Residents living in poverty in Washington, DC's most disadvantaged neighborhoods often do not have access to therapy needed to assist them with issues that include depression, anxiety, parenting difficulties, survival of sexual abuse/domestic violence, and family dysfunction. Our project will provide eight individual and family sessions to 100 uninsured residents. Clients will be empowered with coping skills, goal setting, and opportunities to process painful experiences.
Mental Illness and suicide are significant issues in our impoverished community in the SE section of Washington, DC. Many of our residents live below the poverty line and suffer from generational cycles of physical abuse, molestation, drug addiction, violence, incarceration, and poor educational resources. Without effective, culturally relevant interventions, destructive cycles can continue and maladaptive coping and abuse will be passed down to the next generation.
Research and client reports indicative that when effective, culturally relevant therapeutic interventions are rendered by caring, experienced clinicians, behavior change can occur and healing can began. Through providing free therapy for those who need it most, we hope to continue the impact that we currently have on our community.
When family members begin to heal and make effective changes in their lives, those whom they come in contact with are in a position to also heal and make positive changes.
