Veteran Families Free Program

Building Resilient Families
Through Art

A free on-demand workshop for Veteran parents of elementary-age children — where trauma-informed parenting meets the healing power of creative play.

Reserve My Spot Learn More

🎁 First 100 families receive a FREE take-home art Tool Kit — limited kits available

🏛️
Supported by VA San Diego Healthcare System (CESAMH)
🎨
Created by My Good Brain, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit
🧠
Designed by a licensed clinical psychologist & artist
💻
100% Free & on-demand online access

About the Workshop

Support for the Families
Behind the Service

Military life is demanding. Coming home can be just as challenging. This workshop was built specifically for Veteran parents who want practical, research-backed tools to reduce stress, reconnect with their children, and build lasting family resilience — all through the lens of art and creative expression.

Watch on your own time. No appointments, no waiting rooms, no judgment.

Sign Up Now — It's Free
100% FREE
📺

On-Demand Video Workshop

Watch anytime, as many times as you need. Designed around your schedule.

🖌️

Hands-On Art Activities

Simple, meaningful art projects to do together as a family — no art experience needed.

📚

Trauma-Informed Strategies

Evidence-based parenting tools grounded in the science of stress and resilience.

🎁

Free Art Tool Kit (First 100)

Books, art supplies, and guided activity cards mailed directly to your home.

What You'll Learn

Six Core Skills for
Veteran Families

Every module is grounded in trauma-informed care and designed to be immediately useful at home — whether you have 5 minutes or an afternoon.

01

Understanding Stress in Military Families

Learn how deployment, transitions, and reintegration affect both parents and children — and why that matters for everyday connection.

02

Trauma-Informed Parenting Basics

Practical, compassionate strategies that help you respond to your child's big emotions without feeling overwhelmed yourself.

03

Art as a Window into Feelings

How creative expression helps children process experiences they may not have words for — and how to use it at home.

04

Co-Regulation Through Play

Simple side-by-side activities that calm your nervous system and your child's at the same time.

05

Building Routines That Stick

How to weave short creative rituals into your week to strengthen emotional connection over time.

06

Knowing When to Seek More Support

A clear, judgment-free guide to recognizing when you or your child may benefit from additional professional resources.

Take-Home Art Tool Kit

Everything You Need,
Delivered to Your Door

The first 100 families to register receive a free art Tool Kit packed with carefully curated materials to support the workshop activities at home. No shopping required.

📗 Children's Books
🖍️ Art Supplies
📋 Guided Activity Cards
💡 Parent Guide
🎨 Creative Prompts
✉️ Resource Inserts
Claim My Free Kit

Limited supply — kits reserved on a first-come, first-served basis

Art Tool Kit

"Art has always been one of the most powerful ways families reconnect. This kit puts those tools right in your hands."

— Dr. Danessa Mayo, CEO & Founder, My Good Brain

Who This Is For

This Workshop is For You If...

You don't need any art experience, a diagnosis, or a crisis to benefit. This is for every military-connected family that wants more connection and calm.

🪖

Veterans & Active Duty Service Members

You've served. Now let us support you in one of the most important missions of your life — raising your kids.

👨‍👩‍👧

Military Spouses & Co-Parents

Whether you're parenting solo during deployment or navigating reintegration together, this is for you too.

🏫

Parents of Elementary-Age Children

Designed for families with children ages 5 through 12 — the years when connection and routines matter most.

🌿

Families Navigating Transition

Moving, separating from service, or adjusting to a new normal? Creative tools can ease the adjustment for the whole family.

Your Facilitators

Built by Experts Who Care

Dr. Danessa Mayo

Dr. Danessa Mayo

CEO & Founder, My Good Brain

Licensed clinical psychologist and practicing visual artist. Dr. Mayo founded My Good Brain to prove that art and mental wellness belong together — especially for young people and their families.

Dr. Octaviana Hemmy

Dr. Octaviana Hemmy

VA San Diego Healthcare System, CESAMH

A specialist in veteran mental health and family resilience at the VA San Diego Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health. Dr. Hemmy brings deep clinical expertise in supporting military families through transition and reintegration.

Additional Resources

Support Beyond the Workshop

You don't have to navigate this alone. Below are trusted resources for veteran families, alongside more ways to connect with My Good Brain.

🏥

VA Caregiver Support Program

Free services, training, and peer mentoring for family caregivers of veterans. Resources available online and through local VA facilities.

caregiver.va.gov →
📞

Veterans Crisis Line

Free, confidential support for veterans and their families, available 24/7. Call, text, or chat anytime you need to talk.

Dial 988, then Press 1 →
🎨

More from My Good Brain

Explore our San Diego programs — from Scrap Lab to Teen Creative Arts — for children and families of all backgrounds.

mygoodbrain.org →
👨‍👩‍👦

Military OneSource

Free confidential help with parenting, child development, financial counseling, and more for service members and their families.

militaryonesource.mil →
🧩

Child Mind Institute

Evidence-based guidance on children's mental health, learning, and development — trusted by families and educators nationwide.

childmind.org →
💌

Stay Connected with MGB

Sign up for our newsletter for family art activity ideas, upcoming programs, and resources delivered to your inbox.

Join our community →

Common Questions

We've Got Answers

Yes, completely free. The workshop, video content, and all digital materials are 100% free for all participating families, made possible by the VA San Diego Healthcare System Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health (CESAMH) Grant.

No. This program is open to any veteran, active duty service member, military spouse, or military-connected parent of elementary-age children. VA enrollment is not required.

The workshop is designed for families with children roughly ages 5 through 12 (elementary school age). Many of the core concepts and parenting strategies are relevant for families with children slightly outside that range as well.

None at all. The activities are designed for everyday families — not artists. If you receive a free Tool Kit, all the materials you need will be included. For families who don't receive a kit, the workshop activities are designed around common household items.

After you register, you'll receive an email with your access link. The workshop is on-demand, so you can watch any time, at your own pace, as many times as you'd like.

Kits are available to the first 100 families who sign up and provide a mailing address in the registration form. Once kits are reserved, we'll mail yours directly to your home. Supplies are limited, so sign up soon!

My Good Brain is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization based in San Diego and the SF Bay Area. Founded by Dr. Danessa Mayo — a licensed clinical psychologist and visual artist — MGB promotes youth mental wellness through art and play. Learn more at mygoodbrain.org.

Ready to Join?

Your family deserves more calm,
more connection, more joy.

Sign up today and take the first step. It's free, it's flexible, and it was made for families just like yours.

Sign Up Now — Reserve My Spot

Questions? Email us at hello@mygoodbrain.org

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My Good Brain
Home
2026 Mental Health Action Day
Our Mission
Our Team
Partnerships
Volunteer With MGB
Our Impact 2025
Enrichment Fund
San Diego Military Families
MGB Tool Kit
Art x Mental Wellness Workshops
Kids at Heart
Little Sound Minds
Little Mess Club
Podcast
Sunday Art Club
Teen Creative Arts
The Color Feelings Studio - Summer Camp
Infographics
Anxiety Disorders
ADHD
Autism
Back to School Anxiety Guide
BIPOC Mental Health
Bullying
Developmental Disabilities
Eating Disorders
Early Psychosis
IPV & Sexual Assault
LGBTQ+ Pride
Mood Disorders
Suicide Prevention
Self Harm & Injury
Trauma
Teen Self-Help
MGB Resident Artist
MGB x Clixo
MGB x The OffBits
MGB x Makedo
MGB Chapters
Videos
Shop
Events
Blog
Support Us
Contact Us
Login Account
0
0
Donate
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Infographics
Anxiety Disorders
ADHD
Autism
Back to School Anxiety Guide
BIPOC Mental Health
Bullying
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Eating Disorders
Early Psychosis
IPV & Sexual Assault
LGBTQ+ Pride
Mood Disorders
Suicide Prevention
Self Harm & Injury
Trauma
Teen Self-Help
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My Good Brain


San Francisco Bay Area, California USA

San Diego, California USA

©2026 My Good Brain Inc., a tax-exempt charitable organization (tax identification number 86-1952565) under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. All rights reserved.

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