This
protocol is designed to foster a sense of community and belonging among Latino
adolescents enrolled in English as a Second Language (ESL) classes. Latino
students often struggle with cultural adaptation, the different education
system, and the psychological impact of immigration and the current policies
that affect them. The literature review highlights the cultural importance of
the family, religion, and being part of a community among Latinos, as well as
the barriers when seeking mental health treatments, such as transportation,
therapeutic practices that ignore the cultural background of Latinos, and a
lack of Spanish-speaking therapists. The protocol utilized a modified open
studio art therapy group that addressed challenges found in the literature.