A research-based mobile and web game with a companion workbook for teens, designed to support emotional and mental wellbeing. Created with youth, for youth.

For Professionals Supporting Young People

Our tools support professionals working with young people across clinical, educational, and community settings. It supports emotional wellbeing, self-expression, and communication through creative, structured tools that adapt to your environment.

Psychologists

Support emotional expression in teens with creative, evidence-based tools that complement clinical practice.

Social Workers

Help young people reflect on experiences and communicate more openly using flexible, youth-friendly approaches.

Teachers and School Counsellors

Promote wellbeing, self-awareness, and communication with structured activities designed for school settings.

Youth and Community Professionals

Use guided tools in workshops, group sessions, and one-to-one support to engage young people in meaningful ways.

How It Works

Shadow’s Edge combines digital engagement with guided reflection to support emotional expression in a way that feels natural to young people.

1. A Story-Led Mobile Game

Young people engage with a narrative experience that encourages reflection, journalling, and creative expression.

2. Guided Activities and Workbook

Structured prompts and exercises help deepen reflection and support conversations in sessions or group settings.

3. Flexible Use in Practice

Use the tools in one-to-one sessions, classrooms, or workshops. Adapt them to your setting, pace, and approach.

Based on Real World Evidence

The following independent research has been done to support the creation of the game:

Lurie Children’s Hospital Clinical Trial (Dec 2018 – Nov 2020) under the lead of Dr. Bonnie Essner on identity formation, affect variability and emotional regulation. The clinical trial with 174 participants reported that players who engaged with the Shadow's Edge game endorsed higher levels of personal or ideological identity exploration and higher levels of social and interpersonal identity exploration.

University Zurich Pilot Study (Nov 2021 – Jan 2022) under supervision of Prof. Dr. Markus Landolt to investigate the impact of gameplay as a means of primary prevention in mental health. Results suggest the Mobile Game Shadow’s Edge may represent a promising, low-threshold support measure for improving mental health care and promotion for adolescents and young adults.

CINDE study (Feb 2023 - April 2023) under the supervision of Dr. Orlando Scoppetta to investigate the impact of gameplay and using the SEL companion book on wellbeing and resilience.

Facilitator Training Portal for Professionals

Learn how to confidently introduce and use Shadow’s Edge in your work.

The training platform provides practical guidance on:

how to use the game and materials together
how to support non-verbal expression
how to facilitate safe and meaningful conversations
how to adapt the tools to your setting

Designed to fit around your schedule, the training is accessible, practical, and easy to apply.

Access facilitator portal here

Tools and Materials Overview

Shadow’s Edge combines a mobile and web-based game with a companion workbook and practical resources to support young people’s emotional and mental wellbeing.

Together, these tools create a flexible approach that can be used across clinical, educational, and community settings.

Shadow’s Edge Game

A research-based mobile and web game that helps teens explore emotions, identity, and personal challenges through storytelling, journalling, and creative expression.

Companion Workbooks

A structured set of prompts and activities designed to support reflection, conversation, and deeper engagement alongside the game or as a standalone tool.

Practical Resources

Additional materials including workshop guides, posters, and downloadable content to support sessions, group work, and professional use.

All materials are designed to be easy to use, adaptable to your setting, and supportive of safe, creative expression.

View All Materials

Mobile and Web-based Game

Key Features

Narrative Therapy and Reflective Journaling
Creative Expression Tools
Mindfulness and Guided Meditation
Progressive Emotional Learning
In Game community
Interactive Challenges and Skill-Building Activities
In Game AI companion
Safe and Private Environment

Watch Game Play Video

SEL Companion Workbook

Key Features

Self-Awareness and Identity Development
Structured Pen-and-Paper Activities
Guided Journaling and Reflection
Creative and Art-Based Exercises
Mindfulness and Guided Meditation
Positive Psychology Practices
Age-Appropriate SEL Framework for Ages 11–17
Psychology-Led Content Development
Educator, Parent, and Clinician Friendly
Companion Resource to the Shadow’s Edge Game

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Look Inside

Tell Your Story Workbook

Key Features

Suitable for Individual or Supported Use
A self-expression workbook for teens to explore personal stories through creativity and reflection.
Structure:
Divided into three parts:
- Before the Story: Grounding exercises to check in with emotions and gather support.
- Exploring Your Experience: Creative prompts to help articulate memories and feelings.
- Understanding & Growing: Reflection on lessons learned and future aspirations.
Approach: Encourages individual pacing, creativity, and self-discovery without pressure.

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Download PDF

Available Languages

The game is available in English, Spanish, German, French, Portuguese Turkish, Dutch Polish and Arabic.

The companion workbook is available in English, Turkish and Spanish.

Both resources are free. If you want to use the SEL workbook in print, you can order it on Amazon at cost of print price.

Target Audience

Teens & Young Adults, 14 – 24 years old. The game has proven to work best for youth who are investigating their identity and processing feelings of anxiety, loneliness and sadness.

Ready to Get Started?

Access the full set of Shadow’s Edge tools, including the mobile game, workbook, workshop guide, poster, infographic, and research.

Download Materials

Access the platform and explore practical tools designed to support young people through creative, structured, and meaningful engagement.

Access The Facilitor Porttal

About Shadow’s Edge

Shadow’s Edge is part of The Digging Deep Project, a non-profit initiative focused on helping young people build resilience and express themselves through creative tools and reflective experiences.

You're welcome to integrate our resources into your practice in any way that you find helpful. The materials are free for you to use. If you're interested in obtaining anonymized and aggregated data from a group you work with, please get in touch via feedback@shadowsedge.com.

Psychological Team

More than 800 teens contributed to the development of these resources, in the US, Colombia and Europe. Our psychological advisors include Dr. Victor Schwartz, and clinical psychologists Kristi Pieckewicz and Nathaan Demers.

Kristi pikiewicz

Offers individual, couples and family therapy to adults, adolescents and children, and also a range of psychological testing and assessments. Her approach to therapy revolves around healing the divide between your unconscious and conscious selves — why do you feel the way you feel, do the things you do, think the way you think? You may have developed some of these ways of relating to the world as a child or young adult, training the patterns of your life to match your surroundings at the time. These unconscious ways of relating to the world, yourself and others may have helped you then.

Nathaan Demers

Nathaan is passionate about people. This passion has led him to an enriching career as a clinical psychologist, filled with a number of twists and turns working across a variety of settings including therapeutic boarding schools, community mental health, inpatient Neuro/Burn ICU's, Integrated Primary Care, Administrative Psychology, and most recently Digital Health.

He is an active traveler and athlete - these aspects of his life have inspired him to think beyond the traditional confines of mental health care. He strives to find innovative ways to expand the reach of behavioral health services to improve the lives of others. He is currently the VP & Director of Clinical Programs with Grit Digital Health.

Dr. Vic Schwartz

Before establishing Mind Strategies, Dr. Schwartz served for eight years as chief medical officer of The Jed Foundation, a leading non-profit focused on youth and young adult suicide prevention and mental health promotion. While there, Dr. Schwartz was a highly sought-after advisor and consultant and was a leader in developing approaches to messaging to young people about mental health and helping organizations develop their mental health activities and programming.