Meet the New Therapists Helping Teen’s Cope with Trauma

Meet the New Therapists Helping Teen’s Cope with Trauma

Many of the teen girls using the services of our short-term residential center have felt unloved and abandoned. They don’t get the average teen experiences of sleepovers with their best friends or get to hang out at the mall with their buds. Most don’t get hugs from their mothers when they are feeling sick or a kiss on their cheek when they cry.

This was the motivation to bring in “Therapy Dogs” to the short-term residential campus for the sole purpose of bringing unconditional love and some snuggle time for our teen girls who may need the extra emotional support.

When the need was thrown out there, Diane and Toby (white Labrador pictured int he photo) heeded our call. Thanks to Beverly Berryman, Crittenton’s Community Engagement Manager, these two kind souls have graced the campus weekly since their first day in February of this year. The effects were immediate. The teen girls and staff alike were uplifted by Toby and asked emphatically when they would be back again.

A notable effect from Toby and Diane’s first visit was the effect they had on one or our very shy and reserved clients. Sometimes non-verbal, that week she hadn’t spoken for about 3 to 4 days. Her connection with Toby changed that. It was only a phrase and a half that she spoke while Toby was laying beside her as she sat on the grass, but the following day this young lady was back to her normal relatively quiet yet verbal self.

Diane, is a retired nurse from St. Jude’s of Fullerton, CA, who has long known of Crittenton’s youth. She had tended to many of our young mothers and their babies at the maternity ward of the hospital throughout the years. In her retirement, she is continuing to make an impact on our clients and the staff who serve them.

We’d like to thank Diane, Toby and the rest of the handlers and therapy dogs coming in to serve the youth at Crittenton Services. Your consistent work with our young clients and your encouragement of other potential donors and volunteers to help give additional support to kids who really need their help will always be appreciated it.

###

This excerpt was written and produced by long-time Crittenton therapist Maiko King who has continuously given her compassion and her all to the teen girls using the services of Crittenton’s short-term residential treatment center. If you’d like to know more information about our mission and the various mental health and child advocacy programs feel free to connect with us directly or engage with our mission through social media. We appreciate the support of our donors, volunteers, and employees for making a difference. 

Visit www.crittentonsocal.org  to learn more about our programs and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram,  LinkedIn, and Flickr.