Why We Started restART studio

And What Keeps Us Going

I didn't set out to start a nonprofit. But early in my career as an art therapist, I knew two things: helping young people find their authentic selves was my calling, and the systems meant to support them were falling short.

Working with teens, I kept seeing the same pattern. Young people struggling with trauma, anxiety, substance use, or family instability — and instead of receiving support, they were being punished. Suspended. Expelled. Pushed into the justice system. And once that cycle started, it was incredibly hard to break.

At the same time, I was seeing firsthand how powerful art therapy could be, especially for the young people who shut down in traditional talk therapy.

Art gave them a way to express things they didn't have words for yet. It created safety, trust, and connection. And from that place, real healing could begin.

But there was a major gap. Art therapy — and mental health care in general — just wasn't accessible for the youth who needed it most.

Building Something Different

That's where restART studio began. In 2021, my co-founder Krista Marks and I came together around a shared belief:

young people aren't problems to fix. They're resilient people who deserve to be understood, supported, and invested in.

We started by partnering with the City of Longmont's youth redirection program, REWiND, offering art therapy as a restorative alternative to court involvement for youth who have had police contact. Instead of punishment, these young people receive evidence-based clinical support through creative expression. Art therapy meets them in a unique way, offering a safe, nonverbal path to process and express what they’ve been holding inside.  

Since then, we've grown into a full art therapy program serving youth across Boulder County. A large part of that growth has been expanding into prevention-based programming — serving any young person navigating mental health or substance use challenges, regardless of justice system involvement. We believe every young person deserves access to care, and that early support can change the trajectory of a life.

Today, we offer one-on-one art therapy, group programming, and virtual options. And this fall, we're expanding into the City of Boulder to reach even more young people.

At its core, our story is about shifting the question — from "what did you do?" to "what happened to you, and what have you been carrying?" — and then actually giving youth the support they need to heal and thrive.

What Makes Art Therapy Different

We are the only nonprofit in Boulder County solely focused on art therapy. And that matters, because art therapy reaches young people in a way traditional talk therapy often can't.

It doesn't require verbal fluency, comfort with vulnerability, or even trust right away. It gives youth another way in — one that feels less threatening, more engaging, and grounded in choice and creativity. Through artmaking, they can begin to process and express what they’ve been holding inside, without needing the words first. And from there, something starts to open.

We specialize in working with youth who are often falling through the cracks — those experiencing trauma, mental health challenges, substance use, or early justice involvement. Many of the young people we serve are BIPOC, low-income, or LGBTQ+, navigating systems that weren't designed with them in mind.

Access is everything to us. We have free programming, accept Medicaid, insurance, and offer sliding scale and scholarships. Cost should never be the reason a young person doesn't receive mental health care. And once they're here, their care is entirely their own. We don't believe in a one-size-fits-all model. Every young person's experience is honored, and therapy is shaped around their unique needs, strengths, and story.

The Challenge

One of our biggest challenges has actually been a good one: demand.

In the last year alone, we've grown from one art therapist to a team of seven clinicians and interns — and we still have waitlists. The need is so much bigger than our current capacity.

But growth comes with its own challenges. As a nonprofit, we rely on grants, donations, and community support to fund our work. So while we're expanding access, we're constantly balancing sustainability — making sure we can grow responsibly without compromising the quality of care.

There's also the emotional weight of this work. We're working with youth who are navigating real trauma, systemic inequities, and barriers that go far beyond mental health. Holding that reality while building an organization at the same time can be a lot.

But every challenge has reinforced why this work matters. When you see the impact — when a young person who was struggling starts to feel a sense of self-worth, starts showing up differently — you know it's worth pushing through the hard parts.

On Luck

People sometimes ask what role luck has played in our story, and I think about this one a lot.

There’s definitely been moments of “luck”—meeting the right people at the right time, like my co-founder Krista, or forming partnerships that helped us grow early on. Those connections mattered. 

But what looks like luck is often alignment — when the work meets a real, urgent need. 

We didn't create the demand for art therapy. The need was already there. Young people were already struggling. Systems were already falling short. We just stepped into that gap with something different.

If anything, the luck has been in getting to witness the impact. Getting to see a young person go from shutting down to opening up. From self-doubt to self-worth.

That's the kind of luck that keeps you going.

Written by Amanda Balmores, restART studio Co-Founder and Executive Director