Children who have experienced war often lose their connection with themselves and the world. Many struggle to express their emotions or describe what they feel in words. That’s when paints and brushes as helpful tools in the hands of psychologists.

The “Self-Portrait” technique allows children to tell their stories and express their inner state without saying a word—only through colors, lines, and brushstrokes. Through colors, backgrounds, and symbols, they learn to express feelings that words cannot convey.

What do I look like? What does the world around me look like? What color is my mood? A blue sky before the rain, golden wheat fields, white like peace—every stroke helps children express their emotions, understand their fears and dreams, and reconnect with themselves. And often, right here at the easel and with paints, a new sense of hope and confidence in the future is born.

👉 Watch the video to learn more about this art therapy technique.

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This project was created by Save Ukraine thanks to a grant from the Children’s Resilience Fund: Providing Capacity Building and Funding to Ukrainian Civil Society Organizations in Ukraine. The program is implemented by Crown Agents in Ukraine and @integrity_action. The content of this post does not necessarily reflect the views of Integrity Action or Crown Agents in Ukraine.