Before arriving at Human Options, Elena and her children were placed in a motel room due to the escalating violence in their home. For years, Elena endured daily abuse physical violence with and without weapons, emotional and verbal degradation, threats of harm, sexual coercion, stalking, financial control, and litigation abuse. The trauma was relentless. A life-threatening incident, caused by her abuser, became the turning point. Authorities intervened, and Elena began her courageous journey toward healing. That’s when she got connected to Human Options.
Her three-year-old child, Julian, struggled deeply. When he joined the Children’s Program, he had difficulty regulating his emotions and often repeated the inappropriate language he had heard from his father. The Children’s Program staff worked patiently with Julian, helping him name and understand his feelings, validating his emotions, and guiding him toward positive outlets. For example, staff would affirm that it’s okay to feel upset, but not okay to hurt others offering breaks in the “cool down zone” or time outside to release energy.
Over time, Julian‘s behavior began to shift. With consistent support and positive reinforcement, he reduced the use of harmful language and began responding more calmly to challenges. His progress has been remarkable.
The Children’s Program team also connected Elena to parenting classes. She embraced the opportunity to grow as a parent and has shared that her children’s relationship with each other has significantly improved with only minor bumps along the way.
Today, Elena continues her healing journey at our Family Healing Center. She has expressed deep gratitude for the transformation she’s witnessed in Julian, especially the changes in his behavior and language at home. Her story is a powerful reminder of the resilience of survivors and the impact of community support.
