07/15/2026
Serious JuJu Launches Montana’s First Therapeutic Skateboarding Program.
Innovative program combines licensed mental health therapy, skateboarding, and family engagement to build resilience in youth.
KALISPELL, Mont. — Serious JuJu Skateworks has launched an innovative therapeutic skateboarding program that combines evidence-based mental health practices with skateboarding to help children and adolescents build emotional resilience, self-confidence, healthy coping skills, and lasting social connection.
Developed in partnership with licensed mental health professionals, the program integrates proven therapeutic approaches—including Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), bilateral stimulation, mindfulness, emotional regulation, and self-confidence building—within the unique environment of a skatepark. By combining structured clinical interventions with physical movement and family involvement, the program offers an engaging alternative to traditional office-based therapy.
"Skateboarding naturally teaches persistence, emotional regulation, frustration tolerance, and problem-solving. When we intentionally pair those experiences with evidence-based therapeutic techniques, we're able to help young people develop skills they can carry into every area of their lives," said Kianna Chandler, LCSW, clinical program manager for The Balance Project.
Family participation is a cornerstone of the program. Parents and caregivers receive practical tools to reinforce the skills their children are learning while strengthening communication, trust, and connection at home. This collaborative approach helps ensure that therapeutic gains extend beyond the skatepark and into everyday life.
Research consistently demonstrates that physical activity plays a significant role in improving mental health by reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression, enhancing executive functioning, and supporting emotional regulation. Skateboarding offers an especially powerful combination of movement, creativity, concentration, and achievable goal-setting, making it an ideal platform for therapeutic growth.
The therapeutic skateboarding program reflects Serious JuJu’s ongoing commitment to expanding access to innovative mental health services for children and families throughout Northwest Montana. As one of the region's leading youth-focused nonprofits, the organization continues to develop programs that address the growing need for accessible, engaging, and effective mental health support.
"Every child deserves the opportunity to discover their strength," said Chandler. "This program transforms the skatepark into more than a place to learn tricks—it becomes a place where young people can heal, build confidence, develop resilience, and realize what's possible both on and off the skateboard."
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The Balance Project is made possible through generous grant funding from the Montana Healthcare Foundation, and the Community Foundation of New Jersey.
https://www.seriousjuju.com/the-balance-project
