Brighter Days Ahead

A Teen’s Path to Hope 

At just sixteen, Rory* had already been through more than most teens her age. The past few years had brought more than their share of hardships—conflict at home, school disruptions, and emotional struggles that left her feeling overwhelmed and unheard. Her mother, Marisol*, watched with a heavy heart, knowing her daughter was in pain but not knowing how to actually help. 

Then they found The Women’s Center—and slowly, the tide began to turn. 

At first, counseling seemed pointless to Rory. She did not think it would make a difference, that no one could possibly understand what she was going through. But then she was matched with a therapist who didn’t try to fix her but simply showed up with steady compassion and quiet encouragement. It was in those early sessions that Rory discovered just how much she’d been holding inside and how much speaking to someone was helping her. 

Their second meeting took place while Rory was in a juvenile facility—a challenging and emotional time. While Rory was in the facility, her therapist continued to show up and consistently reminded Rory to stay grounded, to reflect, to take each day one moment at a time. With patience and support, Rory began to set goals—small steps at first, then bigger ones. And over time, she began achieving them. 

She found herself rejoining school life with a fresh mindset.
She applied for and landed her very first job.
She built better routines to manage her studies.
She even reunited with a younger sibling she hadn’t seen in many months—something that once felt impossible. 

With the help of her therapist, The Women’s Center, and the support of both her mothers, Rory began to believe in her own strength. She learned how to speak up for herself, how to ask for help, and how to let go of the idea that she had to carry everything alone. 

“Before, I didn’t like talking to anyone about my personal stuff. I just held it in,” she now shares. “But you can’t hold pain in forever. Counseling helped me see that. It helped me feel heard.” 

For her mother, Marisol, witnessing that transformation brought tremendous relief. “The Women’s Center didn’t just help my daughter—they reminded her of her power. They gave her a safe space to grow, and that’s a gift I’ll always be grateful for.” 

Today, Rory continues to face life with more confidence, hope, and resilience. The path hasn’t been easy, but now she walks it with the tools and support she needs to keep moving forward. 

A heartfelt thank-you to the Virginia Health Care Foundation for funding the adolescent mental health program at The Women’s Center. In 2024, this support made it possible for us to serve 329 young clients with 3,984 hours of counseling—40% of which was provided at a reduced fee on a sliding scale. Your generosity is helping build brighter futures, one young person at a time. 

*Names have been changed for identity protection.