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Alicia* was 16 when she first began counseling at a United Way of Santa Barbara County funded agency. She was living with her single mother and had some contact with her father. Alicia’s mother brought her to the agency because of fears about the girl’s depression and acting out behavior. Alicia had been actively “cutting”, had run away from home on numerous occasions and had made a suicide attempt 2 years prior to the counseling session. Academically she was barely passing, with C’s and D’s.

Some time was required for Alicia to learn to trust and open up to her therapist. Art and play and music therapy were used, as well as talk therapy, which focused on getting Alicia to see how her actions impacted others.  Talk therapy also assisted her in identifying her own needs and desires and to give them an appropriate voice rather than acting out inappropriately or self-destructively.

Alicia’s mother was brought in to speak alone and with her daughter. Later, she went on to receive therapy to address her parenting and to learn to restructure her relationship with her daughter. As a result, Alicia’s mother is now in a satisfying personal relationship and has reduced her dependence on her daughter for support and social interaction.

Two years after beginning the therapy at the clinic, Alicia has graduated from high school. She has a part-time retail position and has applied to art school. She is no longer subjecting her body to self-injury and she has not attempted suicide since treatment began. She receives feedback more openly and does not immediately reject ideas, recommendations, or compliments. Alicia presented herself as a hopeless victim of circumstance - as someone without choices and internal resources to pull herself out. Now she is taking an active role in creating a positive and desired future for herself.


*Names have been changed to protect identities.  

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