Stories of Hope
Thank you once again for your commitment to the students in Culver City Below are two stories we would like to share that show the impact that the Friends of the Sandy Segal Youth Health Center has had on the youth we serve.
Brad
When 16-year-old “Brad” walked into SSYHC, he was very distressed. Even though he had been seeing a private therapist on a weekly basis, Brad had thoughts of killing himself and didn’t know if he could keep himself safe. What’s more, he had not disclosed any of this to his therapist. For nearly four hours, LCSW Maria Jarquin and a master’s level intern worked with this student, helping him get to a place where he felt comfortable enough to allow them to bring in his parents. Brad said that meeting with a SSYHC therapist was a “game changer”, and he knows now that it’s OK to share his feelings, when before he was afraid that doing so would scare his parents. The last time Jarquin checked in with Brad, it was his birthday and he was in much better spirits!
Cherie
“Cherie” is a 16-year-old sophomore who started going to SSYHC because of anxiety and panic attacks. She would worry excessively, and felt overwhelmed by school assignments and persistent negative thoughts. With therapist Jennifer, Cherie explored the origin of her symptoms, allowing her to break down these negative thoughts and practice effective problem solving and coping skills. Overtime, Cherie learned how to reach out for help and enthusiastically participates in a stress management group, where she provides helpful feedback to fellow participants, such as working through stressful events by using music, writing, and talking with her friends and family. Although she sometimes still struggles, Cherie has learned how to decrease anxiety while in class and follow through in her school work.