You Can Make a Difference

Jordan, a young man, battled substance use disorder for nearly a decade. He began using substances at just 15 years old, and over time, his usage escalated to injection. Despite several treatment attempts, Jordan had never completed a program successfully.

At EFR, his counselor took the time to understand Jordan’s story—exploring his past experiences with treatment to uncover the underlying reasons he struggled to finish each program. Together, they identified specific factors essential for his recovery and pinpointed a program that was a strong match.

When his admission was initially denied due to age restrictions, his counselor didn’t hesitate to advocate directly with the program, working tirelessly to secure Jordan’s placement. Through his counselor’s unwavering commitment and Jordan’s own readiness for change, we secured him a spot in his preferred program—giving him the best possible start on his journey to recovery.

A few weeks into the school year, Emma, a high school student, reached out to EFR’s Student Assistance Program (SAP) with concerns about her relationship with her stepmom. Emma felt she was being “singled out” and that her stepmom was “out to get her,” leading to constant tension at home. 

When her SAP counselor met with her and gathered more details, it became clear the issue wasn’t a single conflict— it was an ongoing struggle rooted in communication patterns.

Together, Emma and her counselor practiced using “I” statements and reframing her language to express herself more openly. Emma learned to approach conversations without assumptions or accusations, instead focusing on vulnerability and understanding. By their final session, Emma shared a transformative realization: “I feel like I have a whole new perspective on life, and I can actually connect with my stepmom now.”

Zoe, an elementary-aged student, was placed with foster parents during an active DHS case. Witnessing traumatic events and being separated from her biological parents fractured her sense of security and stability. After struggling to help Zoe through emotional outbursts, defiance, and trust issues, her foster parents sought outpatient counseling with EFR.

Together they worked with a therapist using Parent-Child Interactive Therapy (PCIT). This intervention strengthens parent-child relationships and teaches caregivers constructive behavior management skills. Soon Zoe’s foster parents adopted her, officially welcoming her into their family.

Today, Zoe and her parents have successfully graduated from PCIT. Zoe navigates hard emotions with more skill and continues to work with her therapist. Her parents learned the tools necessary to create structure and stability while working through misbehaviors. With the support of her new family, Zoe is developing close relationships built on love and trust.