Ascend loves showing parents and teens what goes on behind the scenes during everyday life at our residential treatment facilities. With regular updates on the types of activities we host, the variety of therapies available, and the team who makes it all happen, we can put your mind at ease about trusting us with your family. So if you’re ready for the next installment of the Day in the Life series about our programs, read on to learn more about Carla, a Primary Therapist at our Canyons house!
How Carla Got Her Start
While Carla wasn’t always a therapist, she’s always been a caretaker, helping guide people on their search for answers they couldn’t find on their own. In fact, for years, she was a stay-at-home mom with two kids!
After spending so much time helping others without any formal degree, Carla decided it was time to get serious. Armed with a Master of Arts Degree in Marriage & Family Therapy from Phillips Graduate Institute/California Family Study Center, she has spent over 20 years in this field helping families rebuild trust and communication.
Before joining our team, Carla worked in Special Education with kids from kindergarten through first grade. Now, she’s a major resource at Canyons, where we work with girls suffering from trauma and anxiety.
Why Carla Loves Ascend
Part of the reason Carla got into this career, and why she’s stayed with Ascend for so long, is being able to witness the change in clients from when they first arrive to when they leave. So many teens come in feeling helpless and hopeless, but once they’re discharged, they leave with the skills to harness their emotional hurdles and coping mechanisms to deal with obstacles in the future.
In fact, one client that worked with Carla came in with an intense fear of vomiting. She couldn’t go to school, leave her home, or even eat more than a couple of snack packs a day. After just 45 days with Ascend, and regular therapy sessions with Carla, she was able to address the underlying trauma that led to this phobia and start processing unresolved issues to improve her mental well-being. When she left, she was like a whole new person!
Ascend Is Different
Carla truly believes that Ascend and Canyons house are very different from any other residential treatment facility. Because we provide targeted treatment based on specific mental health concerns, our clients can make so much more progress than they would with just generalized group therapy or outpatient services.
Carla is also one of the people who sees how much dedication and passion our entire team has for their work – and she knows it shows through the connection our staff members have with our clients. Everyone from our Lead Mentors to our overnight support team is here to see our clients thrive.
Why We Love Carla
Carla has been a beacon to many people at Ascend, both clients and staff. Her commitment to client success is one of the reasons she’s so good at what she does. She’s able to see beyond the surface issues with which many clients are struggling to address the deeper concerns they have and show them that they can create a different life for themselves.
Because she has so many interests and hobbies, Carla can also connect with our clients on another level. Whether it’s gardening and crocheting or making jewelry and brewing therapeutic cosmetics, there’s always something that sparks a client’s interest and facilitates conversation during therapy.
A Typical Day in Her Life
During a day in Carla’s life, you’ll see her meeting with clients for individual sessions, as well as their families for family therapy. Carla also frequently collaborates with mentors, psychiatrists, and clinicians in-house to develop client treatment plans and ensure they’re getting targeted support that meets their needs.
She even spends time communicating with outside providers to ensure clients enjoy quality continuity of care after they leave our facility.
Passion. Family. Empowerment.
These are the words that drive the team at Ascend, and especially Carla. We’re a company that’s constantly supporting each other and our clients to ensure that everyone empowers themselves, reconnects with their families, and rediscovers their passion for everyday life.
If you’re interested in seeing how other people on the Ascend team make a difference, explore our blog today for stories from behavioral technicians like Latisha, admissions specialists like Alicia, and special project managers like Chance!
