Frequently Asked Questions

Hi. I’m Alis Wintle Sefick and aws Studios.art is where I am an artist, writer, and mental health educator. You can read more about me here.

“aws” are my initials for Alis Wintle Sefick. I do not capitalize them. I like the look of “aws” not capitalized.

The plural Studios means a couple of things. Yes, I have two studios, one in upstate NY in the summer and one in Florida in the winter. The plural Studios also encompasses my many interests as an artist, writer, and mental health educator. Get a Subscriber Exclusive tour of the Studios here.

My tag line explained here.

At aws Studios.art, I not only share my mental health education and social emotional learning curriculum and activities at my Teachers Pay Teachers store, I am also an advocate for building mental health skills and social emotional learning. Developing these skills represents an essential initial step in promoting mental health and preventing mental illness and related disorders. “Boosting” is the term I use that means “advocating and promoting” mental health skill building.

Mental health skills are a person’s learned or inherent abilities to manage their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors to cope with life’s challenges and maintain overall well-being (AI). As a trained mental health educator, I often use the term “mental health skills.” Alternatively, the term “social emotional learning” is commonly used. Mental health skill building and social emotional learning, a.k.a. SEL, are the same.

You acquire mental health skills by first learning what they are and, then, how to perform the skill. Attainment of the skill happens with practice. Mental Health and Social Emotional Learning educators, counselors, therapists, and some healthcare providers are best equipped to teach these skills. In addition, informed and skilled parents, grandparents, and other caregivers can also “teach” mental health skills.

Mental health skills and social emotional learning are not a cure for mental illness or disorders. Mental health skill building and SEL are preventative measures that for many lessen the chance of mental illness or disorders.

Mental health skill building is the teaching and learning of practices that help to manage human emotion, thoughts, and behaviors, thereby improving overall well-being and functioning (AI assisted). 

Mental health skill building is the same as social emotional learning which is the process by which people acquire the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions, achieve goals, feel and show empathy, build positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. (CASEL)

SEL stands for social emotional learning.

Yes, mental health skill building and social emotional learning are the same.

The Courage Builders Facebook Group is a supportive space for anyone navigating personal fears—whether you’re working through your own challenges or guiding a loved one. We share practical tips, proven techniques, and strategies to build courage in the face of everyday anxieties or non-life-threatening fears.

phearnik!® means “little fear.”

phearnik!® is a small ragdoll plush. I made phearnik!® to help me remember to keep my irrational, non-life-threatening fears small. By not letting them get big (where they take control), I am more likely to be able step out of my comfort zone and give a new-to-me task a try.

phearnik!® is pronounced “fear nick.”

I liked the look of my “little fear’s” name with a “ph” instead of an “f.” I am a visual learner. So, how something looks, even a printed word or name, is important to me.

Again, it’s about the look. I like the look of phearnik!® with a small “p” instead of capitalizing it.

I like the look of the exclamation point at the end of the name. It gives the name an upbeat feel to match the plush’s upbeat essence.

phearnik!’s “®” means that the term or name “phearnik!” is a registered trademark with the US Patents and Trademark Office. No one can use the term without my permission.

Find out all about phearnik! the Courage Buddy here.

You can read about how phearnik!®, a little stuffed ragdoll, can do what I say it can do here.

Click to read about how the small plush helps both kids and adults manage their fear and anxieties.

Yes! Read about the science here.

The phearnik!® Campaign is a way for me to spread the word about phearnik!® the Courage Buddy. I want to help other fearful kids and adults like me to benefit from the cute and quirky plush. I want others to learn how to keep their fears small so they can enjoy life and live as fully as possible.

The Campaign is also a way for me to let people know when they will be able to purchase the plush and its accompanying picture book, Phoebe and phearnik! Fight BIG Fears.

In addition, participation in the Campaign gives people a way to support mental health, specifically, mental health skill building a.k.a. social emotional learning.

I “share” my art through my online gallery where a visitor can view my work representing various media and themes. I also provide originals and prints of my artwork online in my Etsy Art Shop.

Currently, I focus my artwork on landscape collage using recycled and vintage fabrics and paper.

I am a multi-creative. I express myself in a variety of areas including mental health education and creating art. I always need to be creating. I manage this by being organized, prioritizing tasks, and making sure I take time for selfcare – being physical, social, and enjoying my home, my family and friends, and nature.

Yes, I post about my art. Click to see blog posts about my art. Currently, I am focusing my efforts on getting the word out about phearnik! the Courage Buddy.

I find both sites – Teachers Pay Teachers and Etsy – offer me an uncomplicated way to provide my resources and products to consumers. Both online stores do a great deal of the work for a seller like myself. Once I learned how to add inventory, posting resources and other items became seamless without a lot of effort on my part.

Yes, there are “hardcopies” (non-digital) of some of my TPT resources available in my Etsy shop.

Absolutely. Here are links to some “freebies” I offer:

Mental Health Skills Checklist;

5 Steps to Help Kids Manage Fear;

5 Basics of Parenting Teens Pamphlet;

Social Styles (Personality Traits) List;

Power of Permission Slip;

and Phoebe and phearnik! Fight BIG Fears picture book trailer.

Yes, I am on all these social media platforms. I currently post mostly to Facebook and Instagram and engage more with Facebook. Follow me here: Facebook; Instagram; and LinkedIn.

Yes! You can follow my aws Studios.art Pinterest boards and see my “pins” here.