Story from Associate Clinical Director, Becki Hilas MSW, LSW about one of her clients.
Bria* is a teenager who came to Catholic Charities in the spring of 2021. At the time, Bria was struggling with grief and loss from the traumatic deaths of her pets. She was also coping with the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and experiencing severe anxiety symptoms. Bria had sensory sensitivity and intrusive thoughts that caused panic attacks and made mundane tasks such as laundry or a trip to the grocery store almost unbearable.
Throughout the course of our work together, Bria has been able to face and process her grief through words and artwork and come to accept the loss. She has also been able to create multiple positive social relationships with peers at school and has even accepted a leadership position in her final year of high school. Bria has also overcome most of her sensory sensitivity and has been able to work successfully at a part time job. Bria has identified a career she wants to go in and is already working towards that career by taking classes while she finishes high school.
Bria will graduate this spring and is proud to acknowledge how far she has come. She has a vision for her future, and truly believes she is worthy of good things. Bria is no longer afraid to ask for what she needs and work for what she wants. She has learned healthy coping skills, how to regulate her nervous system to feel calmer, and how to trust her own intuition. It has been an honor working with Bria. I know her future is going to be beautiful.
*Name changed to protect client identity.
