About Us
Championing adolescents’ mental health and self-discovery.
Our mission is to nurture mental health journeys for young adults in a safe community using photography as the 3rd element in therapy.
To run targeted programs for ages 10-19, we establish MOUs with partners such as schools, religious institutions, hospitals, and therapists.
Schools & institutional partners
3rd Element Circles
Authentic Stories
Counseling Sessions
HOW WE WORK
Safe space for therapeutic photography and counseling.
The 3rd Element organizes an authentic community of young adults with access to a digital platform and physical sessions to interact and shine their lights. Our approach involves community membership, therapeutic photography, interactive activities, professional therapy, and creative empowerment.
We open our platform for adolescents of all experiences to find a safe haven and discover themselves through stories, photographs, and guided interactions.
No Intimidation Here!
Share your feelings, share therapeutic photographs, meet a counselor – Interactions Free for Adolescents.
Our Founder
Roland’s Story
Photography has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember! Beyond it being a “means to an end”, photography truly was my anchor in some of the darkest moments of my life!
As someone who struggled with low self esteem and depression, it was extremely difficult to strike the right balance between how people saw and perceived me versus who I truly was. For many years, I struggled with how to naturally express who I was.
Photography became the vehicle I used to gradually break out of the mold that had become my life. I found myself taking hundreds of selfies and always asking the question “Are you truly happy?”, “take a picture of Roland that truly shows how happy he feels right now”. This became a daily routine for me.
Looking back now, I can honestly say that photography helped save my life because it gave me its back to ride on when I was too tired to walk on my own!
OUR VALUES
Professional help for Young Adults
We believe in helping adolescents access professional help in their mental health journeys. No child should be left alone in the modern world as they transition into adults.
We uniquely deploy pediatric therapy using modern techniques and community interactions to help channel adolescent’s skills and their use of media tools into combating mental health struggles.
The power of sharing and community
We promote a safe and authentic community for adolescents to have a voice away from fear. We maintain open conversations among members with the close attention of certified therapists.
OUR VALUES
Creative expression
We believe in photography and storytelling as tools for communicating inner peace or anguish. We also believe in the use of photo-based methods for diagnosing and curing mental health issues.
We teach therapeutic photography skills and hold regular sessions to help community members write their mental health journeys in impactful pieces.
OUR VALUES
Self-care
We believe in wellness for oneself and achieving holistic self-care for a more fulfilled life.
At the 3rd Element, the process of adolescents establishing behaviors for self-care is guided by trained therapists.
Impact over profit
We execute our programs freely so that millions of adolescents can find professional support and resources to improve mental health and growth.
Testimonials
What members and partners say about us
Colleen Northstone
TeacherThe 3rd Element represents the needs of our growing children. Adolescents will totally benefit from the programs. The free mental health counseling service is important to address an increasing concern with teenage depression. And I believe photography as part of the tools is quite a good choice for engaging the young adults. 
Colleen Northstone
TeacherThe 3rd Element represents the needs of our growing children. Adolescents will totally benefit from the programs. The free mental health counseling service is important to address an increasing concern with teenage depression. And I believe photography as part of the tools is quite a good choice for engaging the young adults.
Colleen Northstone
TeacherThe 3rd Element represents the needs of our growing children. Adolescents will totally benefit from the programs. The free mental health counseling service is important to address an increasing concern with teenage depression. And I believe photography as part of the tools is quite a good choice for engaging the young adults.
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PROGRAMS
Impactful and engaging services for ages 10–19 towards mental wellness.
The Circle
The 3rd Element Circle is a weekly open conversation session for registered members led by a therapist at our Center. At The Circle, conversations are non-judgmental and open-hearted.
The 3rd Element Club
The 3rd Element Club is an art therapy club for high school pupil with memberships and programs at schools across U.S. The club and its members at each school is supported with resources and institutional oversight by our nonprofit.
MHT Week
The Mental Health Therapy Week (MHT Week) is a quarterly program by our nonprofit to raise awareness about mental health in the larger society and within our community. MHT Week culminate in a #StoryPicMeet event hosted in a chosen city to bring people together to explore, connect and share stories.
Empowerment Exhibition
While the 3rd Element Institute believes in adolescent’s wellness and achieving holistic self-care for a more fulfilled life, we also believe in financial empowerment for highly creative young adults in our community.
Frequently Asked Questions
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General
Membership
Privacy & Security
Submissions
General
Young adults between 10 – 19 years.
The 3rd Element is a nonprofit. We are able to carry out all projects and run the nonprofit by using donations, grants, and support from our partners and well-meaning individuals and corporations.
Yes. Members of the public and partners are encouraged to access our Annual Financial Reports here (link to report page on the website).
Membership
No. the 3rd Element community is free for participants in the U.S.
You can visit our center or register directly on our website portal
Not in all cases. We encourage adolescents living with parents or guardians to submit details of a trusted adult before they participate in physical community sessions and events that involve traveling. We also inform parents and guardians when their wards sign up for special therapy sessions. In some cases, parents enroll their children directly to the 3rd Element community so that their children can be engaged and deal with mental health issues.
Yes. Members of the community can book free sessions with our therapists
Yes. We train members on mental health practices, skill acquisition, financial management and other thematic areas.
Yes. You can freely join and freely exit the community at any time.
Privacy & Security
The community protects members’ privacy as a key responsibility. Young adults can also participate in the online community anonymously.
No. However, we encourage members to be authentic. Members who book therapy sessions will apply with their real identity details, and this will be protected under our privacy terms.
Submissions
No. An adolescent with or without photography knowledge is encouraged to join the community.
Each photograph must be given a story during submission. Stories should be as short as one phrase or sentence, but not longer than two thousand words
No file size. We encourage community members to submit original photos taken with their phones, laptop cameras, professional cameras or with other gadgets. Community members who are professional photographers can edit their work before submission if they wish.
You can edit a story within twenty-four hours. After that you would need to seek Admin permission to “delete” your story from the portal. In all cases, you have full control of your account. Admins will only check with you for confirmation and motive.
Yes. We organize exhibitions, and have an online gallery where members’ photographs are put up for sale. The proceeds go directly to the members.