Our Mission & Aims
At EWC, our mission is to enhance both individual and collective well-being by:
(1) providing therapeutic care for youth who've experienced online harm, (2) providing training and education on online harm to the community and professionals, and (3) contributing to and amplifying research on online harm.
Aim 1
Provide therapy
Offer tailored mental health services to help youth cope with the psychological byproducts of online harm, such as anxiety, depression, trauma, or suicidal thoughts.
Aim 3
Raise Awareness and Educate
Educate the public, professionals, and policymakers about the psychological consequences of online harm, preventive measures, and strategies for maintaining digital safety.
Aim 2
Advance Research
Conduct and amplify innovative research to better understand the effects of online harm among youth and to identify effective interventions and prevention strategies.
Aim 4
Shape Policy
Collaborate with policymakers and community organizations to advocate for stronger regulations and laws to protect individuals from online harm, and to promote mental health initiatives specifically focused on digital spaces.
Our Therapy Approach
We understand how culture, systems, and trauma inform youth development and mental health. So we provide therapeutic care that supports the whole child, teen, and young adult.
Culturally responsive therapy
We use a culturally responsive therapeutic approach that integrates cultural, ethnic, racial, and societal factors in conceptualization of psychological concerns and therapeutic treatment. This approach involves cultural awareness and humility on the therapist's part, flexibility with understanding and learning each person's cultural context, tailored interventions that fit the unique needs of each individual, and advocacy around systemic societal issues that impact youth mental health.
Trauma-informed therapy
We use a trauma-informed therapeutic approach that focuses on understanding and treating trauma. This approach creates a safe and supportive environment for youth who have experienced trauma due to online harm by empowering them to grow their digital literacy and make informed and safe decisions online, and by focusing on their strengths and
"e-resilience" as tools to hone along their healing journey.
Systems-focused framework
We utilize a systems-focused therapeutic framework that views an individual's problems within the context of their family, school, community, and digital ecosystems. Through this framework we acknowledge that changes in one part of the system can impact the whole. Therefore, we focus on addressing the dynamics and interactions within systems to facilitate healing and positive change.
Cognitive behavioral and Mindfulness based therapy
We use interventions from cognitive behavioral therapy that help youth to reframe unhealthy thinking patterns and deal with feelings of shame, anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts caused by online harm. We also use mindfulness techniques that help youth to develop greater awareness of their thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations to improve stress and anxiety management when navigating digital terrain.