At the age of 15, Heidi was referred to the Family Care Network’s ICD program by the Probation Department because of her troubling behaviors. After numerous counts of vandalism and truancy, Heidi was about to be expelled from school. As her parents struggled to care for her multiple mental health needs, Heidi was at risk of being placed in an intensive foster care program. At only 15, Heidi could be defensive and defiant, struggling to communicate appropriately to peers, her teachers and her parents. When she was placed in ICD, it became her counselor’s goal to help Heidi understand the issues behind her behaviors while learning ways to improve them.

Trust was not something that came easily to Heidi, so when she first met with her ICD counselor, she was reluctant to speak to her. The counselor spent time helping Heidi feel comfortable by providing her with a safe space to talk. Heidi relaxed the more her counselor talked to her on her own level—not judging Heidi, but rather, inquiring about Heidi’s interests and trying to understand Heidi’s family and background. In learning about Heidi’s life, her counselor uncovered that Heidi’s parents worked a great deal out of the home and when they were home they argued frequently in front of her. Heidi didn’t trust her parents, which resulted in her being very wary and defiant to authority figures and adults in general. By having a better understanding of Heidi’s issues and why she struggled with attention-seeking behaviors, Heidi’s counselor was able to help Heidi learn to employ anger management techniques so that she could make better choices and express herself to others more appropriately.

As Heidi and her counselor’s relationship developed, Heidi felt comfortable having her parents join them for several counseling sessions. During those sessions, Heidi, with her counselor’s help, expressed to her parents how uncomfortable their arguing made her feel and how she didn’t feel safe in their home. While the sessions were difficult, Heidi and her parents were able to talk through many of the issues between them, improving their relationship greatly by inviting in more trust and honesty. As Heidi found her voice in talking with her parents and counselor, her self-confidence grew. With more self-confidence, Heidi found herself wanting to practice more pro-social behavior at home and at school.

Heidi, a more confident and trusting individual, now finds herself a happier 16 year old girl—more adjusted to her family and better equipped to deal with the ups and downs of being a teenager. While Heidi may not have all the answers yet, she knows that with the support of her family, she has the strength to go the distance.

To read more stories click here!

*names and photos of clients are ficticious to protect their identity