More than 20 years ago, Brooke arrived at Nexus Family Healing’s residential program in Austin, Minnesota, during one of the hardest times of her life. At that time, she was struggling deeply with her mental health and felt very alone. Her mother, who battled alcoholism, had suffered a stroke and was living in a nursing home. Brooke felt disconnected from much of her family and believed she did not belong anywhere. Looking ahead, it was hard for her to see a future worth holding onto.
When Brooke entered residential treatment, something began to change. For the first time in a long while, she felt a sense of belonging. The staff welcomed her with care, consistency, and honesty. They were firm when needed, but always supportive. Most importantly, they believed in her – even when she struggled to believe in herself.
Brooke spent about 18 months in treatment. During that time, she not only began healing emotionally, but also built confidence and a strong work ethic that she still carries with her today. She remembers a teacher in the on-campus school who took extra time to support her when she was deeply afraid of leaving because she wasn’t sure she knew how to function as an adult.
That support came in a meaningful, practical way. Brooke helped care for a classroom guinea pig named Skunkie. Feeding and cleaning Skunkie’s cage before school became part of her daily routine. The teacher spent one-on-one time with Brooke, helping her learn responsibility, structure, and self-confidence. Brooke remembers being honest with that staff about how scared she was of the “real world,” and how much it meant that someone truly listened and walked alongside her through that fear.
In addition to these moments, Brooke participated in life skills activities, along with her dormmates, that were led by Youth Care Professionals. She learned how to navigate relationships, trust adults, and build healthy connections with peers. Group therapy became a favorite part of her experience as well, and many of the tools she learned there continue to guide her life today.
Before leaving, Brooke’s therapist helped her transition to a foster home in a nearby community. She had multiple visits there before moving and felt supported during the change. Shortly after leaving care, Brooke became pregnant. Wanting to be closer to her biological family during this time, she chose to leave the foster care system.
Becoming a mother
Becoming a young, single mother brought both joy and challenge. Like all parents, Brooke needed support, but she found that not everyone that she turned to for support had her and her child’s best interest at heart. When it was discovered that her child had experienced abuse while visiting another household, Brooke focused on what she knew best – loving and protecting her child with everything she had.
As her child grew older, Brooke began noticing familiar struggles that reminded her of her own youth. Her child was trying to process painful experiences without having the words to name them. Around the same time, her child shared that his gender identity did not match the female gender assigned at birth. He chose the name William and began his journey as a trans male.
William’s mental health challenges became more intense during his teenage years. Episodes of aggression and self-harm led Brooke to seek support through a social worker and therapy, but progress was limited. After Brooke was involved in a car accident, the family connected with a Parent Advocate who truly listened and stood beside them. Together, they recognized that William needed a higher level of care.
Nexus provided support once again
Brooke knew exactly where she hoped that help would come from. She agreed to residential treatment only if William could attend Nexus’s campus in Austin — the same place that once helped her build confidence, life skills, and hope. William was accepted into the program.
This time, Brooke experienced Nexus from a new perspective — as a parent. Brooke, her husband, and William’s toddler sister stayed closely involved, visiting often and participating in family therapy. William began learning how to build healthy peer relationships, communicate his feelings safely, and develop confidence in who he is.
As William made progress, he was able to spend more time at home, practicing his new skills while strengthening relationships within his family. Those visits went so well that the team agreed it was time for him to return home permanently.
William’s transition home was successful. Today, he is in school, communicating openly with Brooke, and continuing to grow. Reflecting on the journey, Brooke shared that the skills she learned at Nexus shaped not only her healing, but her entire future. She now owns her own Massage Therapy business, works with her own clients, raises two children, and cares for four animals. Most importantly, she has had the privilege of helping hundreds of people throughout her life, easing their pain and stress through massage.
“Our family would not be where we are today if Nexus Family Healing had not come back into our lives,” Brooke shared.
Stories like Brooke and William’s remind us that healing doesn’t end at Nexus — it grows, carries forward, and sometimes even comes full circle.