Addison, a high school sophomore, was failing at school. Struggling with posttraumatic stress disorder, she refused to get on the bus in the morning, she avoided the other students and she visited the nurse’s and counselor’s offices often.

Addison’s fears sprang from her mental health disorder. She just couldn’t cope with the pace of a typical school day. She needed to stop at times to deal with whatever issue was causing her distress, and there was no time to do that at school.

Mid-year, Addison’s parents and the school counselor decided to enroll Addison in the Heartland Family Service Therapeutic School. The K-12 school offers a full academic curriculum taught by special education teachers and on-site therapists who work with the students daily.

Initially, Addison resisted the change. But on her first day at the school, when her anxiety overwhelmed her, a therapist helped her to stop and compose herself. When she missed the bus, the staff picked her up. Day by day, they worked with Addison to calm her fears and keep her focused on her studies. She was good at math, so to boost her self-esteem the staff took her to an elementary school to volunteer. “I helped the students in math and reading,” Addison said. “That was a good experience, because helping other people actually helps me, too.”

Addison graduated last May after two and one-half years at our Therapeutic School. Now
she is looking for a job and is a more confident young woman who is making progress through her own success.