Counseling at CHOOSE 180!
May is Mental Health Awareness Month! We’re honoring this month by sharing a look at our counseling program here at CHOOSE 180, how it started and where it’s headed. Keep reading to hear from Darius and Daicia
How the counseling program started…
Our counseling program was created in response to a clear and urgent need expressed directly by our participants. The program began in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, when CHOOSE 180 was forced to transition its programming online in order to continue serving the young people we work with.
The counseling program was developed based on the needs and requests of youth themselves. We recognized that we did not want to engage with young people only after they became system-involved. Instead, we wanted to address the trauma and unmet needs that often contribute to the school-to-prison pipeline. Too often, young people are criminalized and labeled in schools and communities for behaviors that stem from a lack of resources, support, and healthy tools to communicate, process emotions, and heal.
Where we are today is a reflection of growth and expansion. We are now incorporating expressive arts and mentorship/goal-setting into our curriculum. Expressive arts aligns naturally with our program because it introduces young people to mental health and wellness in a way that feels approachable, creative, and engaging rather than intimidating. It also allows us to build authentic relationships and establish trust with participants in meaningful ways.
We are continuing to expand into Tacoma and increase the number of group sessions we offer. As we work toward our five-year vision, our goal is to normalize conversations around mental health within our communities. We want young people to feel confident knowing how and where to seek support. We also want participants to see that we approach mental health from a multicultural perspective and that there are counselors and mentors who reflect their lived experiences and cultural backgrounds.
- Daicia Mestas
Where we’re going…
Over the past year, building on the strong foundation that was already in place before I joined, the counseling program has continued to grow into something really impactful. We’ve been showing up consistently in schools, at community events, and in one-on-one sessions, building trust with young people and meeting them where they are.
Now, we’re stepping into an important next phase. We’re getting ready to launch our first counseling curriculum, designed to equip our youth with the tools, mindset, and confidence they need to move forward with purpose. This is a key part of where we’re headed in our five-year strategic plan at CHOOSE 180, expanding our impact, strengthening our approach, and creating more consistent, sustainable support for the young people we serve.
This curriculum goes beyond individual sessions. It’s about helping young people see real possibilities for their future and making sure they have the guidance and support to get there.
- Darius Thompson
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