Impact Stories: Community Counseling

Meet Karla

Karla, a bright and kind-hearted 14-year-old, found herself struggling after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fearful her parents might get sick, she couldn’t sleep, fell behind in school, and withdrew from friends. With no health insurance, finding help seemed impossible – until a church friend recommended Catholic Charities counseling program. Our bilingual therapist helped Karla share her feelings.

Through their sessions, she learned to manage her fears, express herself at home, and rebuild her confidence. Her grades improved, and even a new fear of dogs became something she could overcome. Today, Karla is stronger, more confident and ready for her future.

Meet Anthony

Anthony felt overwhelmingly distant from friends and family, and when he did spend time around people, he dreaded it. The thought of who he wanted to become was hazy, and he began to doubt his ability to grow toward his goals. Anthony was suffering from severe social anxiety and struggling with his self-identity. Seeking to make a change, he reached out to Catholic Charities’ Community Counseling program.

Throughout his first few sessions with his Catholic Charities counselor, Anthony was remarkably quiet. Slowly, he started to tell more of his story, including personal challenges with low self-esteem, negative outside influences, and the stress he faces at home. Anthony and his therapist met weekly to elevate his self-confidence, and discussed goals and ambitions he could work toward. He found new interests in music and growing plants. He graduated from college with an Information Technology degree and started a full-time position after practicing mock interviews with his therapist.

Anthony’s therapist is incredibly proud of him for continuing to accomplish the goals he established. The two look forward to their future sessions to catch up about activities that Anthony now has the confidence to pursue. A train ride to visit friends or an overnight professional convention are things Anthony now feels excited to do.

Meet Davonte

Davonte felt the weight of the world on his shoulders. After a falling-out with his girlfriend, the mother of his newborn daughter, he felt a deep sense of regret and shame for what he had said and done. Life felt heavy, and he felt lost. Davonte's frustration created a divide so deep that it began to feel like everyone was against him, even himself. "Can I come back from this mistake?" he thought, "Will I ever have a place in my daughter's life."

Davonte came to Catholic Charities seeking counseling services in search of a path forward and a means of talking things through. With one of our therapists, he was finally able to fully express his regret and process the difficult emotions he was experiencing.

Feeling supported and relieved, during the conversation Davonte identified his Stepdad as a supportive figure in his life - someone who always shared a word of encouragement. With the help of Catholic Charities, Davonte discovered a newfound inspiration and the first step toward a happier future.

Meet Elena

For Elena, the hope and excitement of high school graduation was overshadowed by anxiety and a lack of self-esteem. She was involved with a community group that suggested she call Catholic Charities’ Community Counseling program. Although scared and nervous, she bravely called to schedule her first session. Her Catholic Charities therapist helped her feel safe to talk about her feelings, trauma, and choices.

She shared her sense of abandonment from her biological father. She revealed an abusive relationship with a boyfriend and shame placed on her by her stepfather. The counselor gave her guidance on ways to improve how she sees herself, learn from her experiences, and reduce her stress and anxiety. She continues to meet with her counselor and feels more relaxed, with less anxiety and more self-confidence to step into adulthood.

Meet Maria

You may imagine the hope and excitement that a new immigrant feels when they arrive in the U.S. It’s true, there is hope, but there is also sadness for the loss of family, culture, and country. Maria moved to the U.S. with her husband and daughter leaving behind her parents and friends. When the pandemic hit, Maria’s worries grew for everyone she loved. She could see her daughter struggling to adjust to online schooling and separation from friends. Maria desperately missed the support of her parents and was also incredibly worried for their health and safety.

Maria’s fear and sense of isolation affected everything – she was unable to sleep and couldn’t share her feelings with her husband. A friend recommended that she call Catholic Charities to speak with one of our bilingual, Spanish-speaking therapists, and Maria found the support she needed. By speaking with a therapist fluent in her first language, Maria was able to fully express all the emotions building up inside her. “Therapy helps me reconnect with myself and my family and to keep going. I’m able to rediscover my strengths and values,” said Maria.

Meet Olivia

Olivia felt trapped. She was in a relationship that wasn't healthy and worried that there was no escape for her and her three daughters. She had been married for 19 years and had no family in the United States besisdes her husband and his family. She knew that leaving meant her and her daugthers would be alone. Olivia came to Catholic Charities in hopes of gaining more self-esteem and self-worth, knowing that she needed to be prepared to take this step for herself and her daughters. To create a safer life for her and her daughters, she found a new place to live.

After working with her counselor at Catholic Charities she shares, "I felt like a new woman. I began accomplishing my goals and gained the courage to start a new beginning with my girls. I am stronger now." Olivia said she knows she can face whatever might lie ahead for her family.

Meet Estelle & Gabriel

Living with chronic pain and learning from doctors that it would likely not improve was devastating for Estelle. Her exhaustion from the pain was affecting her marriage, family relationships, and the active lifestyle she once enjoyed. Falling into depression, she knew she needed professional help to manage these difficult emotions and changes in her life. She and her husband, Gabriel, began meeting with a Catholic Charities counselor. “It was a matter of helping Estelle accept that there were things she couldn’t do anymore. We talked about things she enjoyed and could still do. Although I couldn’t help with her physical pain, I could help her look at life in a new way, focus on her strengths, and find the support she needed” her counselor reflects.

While Estelle is coping better and finished her counseling sessions, Gabriel decided to continue in her place meeting with the counselor. They are both benefiting from healthier, more positive relationships with each other and their family.

Meet Trevor

After months away, Trevor was returning to his community unsure of where he fit. He didn't have a place to live, people to turn to, and he was struggling with depression and anxiety. Feeling alone and without support, Trevor turned to drugs and alcohol to cope with the issues that were impacting his life. He found shelter at the Salvation Army that provided him with a temporary place to live and links to community services. That's when he began working with Raquel, a Community Counselor at Catholic Charities, who helped Trevor develop safe ways to cope, healthy habits, and worked with him to reach his first goal of holding down a job. Raquel also connected Trevor with a local substance abuse program while she continued to him him focus on his mental health.

Raquel reflects on his dedication and progress. "Today he has a stable job and home life, a goal that he achieved through hard work. He shared that because of Catholic Charities, he finally has a 'safe place to talk' and work through some of the challenges that have negatively impacted his life for so long. He tells me now 'things are going to get better.'

Meet Daivon

Daivon was lost after spending time in the hospital, diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder. His symptoms were severe and recurrent which made it hard for him to hold a full-time job and made him feel even more depressed. He began drinking more and smoking to cope. Daivon wanted to make a change so he reached out to Catholic Charities.

He met with a therapist weekly and learned positive coping skills to manage his anxiety. He reduced his drinking, stopped smoking, and found a job that he enjoys. We have seen a significant difference in Daivon’s life since he walked through our doors; so much so that his depressive disorder is in remission!

Meet Jose

After witnessing a highly traumatic event, 8-year-old José had trouble sleeping and was having frightening flashbacks and nightmares. Concerned for his well-being, Jose’s parents brought him to Catholic Charities seeking help.

Our bilingual community counseling therapist, Ramona, began teaching José basic coping skills to relax his body and mind and to identify safe places and people. He was given a safe, comfortable place to talk, play, draw, and learn, and he quickly began to show signs of improvement.

His parents were relieved. “We’re so blessed that Ramona was able to help my son and our family,” José’s mother said. “I’m just so happy to see my little boy be himself again.”

Meet Tonya

Overwhelmed with depression and thoughts of suicide, Tonya came to Catholic Charities seeking help. Tonya met regularly with a community counseling therapist to work through her depression. Tonya revealed that she was struggling with unhealthy relationships with men and had lost her job. She admitted she was becoming more withdrawn, crying frequently, and feeling hopeless. Her therapist helped her manage her depression and develop coping skills.

Tonya’s depression has become manageable and she continues to journal and use other skills she learned from her therapist. She is once again employed and has even enrolled in college to further her personal and professional growth. She said, “I now have a great outlook on my future thanks to the counseling I received.”