Client Stories
Roberto’s Story: A Place to Call Home
For Roberto, stability once felt out of reach. Growing up in foster care meant moving around a lot and between several homes, never staying long enough to feel safe or grounded.
When he aged out of the system, Roberto faced the harsh realities of adulthood without a safety net. He struggled to find housing, keep steady work, and balance school—all while carrying the weight of past trauma.
“Transitioning out of foster care was one of the hardest things I’ve ever experienced,” Roberto shared. “I didn’t know where I would sleep some nights, and the stress made it hard to keep up with school or work.”
Thankfully, that’s when Wellnest stepped in. With support from his case manager, Rafael, and the Wellnest Housing Services team, Roberto found stable housing, an essential first step toward independence. “Having a place to call my own gave me the foundation to focus on school and work without worrying where I’d sleep,” he said.
Beyond housing, Roberto accessed emotional health services that helped him process foster care experiences and begin to heal. “Having someone consistently check up on me, guide me through paperwork, and remind me I wasn’t alone has made a huge difference,” he shares.
Today, Roberto is focused on building a stable future for himself and his older brother, Alejandro. He credits Wellnest with helping him move from uncertainty to possibility. “For someone like me who came out of foster care with very little, having Wellnest step in has given me stability, hope, and a chance to build a better future for me and my brother,” he said.
To learn more about Wellnest’s Housing and Support Services, click here.
Stacey and Noah’s Story: A Supportive Healing Journey
Stacey is mother to Noah, who will be five in November. Their journey with Wellnest began when Noah was two and a half years old. At the time, Stacey was feeling overwhelmed and trying to navigate trauma from her relationship with Noah’s father. She didn’t fully trust the system and opening up to a therapist felt scary and unfamiliar.
But as she started weekly sessions through Wellnest’s Early Intervention program, things began to shift. A major turning point came when she was connected to Ciara, a therapist who made Stacey feel seen.
“She didn’t just show up, she saw me,” Stacey says. “She listened without judgment and I started to trust her.”
Through those weekly sessions, they practiced calming breathing techniques together like, “Smell the flower” or, “Blow out the candle” and gentle leg tapping. And sometimes Noah is the one who reminds her to take a breath and says, “Mama, breathe.”
Today, Stacey is almost a year into her recovery. She has stable housing and income, is certified through LAUSD for janitorial work, and is enrolled in the HSS program. Life looks very different and more hopeful.
“My advice to anyone going through something similar is this is, don’t be afraid. Be honest,” she says. “There are tools that can help you become a better parent and a better person. Not everyone is out to get you. Some people really do care.” For Stacey and Noah, Wellnest is one of those places.
To learn more about our Early Intervention program, click here.
Ashley: From overwhelmed to empowered
Life was overwhelming for Ashley (18 y/o) before she found Wellnest. She struggled with anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), emotional dysregulation, anxious attachment, and a strong tendency to people-please. “I didn’t really know how to handle my emotions,” Ashley shares. “I kept everything in and tried to be okay for everyone else.” Her family, especially her mom Martha, grandma Juana, brother Angel, and her aunts Jacqueline and Julany were always there for her, but even with their support, Ashley knew she needed something else to truly heal.
That’s when she was connected to Wellnest and met her therapist, Eryn. “I got a great therapist who was real with me and was very supportive. She gave me great advice on how to work through my emotions, like doing video logs so I can hear myself work through my emotions.” With Wellnest’s Outpatient Services, Ashley was encouraged to heal and grow.
What stood out most to Ashley was the way Eryn showed up for her beyond their sessions. “Eryn supported me in my school endeavors by coming to my school’s farmers market.” Wellnest also provided support for Ashley’s family during the holidays. Ashley has always had a deep love for animals, and caring for them has become an important part of her healing journey. Ashley recently graduated from high school and has been accepted to UC Davis. She plans to study animal science and her goal is to become a veterinarian.
Her advice for others going through similar challenges? “Always believe in yourself and your growth. (You have to) trust the process and don’t get discouraged during difficult moments. Be willing to try new things (because) you never know how helpful they might be!” Ashley believes that Wellnest has helped her to grow as a person and find closure with difficult experiences. Keep going, Ashley!
To learn more about Wellnest’s Outpatient Services, click here.
Finding Strength in Healing: Sofia’s Journey to Overcoming Trauma and Embracing Self-Love
Before connecting with Wellnest, Sofia’s life was filled with a constant cycle of anxiety, depression, and feelings of worthlessness. She faced an ongoing battle with toxic stress, deeply rooted in childhood trauma. “I struggled a lot with how I felt about myself,” Sofia recalls. She experienced a sense of helplessness and hopelessness that led her to develop an eating disorder (ED) to punish herself for feeling, “less than.” “I would restrict food,” she explains, “but it only made things worse as I became constantly anxious about the amounts I was eating. Too much felt like a reward, and too little made me feel punished.” This anxiety compounded the pressures of family expectations and unaddressed trauma. At a young age, Sofia felt the burden of performing, providing, and escaping the toxic stress she was consistently exposed to.
Connecting with Wellnest services was the turning point Sofia needed! With the support of compassionate therapists and holistic services, she began to unravel the complex layers of her struggles. “They provided the necessary support and care to learn how to love myself despite feeling worthless and alone,” Sofia says. Through therapy, she began to confront the internal and external voices that told her she wasn’t enough and slowly replaced them with self-compassion and understanding. One of the most transformative aspects of Sofia’s journey was realizing her own strength. “I learned that I am a lot stronger than I believe,” she reflects.
Sofia’s journey is one of hope and resilience, a reminder that the darkest battles can lead to the brightest victories!
13-year-old Christian is thriving!
Christian has been benefitting from the services provided by Wellnest Full Service Partnership Intensive program, since 2021. When he came to Wellnest he was grieving the loss of his father, and adapting to the new living arrangement with his godmother. Christian had lived with his father most of his life due to his mother’s struggles with addiction and mental health challenges.
Today, Christian is thriving! He receives personalized support through individual and family services, including therapy and medication management and parent-partner services. With the love and support of his godmother and dedicated Wellnest team, Christian has successfully navigated the many challenges in his life!
Learn more about our Wellnest Full Service Partnership Intensive program or call 323.373.2400 today.
Once depressed and distracted, Hope is now happy and healing!
Nine-year-old Hope was described as an intelligent, creative, active and helpful girl. But she was struggling with disruptive, hyperactive, and disruptive behaviors. Her mom complained about her stealing and destroying property. Hope would frequently lie and show signs of irritability, sadness and had a history of suicidal thoughts.
Although Hope was smart, creative, and energetic, these issues started to significantly impact Hope’s ability to develop friendships, get along with her family and succeed at school. Hope was referred by her school to Wellnest’s School-Linked Services program. Hope first met her therapist in October 2021 and began to gain confidence with the help of a support group at Wellnest’s Exposition Park location. Hope’s therapist also provided skills and tips for Hope’s family to help regulate her disruptive behaviors at home. Today, Hope has new friends, and is happy and healing!
Wellnest’s School-Linked Services program works with schools and community partners including but not limited to LAUSD, affiliated charter schools, the Department of Parks and Recreation, local social justice organizations, faith-based organizations, community colleges and other higher learning institutions.
For more information about Wellnest’s School-Linked Services call 323.373.2400.
Wrapping Services around Antonio
In February 2022, Antonio was referred to Wellnest’s Wraparound Program. He and his sister had been separated from their biological father but remained in the care of their biological mother. Allegations of spousal abuse and physical abuse by his father compounded with a failure to protect by his mother created a scary and hostile living situation for Antonio. Antonio showed signs of demonstrating physical and verbal aggression towards his sister and mother, at risk for repeating the cycle of abuse.
The Wraparound team at Wellnest got to work surrounding Antonio with a full-circle approach, providing intensive coordinated services including therapy, rehabilitation, and case management. At first Antonio was reluctant to implement some of the coping strategies that Wellnest provided, however he began to become present and engaged with his Wraparound team. Soon he was able to create achievable goals for himself to decrease his anger responses, improve relationships with his family and peers and eventually improve his grades and get back on track. In June 2023, Antonio completed his therapy with Wraparound and was able to graduate high school! Today, he’s interested in attending college and his future looks bright!
Click here learn more about our Wraparound Program today or call 323.373.2400.
Elijah and the Rainbow
Elijah came to Wellnest after struggling with behavior challenges in a traditional school setting. He had difficulty following directions, getting along with his teachers, and interacting with classmates. Often aggressive, Elijah would scream and cry because he didn’t know how to express his needs. At Wellnest, he found a safe environment where providers helped him learn to communicate more effectively, using words instead of outbursts.
He was taught the Rainbow Breathing technique – where you breathe in and breathe out a favorite color – to calm himself, and was encouraged to take breaks when needed. Elijah and his mom Monique had also been living in an unsafe environment, and the Wellnest team helped them relocate to a safer apartment where they are both happily living, today.
