Caleb Embraces Who They Are Thanks to YES
“Ever since about 2nd grade, I’ve struggled with depression. It really started to kick in at the beginning of middle school in 6th grade. I had very negative feelings towards myself and others. I had intentions of hurting myself and I didn’t feel good about the way I looked, and about my gender and sexuality. I began doing negative things for attention and then I got hooked on it.
In 2017, I started receiving services at YES. I was very anxious. I was not very trusting of anyone at that time. When I first started, I didn’t share a lot of things. But my counselor was really good at helping me come out of my shell, tell the truth, and verbalize what was actually going on. BGLAD and the facilitators have really helped me, and also the other people that I have been going to BGLAD with for the past two years. They helped me embrace who I am and not be afraid.
The feeling that I get after leaving YES is a lot more positive than when I come in. I learned that I am a much better person than I thought I was before first coming here, because I felt so bad about myself. I’m still working through that, but it’s gotten much better. I’ve learned better ways that I can cope.”
At YES, Caleb gained life-changing skills to manage emotional, behavioral and interpersonal challenges. Through Dialectical Behavior Therapy, an evidence-based therapy, Caleb learned how to identify and process emotions safely and effectively. BGLAD, a free drop-in group for youth ages 13 to 19 who identify as LGBTQ+ or may be questioning their gender or sexual identities, provided Caleb with acceptance and support.
Since then Caleb has met others who share a similar story and is considering becoming a trauma therapist to help others.
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Keth’s story of success is only made possible through the support of our amazing donors. If you’d like to participate and change the narrative for a child or youth struggling with depression, identity issues or other mental health and substance use challenges, please donate today.