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Background: Child and youth welfare (CYW) fulfils important social tasks. Work in CYW services is associated with stress and other strain factors, and employees in this field form one of the occupational groups with the highest levels of health risk and psychological strain. Evidence-based, low-threshold, and practical interventions remain scarce. This study evaluates a brief painting-based art-therapeutic and systemic intervention (bopain.t), in which art-therapeutic methods are deliberately used as coaching tools.

Objective: We hypothesized that the intervention reduces work-related strain, improves affective states, and produces immediate post-session effects on stress and mood.

Methods: In a randomized crossover design, n = 33 professionals (mean age: 38.6 ±11.0 years; n=31 female) completed two six-week phases (intervention/control) with a wash-out period in between. Work-related strain, affective states, and short-term stress indicators were assessed at multiple time points.

Results: Work-related strain decreased significantly during the intervention: In particular, nervousness (F = 4.151, p = .017, η² = .026) and conflicts (F = 6.192, p = .002, η² = .038) decreased, while only a small effect for workload decreased was observed. Negative mood and sadness decreased, while positive mood slightly increased. The strongest changes occurred immediately after the art-based units, with consistent improvements in stress reduction, emotional tension, and momentary mood.

Conclusion: Art-therapeutic procedures can serve as effective instruments within systemic coaching. The intervention is feasible, low-threshold, and provides immediate emotional relief for professionals in child and youth services. Further research with larger samples and extended follow-up phases is recommended.