Advice from Our Counselors on Healing, Growth, and Connection
“The ways we cope, the stories we tell ourselves, even the deepest wounds—they don’t have to define us forever. ”
May is National Mental Health Awareness Month, which aims to reduce the stigma around mental health challenges and promote the importance of caring for one’s emotional well-being. For LifeWorks, the goal of solving youth homelessness is deeply connected; dealing with such challenges can have a very real impact on a young person’s journey to stability.
The LifeWorks Counseling Division provides support for individuals and families who are facing issues such as family conflict, abuse, trauma, anxiety, depression, and the stress of everyday life. It is one of the largest providers of affordable mental health counseling in the Central Texas community. Peer support and group/individual counseling create a safe environment, one where barriers to service are reduced. As a result, youth and their families can receive necessary support at an important stage of development in their lives.
In the spirit of the month, we asked providers from the LifeWorks Counseling programs to share their top piece of advice regarding mental health.
“Healing is possible because almost anything that can be learned, can be unlearned. The ways we cope, the stories we tell ourselves, even the deepest wounds—they don't have to define us forever. Therapy helps us untangle old patterns and rewrite what no longer serves us. Every step toward unlearning is a step toward reclaiming our peace.”
- Kiki Avilez, Counselor for Youth & Adult Counseling
“When you struggle with your mental health, things can get better. What I mean by that is that sometimes when things get rough, we may be tempted to believe the lie that says we can't get better, or that we will live with this condition for the rest of our lives. In fact, countless studies in the field of neuroscience attest to neuroplasticity, which is the human brain's ability to grow and change. In so many cases, struggling and fighting the good fight can yield tangible results. Your mental health can improve, and the struggle is not futile. Keep fighting.” -Geoffrey Ralls, Counselor for Youth & Adult Counseling
“I always let my peer support clients know that mental health resources are always available to them. It's better to have them and not need them right now than to need them and not have them in a time of crisis.” - Brittane Coleman, Family Peer Support Specialist
“Growth happens in connection with others, not when we feel isolated. Isolation is powerful and can make the pain that one carries feel so heavy. But with growth-fostering relationships (such as the ones in therapy) where mutual empathy, authenticity, and curiosity are provided, we feel more supported and validated and in return we heal ourselves little by little.”
-Esteban Guerrero-Ortiz, Counselor for Community-Based Counseling
“One piece of advice I often come back to is this: Mental health isn't about feeling good all the time—it's about building the capacity to face what's hard without losing your sense of self. So much of the conversation around mental wellness gets framed around happiness or calmness, but real resilience often means learning how to stay grounded during discomfort, uncertainty, or emotional pain. It’s okay if some days are messy—mental health is about staying connected to yourself through those moments, not avoiding them.”
-Dimitra Vourliotis, Counselor for Youth & Adult Counseling
“It’s okay if some days are messy. Mental health is about staying connected to yourself through those moments, not avoiding them.”
If you or a loved one is struggling with a mental health crisis, call or text 988 for free, 24/7 support.
Volunteer Spotlight: Eileen King
Eileen King and her volunteer group at the Home Improvement Challenge 2014.
For over a decade, Eileen King has been a steady presence in the LifeWorks volunteer community. What started as a one-time volunteer project through her company’s participation in the annual Home Improvement Challenge has since grown into a meaningful, long-term commitment to supporting young people as they build stability and belonging.
Now, in retirement, she still assists with events like holiday celebrations and last Thursday’s yearly maintenance of the community garden at the Works apartments.
At the Spring Celebration event, several volunteers joined LifeWorks staff to tend to the garden, cleaning up the area to plant new crops. The garden is available for residents to learn how to care for plants in order to build community through cultivating healthy food.
She said that the yearly clean-up is valuable, as it allows the residents to build confidence through successful gardening efforts and reap the benefit of it with fresh fruits and vegetables. It is an example of why giving back to the community is meaningful to her.
“Looking at all the support [the garden] provides to the community here is what is fulfilling.”
According to Eileen, one major lesson she has learned in her time as a volunteer is the value of humility. Being able to do whatever she can to help people establish lives they love is an experience she is grateful for.
“[I appreciate] the people, [especially] the engagement from the clients and the workers and volunteers,” she said.
Caroline Newman Phillips, Senior Director of Development at LifeWorks, is grateful for Eileen’s long-term contributions to the organization’s initiatives, including everything from Project Holiday Help to the Home Improvement Challenge.
“She’s been a supportive and generous presence at a wide variety of volunteer events… Eileen’s cheerful spirit, can-do attitude, and empathy and thoughtfulness towards our clients makes her a dream volunteer.”
Eileen encourages people to similarly find a cause they are passionate about and contribute however they can.
“Find something you care about that you're willing to put your time and effort into—[money] if you can, but time and effort certainly makes a big difference,” she said.
In her many years of volunteer work, Eileen said that LifeWorks is probably the best organization she has ever supported.
“I just love the organization and what they stand for,” she shared.
A Day at the Capitol
Earlier this month, LifeWorks participated in the Day of Action for Youth at the Texas Capitol, hosted by the Texas Network of Youth Services (TNOYS).
The event brought together youth, service providers, and organizations from across the state to center youth voice in conversations that shape their futures. The day began with a gathering on the Capitol steps, followed by meaningful discussions led by young people with lived experience. Attendees then participated in a training session held by TNOYS staff and youth to offer guidance on how to effectively communicate with lawmakers.
Rapid Rehousing Program Services Coordinator Anna Mae Justus, who was in attendance, said that it was powerful to hear directly from youth and motivating to connect with other service providers and community members working towards the same goals.
LifeWorks team members connected with others who are committed to walking alongside youth on their paths toward stability and independence. We were proud to be there—listening, learning, and supporting the voices that matter most.
“It was important for LifeWorks to be represented during the Day of Action because we are deeply rooted in serving the community every single day,” said Anna Mae Justus.
“By showing up, we amplify the voices of youth and individuals with lived experience—voices that are essential to creating real, lasting change. ”
As part of the day’s learning sessions, participants explored key policy topics that impact young people across Texas—including the proposed Raise the Age bill. This legislation would change how 17-year-olds are treated in the criminal legal system, shifting their classification from adults to juveniles in most cases.
Texas remains one of the few states, including Georgia, Louisiana, and Wisconson, where 17-year-olds are automatically considered adults for criminal charges. For youth experiencing homelessness or instability, involvement in the adult legal system can create long-term barriers to housing, employment, and education.
Understanding how this legislation could affect the young people we serve is a meaningful part of our ongoing work—helping ensure that every young person has the opportunity to build a life they love.
