Jenna’s Story: The Courage to Ask for Help
When Jenna was just ten years old, her world changed in ways no child should have to navigate alone.
After a painful rift in her family, Jenna and her mom lost their housing. What followed was a period of instability, uncertainty, and constant transition — moving from place to place and trying to hold things together with very little support. At school, the stress Jenna was carrying quickly became visible. Without the stability and resources that many of her peers had, she became the target of relentless bullying.
Even then, Jenna worried less about herself and more about her mom.
“She had her own struggles going on,” Jenna later shared. “I didn’t want to add to that.”
But inside, Jenna was carrying trauma, fear, and hurt that no child should have to manage on their own.
A Brave First Step
With remarkable courage and maturity, Jenna did something few fifth graders would think to do. She asked for help.
“I told my mom I wanted to see a therapist,” Jenna explained. “I was going through a lot and just needed someone to talk to.”
That brave request led Jenna and her family to Youth Eastside Services (YES), where she was connected to counseling services designed specifically to support children and families navigating trauma, instability, and emotional distress.
Through individual counseling services, Jenna began working with a therapist who helped her understand that what she had experienced was not her fault. At the same time, she was connected with a YES Behavioral Health Support Specialist through our school-based services program, ensuring she had support not only in therapy sessions, but also in the place where she spent much of her day.
This coordinated, wraparound approach helped Jenna feel supported, understood, and safe, both at school and beyond.
Learning to Heal and Grow
Over time, therapy gave Jenna something she hadn’t felt in a long while: confidence.
“Therapy has taught me to be more confident in myself,” she shared. “I’ve noticed that I’ve been doing a lot better recently, and my friends have noticed too.”
She also learned new coping skills that helped her respond differently when she felt hurt or overwhelmed.
“I used to hit back when I got hurt,” Jenna said. “Now I know other ways to deal with it.”
These moments, small on the surface, represented enormous growth. Jenna was learning emotional regulation, self-compassion, and empathy, skills that would serve her well far beyond childhood.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), experiences like housing instability and bullying are significant risk factors for youth mental health challenges, particularly anxiety and depression. Early access to mental health support can make a lifelong difference in how young people process trauma and build resilience
Rediscovering Joy
Healing isn’t only about working through hard things. It’s also about rediscovering joy.
This past summer, Jenna attended YES’ summer camp in partnership with the Lake Washington School District. For Jenna, camp wasn’t just a break from routine; it was a chance to laugh, make new friends, and feel like a kid again.
“It was really fun,” she said. “I liked that we had time to just be ourselves.”
Surrounded by peers, counselors, and caring adults, Jenna experienced something deeply healing: belonging.
Looking Ahead with Hope
Today, Jenna is twelve years old, hopeful, confident, and excited about what lies ahead.
She dreams of studying engineering one day. She loves Marvel movies. She’s counting down the days to her first concert.
When asked what therapy has taught her most, Jenna paused before answering.
“I feel like my self-image has definitely improved a lot,” she said. “I don’t blame myself for everything that happened. I look at things from different angles now. I’ve also been more understanding and empathetic toward other people.”
Because of the support made possible by YES donors, Jenna didn’t have to face her pain alone. She found a safe place to land, caring professionals who listened, and the tools to begin healing.
Most importantly, she learned something every young person deserves to know:
What happened to her does not define her.
She is worthy of care, connection, and a future full of possibility.
HELPING YOUTH LIKE JENNA
None of this would be possible without the support of our donors. Their generosity helped Jenna find safety, support, and the space to heal.
You, too, can be a lifeline in a young person’s life today by making a gift that provides families with hope for a brighter tomorrow! Whether you donate $5 or $500, every gift will make a difference in the life of a child or youth seeking hope and recovery.
Thanks to donations like yours, no youth is turned away because they can’t afford to pay for services.
