Hanna Young, MSW
Young Person Mentor & Parent Coach
Since 2002, I have supported families in their healing process in settings that include wilderness therapy programs, therapeutic boarding schools, hospitals and on an outpatient basis.
The power of wilderness was amazing but I recognized that often kids and families still have more work to do before home can be a successful option. I then spent 6 years as a therapist and clinical supervisor in a therapeutic boarding school for middle school students and 2 more years as a therapist and clinical director at a therapeutic boarding school for high school students who were preparing to transition home or on to independent living.
Though I have a varied skill set, I often work with parents of adolescents and young people with learning disabilities and who, at times, are managing a spectrum disorder. I value directness and humor as a part of the process.
My work in wilderness and therapeutic boarding schools showed me over and over again that no matter how much healing happens when a child is away and in treatment, the real test of their work begins when they come home. Successful parenting is critical to the success of that child and their family and I love helping to bridge the world of inpatient treatment back to the world of home so that families can thrive and continue to move forward.
After just one hour on the phone with Hanna, I felt hopeful and empowered. I saw that she was able to equip me to address the destructive behaviors that were ruling our home. We had been in counseling, and that had helped me in some foundational ways. However, at a certain point, what I needed were practical parenting tools to help me turn the chaos of our home into a safe place for all of us. Hanna spent the next few weeks and months coaching me toward this end. It was a significant financial commitment on my part, and one of the best investments I have made.
— Julia, Parent
