support youth like taylor this back-to-school season

As summer ends and students prepare for the new school year, we’re reminded that readiness goes beyond just school supplies. Mental and emotional readiness is also just as important.  For many young people, having their basic needs met is only the beginning. 

Taylor's story shows us why this matters.

After moving to Seattle and securing stable housing, Taylor’s trauma began to resurface. Once his basic needs were met, his mind and body could finally exit survival mode and begin to process the trauma. This is a common experience—trauma often remains dormant while the mind is focused on survival. Once that focus shifts, unresolved trauma can surface more intensely. This can result in traumatic experiences starting to become more Intrusive. Memories may become more frequent, stress-related physical symptoms can worsen, and navigating life beyond survival can feel overwhelming and uncertain.  

Before receiving support, Taylor felt disabled by his mental health and couldn’t imagine holding a full-time job. Medications prescribed to him also had awful side effects. That changed when Taylor connected with Kimberly, a therapist in Friends of Youth’s Mental and Behavioral Health Program. Kimberly’s empathetic and trauma-informed care approach, which blends EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and Safe and Sound Protocol, had a significant impact on Taylor, as he began to feel better after each session. 

Today, Taylor has aged out of our program and wants to make sure other youth have the same access to these critical resources. Taylor shares a home with his partner and three cats while working at a spa and studying Medical Administration at Bellevue College. Though trauma isn’t magically erased, he has built tools to manage his healing and is able to thrive in school, at work, and in life. 

“I would not have been able to get back on my feet without Kimberly. Friends of Youth was a great resource for me. Everyone should seek therapy; it should be a preventive service.”  -Taylor

Unfortunately, many youth still face barriers to access mental health care. Trauma-informed therapy is rarely covered by insurance, and providers specialized in this training are in short supply. 

This back‑to‑school season, your gift can do more than provide pencils and paper, it can offer healing and safety. Being able to feel safe allows young people to reshape their understanding of their world, their identity, and to develop healthier relationships. Therapy is often one of the first environments where individuals experience relational safety, underscoring the importance of trauma-informed therapy.  

Without your support, youth like Taylor might never get the care that they need. Donate today and help ensure young people like Taylor continue to have access to the critical resources they deserve.  

Donate now at friendsofyouth.org/donate.