronger investment in the whole process.

[emfrsewr]

Those books are so beautiful.  Those inside covers are really inspiring, I think I might incorporate that into my next book! 

The covers are also really amazing,  How did you make them?

[CraftyDeJa]

Love them ... covers are great!! LOL, wish I was in the group.

[Trekky]

Great project, the books look fantastic. 

A project like this can really help improve self-esteem and also the process of documenting feelings can be really worthwhile.

Keep up the good work!

[Dragonflower]

I love the paint-drizzled covers and the collages inside.

I can see that just having made something so pretty and useful could be a boost for someone who probably doesn't feel very good about themselves. I know it would give me a real sense of accomplishment!
And I'm a big believer in journaling, especially if you aren't the best at looking at yourself objectively. Sometimes just writing something down can make you look at it differently, and sometimes going back later and reading over something you've written can cause an epiphany.