Rose Breaks a Family History of Addiction
Lidia Harding
Giving Substance Abuse Success Stories Youth and Family Counseliing
Rose breaks a family history of addiction
When Rose was just two years old, she was left in the care of her grandmother because her own mother suffered from ongoing drug addiction. She grew up feeling lost and abandoned. In middle school, she began to use drugs and alcohol to cope with her emotions. Then when she reached high school, her mother died as a result of her addiction.
That’s when Rose reached out to Youth Eastside Services (YES). She was ready to face her family’s history of addiction and wanted to work through her grief and trauma in a healthier way, but she couldn’t pay for counseling.
Thanks to donors, Rose finds the support she couldn’t afford
Thanks to the support of generous YES donors, Rose was able to receive mental health and substance use services, even though she didn’t have insurance and wasn’t able to afford the services. Thanks to a sliding scale fee that went all the way down to $0, she began seeing a co-occurring disorder counselor, who treated both her substance use and mental health challenges. Alongside her counselor, a YES psychiatrist helped Rose manage her bipolar disorder and ADHD. She found additional support from her peers as they worked together through their challenges during a 16-week Dialectical Behavioral Therapy group.
“I never really had the chance to sit and think things through. Now, after my sessions with my counselor, I spend the week thinking things through and journaling. It gave me something positive to work on. It helped me be more aware of what’s going on with me, rather than focusing on other people’s opinions,” said Rose.
Celebrating three years sober
Recently, Rose celebrated three years sober. She’s continuing her education at Bellevue College while working at a local restaurant. She enjoys spending time helping her grandmother, taking care of her pets, and creating vibrant artwork.
Rose has a great deal to be proud of! As for Rose’s future…
“I want to find a meaningful career. I love animals, so maybe doing something with animals and caring for my grandma as she gets older.”
* While the client story told here is true, the name, image, and identifying information have been changed to protect the privacy of the client.
Recovery stories like these are made possible through the generosity of many YES donors. Supporters provide ALL children, youth, and families in East King County with a chance of recovery every year. Thanks to the YES community who continue to support evidence-based therapies and provide young people with hope for a better tomorrow.
You too can be a lifeline in a young person’s life today by making a gift to provide youth 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.
