Learning to Process Emotions

Chase arrived at Nexus-Gerard Family Healing at the age of 11 during an incredibly challenging period in his young life. He struggled with managing his anger and emotions, resulting in numerous incidents of violence and running away from home, which often required police intervention and led to multiple hospital visits due to the risk he posed to himself and others. His mother, Melinda, realized that he needed intensive treatment. While feeling overwhelmed and unsure of how to support her son, she faced several obstacles in securing the necessary funding for the care he desperately needed. Fortunately, a compassionate psychiatric nurse who had been involved in Chase's case recognized the potential for a tragic outcome without residential treatment. Together, Melinda and the nurse bravely advocated for funding from the county, and ultimately approval was granted for Chase to enter the residential program at Nexus-Gerard Family Healing.

 Melinda had researched Nexus-Gerard thoroughly as she wanted the best for her son and aimed to ease his transition. After watching a video about Nexus-Gerard Family Healing, she was relieved to find that the reality matched what was presented. Upon arriving on campus, she was in awe. “Everyone was so welcoming,” Melinda remarked, “I knew right away that this was the right place for Chase.” Like any parent, she felt emotional about admitting her child to a facility an hour and a half away. Parent Partner Joanna Dye provided reassurance, validating Melinda’s feelings. “When I met with Joanna, she was wonderful,” Melinda shared. “She helped me understand that my feelings as a parent were normal and that everything would be alright.” Melinda was also comforted to learn that Gerard would assist in transporting Chase home for time with family to work on healing their relationship, a crucial component of the treatment journey. Melinda recalled a time early in Chase’s journey when, after discussions with him, she felt he wasn’t in a good state of mind for a weekend at home. She appreciated that Amanda Hanson, Chase’s therapist and Clinical Supervisor of the Villa dorm, agreed with her and determined that a trip home at that point would not be beneficial. Amanda held Chase accountable for his actions without accepting excuses, while also connecting with him through their shared love of animals. “Amanda was a perfect fit as a therapist for Chase,” Melinda noted. During his stay, Melinda and Chase's brothers were able to visit him also, staying in the guest apartment on campus and enjoying family activities together. It was important to Melinda to maintain a sense of normalcy, as she wanted Chase to feel neither guilty nor punished.

Learning new skills

Chase spent a year at Nexus-Gerard and faced significant challenges in expressing his emotions without resorting to aggression. His anger would overwhelm him, leading to impulsive outbursts. However, through dedicated work in therapy and participating in group sessions with his peers, Chase discovered healthier ways to communicate. He emerged as a leader on the dorm, flourishing when given extra responsibilities. This newfound confidence allowed him to abandon violence and take accountability for mistakes. Chase developed a passion for school, thriving within the structured environment and smaller classrooms that the on-site school provided. All his efforts to succeed were now supported by the skills he had acquired. Chase did the hard work that was necessary to succeed, and he was never alone on his healing journey. Chase always had the unwavering support of his family and the Nexus-Gerard treatment team to get him through the hard times.

Now 13 years old, Chase has been home for over a year and is thriving. Although he still experiences overwhelming days, the skills Chase worked hard to developed at Nexus-Gerard enable him to process his feelings and prevent his thoughts from spiraling out of control. He participates mostly in mainstream classes at school instead of requiring a day treatment setting and has become more adaptable to various situations. Chase is a loving and compassionate boy who shows empathy towards others in distress. Discussions about the Nexus-Gerard staff still frequently arise at home to this day.

When Melinda was asked what she felt was the most beneficial aspect of Chase's time at Nexus-Gerard, she expressed, “He was so loved there. Chase truly learned to process situations and his emotions. He needed accountability and to learn to appreciate what he has. Being away from home at Nexus-Gerard allowed him to achieve that.”