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When Damien first came to The Up Center’s clinic, it wasn’t entirely by choice. At the urging of a loved one, he decided to give therapy a try, though he wasn’t sure it would help. Like many adults balancing work, relationships, and family, he had been quietly struggling with anxiety, self-doubt, and the constant pressure to hold everything together.

From the very first session, Damien began to open up about how disconnected he felt—from himself, from others, and from the life he wanted to live. Under the guidance of his licensed art therapist, Damien found new ways to express emotions that had been buried under years of stress. Through conversation and creative interventions, he began to shift his perspective and rebuild his sense of self.

By his second session, Damien was already making intentional changes in how he viewed and responded to challenges. Over the course of just five sessions, he grew more confident, calm, and connected. His anxiety decreased, and he found himself more present with his spouse and child—laughing more, listening more, and truly showing up for the moments that mattered.

Damien’s story is a powerful reminder that healing can begin with a single step—a willingness to try. With support and openness, change can come faster and deeper than imagined, bringing peace not only to the individual but to the entire family.

Emotion Detectives was designed for adolescents struggling with anxiety, sadness, anger, fear, or depression. Led by compassionate clinicians, the program helped participants explore their feelings, identify what triggers them, and learn healthy ways to cope. Each week, the young participants practiced tools to calm themselves, communicate more effectively, and build confidence in handling everyday stress.

By the end of the 8 weeks, five students proudly graduated from the group—each one leaving with greater self-awareness and emotional strength.

One parent wrote afterward:

“Good morning, Ms. Hassell. I wanted to express my gratitude for your time, energy, patience, and resources that you poured into my son and his group. He has learned so much and will often pause and think when he’s in a situation that brings up difficult emotions. One million thanks will never be enough.”

Groups like Emotion Detectives give young people the tools to manage life’s hardest moments and remind them that their feelings matter—and that they have the power to handle them with courage and care.

When Chelsea, a 14-year-old girl, first came to The Up Center’s clinic, she was struggling to control her anger and had begun to harm herself when she felt overwhelmed. Her world felt out of control, and she didn’t know how to express what she was feeling.

Through patience, trust, and consistent support, Chelsea began working with one of our resident clinicians to understand the emotions beneath her anger. Together, they explored coping techniques that helped her manage her feelings at home, at school, and with her peers. Slowly, she learned to recognize her triggers and find healthier ways to respond.

As her confidence grew, so did her relationships. Chelsea began reconnecting with her family and building stronger friendships. She also joined her school’s basketball team—realizing that movement, teamwork, and discipline gave her a positive outlet for her energy. Instead of turning her anger inward, she started to “clap it out” on the court, channeling her emotions into focus and determination.

By the end of treatment, Chelsea no longer hurt herself when she was upset. She had learned how to face her emotions with strength, self-awareness, and resilience.

Her story is a beautiful reminder that with the right support, healing can transform pain into purpose—and that every young person deserves the chance to discover their own strength.

When Melissa first came to The Up Center’s clinic, she was in crisis. She was struggling with severe mental health challenges, including suicidal thoughts and distressing hallucinations. Life felt overwhelming—she was at risk of losing custody of her young son and unsure where to turn for help.

From the beginning, the team worked closely with Melissa to build a plan for stability and healing. Through twelve weeks of consistent care, therapy, and support, Melissa began to rebuild her life piece by piece.

Her progress was remarkable. She found steady employment, enrolled in a certificate program, and even purchased a mobile home on her own—creating a safe, stable environment for herself and her son. She learned to set healthy boundaries with family, repaired her relationship with her child’s father, and began advocating for herself with confidence and clarity.

Clinically, her growth was just as profound. When she began care, her anxiety measured at a severe level with a GAD-7 score of 20. By the time she completed treatment, that number had dropped to 10. Her depression score decreased from 25 to 7, showing just how far she had come.

When asked what stood out most, her clinician shared, “Her greatest achievement was learning to ask for help. She found her voice, began advocating for herself, and started truly believing in her ability to heal.”

Today, Melissa leaves care with no suicidal ideation, renewed stability, and a hopeful outlook for her future. Her story is a testament to resilience, perseverance, and the life-changing impact of compassionate care.

When Mr. and Mrs. Carter came to the Military Family Clinic at The Up Center, they were looking for marriage counseling and a chance to repair their relationship. After months of living apart, both were struggling to reconnect and find the trust they had lost. From the moment they walked through the doors, the intake team welcomed them with compassion, respect, and understanding.

During their intake, the team listened closely and recognized that before the couple could begin marriage counseling, they each needed space to heal individually. After consulting with the clinic director, it was recommended that both start with individual counseling first. When Mr. Carter heard this, he was initially frustrated—he wanted to fix things right away. But after speaking with the director and understanding the reasoning, his perspective changed.

He later shared heartfelt gratitude for the team, describing how his wife had never felt safe or comfortable seeking counseling before. For the first time, she felt seen and supported. After meeting with Jasmine during their intake, she even suggested that she and her husband go to lunch together—a simple gesture, but one that marked the first time in months she had wanted to spend time with him.

Mr. Carter said that moment gave him hope. He told the team that their professionalism and warmth had helped him believe that healing was possible—not just for his wife, but for them as a couple. His wife is now beginning individual counseling at the Military Family Clinic and he is preparing to do the same.

The Carters’ story is a powerful reminder that progress often begins with empathy and trust. With the right support, even the smallest steps forward can lead to lasting change.