At 13 years old, Isabella was referred to our Child ACTT program after several hospitalizations related to suicidal thoughts and severe self-harming behaviors. She spoke English, while her parents primarily spoke Spanish, which made communication at home more difficult. Most of her challenges were within the family, especially with her siblings, and she often felt isolated and misunderstood.

Although she had a few friends at school, Isabella struggled to build trust with others. Her anger was intense and often explosive, especially at home. When she began therapy, her therapist focused on building trust, knowing that Isabella felt like she had no one to turn to. The first goal was simply to show her that someone was truly there for her.

In the beginning, Isabella masked her emotions. She said she was using coping skills, but continued to self-harm. A breakthrough came when she told her therapist, “I self harmed and I didn’t want to tell you because I thought you would be disappointed in me.” That moment marked a turning point. She began texting her therapist directly when she self-harmed, which showed that trust was growing. It was no longer just her mother reporting incidents. Isabella was reaching out herself.

Together with her therapist, Isabella explored new ways to cope. Isabella found comfort in teddy bears and was given a grounding box using the 5-4-3-2-1 technique filled with her favorite things.

Her therapist introduced a reward system using Teaching Family Model skills, and Hello Kitty became a fun and motivating part of her progress. One of the biggest challenges was the cultural difference around mental health. Her parents were hesitant about medication, but over time they became more open-minded. Once Isabella started medication, her angry outbursts decreased, she laughed more with her family, and her suicidal thoughts faded. She was able to go out in public without arguments and began communicating more openly.

Isabella did not like praise or talking about her progress, but toward the end of treatment she said, “That’s the old me. I don’t know who that is anymore.” It was her way of acknowledging how far she had come. To celebrate her growth, she was gifted a six-foot teddy bear: something she could hug and feel safe with.

She also built a better relationship with her school principal and felt comfortable sharing that she had been bullied. Her hobbies include drawing, listening to music, and playing with her guinea pigs. She even shared that she dreams of becoming a veterinarian, despite academic challenges.

After nine months of therapy, Isabella was discharged in early March 2025. Her family later texted the therapist to say she was still doing amazing. Her mom shared, “We don’t even recognize our daughter anymore… she’s changed so much.”

Today, Isabella wants to live. She has found purpose, built self-esteem, and continues to grow. Therapy helped her discover new ways to cope, connect, and believe in her future.

Learn more about our Child ACTT program at www.childrenshopealliance.org/childactt.

Make a referral at www.childrenshopealliance.org/referral.