Legacy | A Publication of Lena Pope Legacy Spring 2015 | Page 4

Regaining Control
And Reaching Out to Say Thank You in Return

S

he was angry. She was sad. Cutting herself

to visit her aunt in Boston. Though Jenny and her

repeatedly, she was crying for help. Then

aunt were not very close, Julia believed that in this

one day she lost control completely and

case, simply escaping a challenging environment

acted out physically on a family member,

is sometimes the smartest move. When Jenny

which brought her to the attention of

returned, she acknowledged that the trip was nice,

Tarrant County Juvenile Services (TCJS). Through

but coming back to the same situation was weighing

Lena Pope’s partnership with TCJS, Lena Pope

on her.

Functional Family Therapist Julia took on the case.
“She was resistant to counseling but knew it was
Jenny, only 14 years old, had been in and out of

mandatory as requirement of her probation,” Julia

residential treatment facilities before arriving at

said. “Jenny never really opened up, and I did not feel

Lena Pope. “Jenny was diagnosed bipolar before she

like I was helping her.”

started counseling at Lena Pope and had been on
medication for years,” Julia said. “She was sad and

As the months went on, Julia was getting more

angry.”

concerned for Jenny and the direction of the
counseling. Jenny was still verbalizing intentions to

Jenny lived with her mother, who was battling chronic

hurt herself, and her self-esteem had not improved.

physical illnesses, as well as her younger sister and
grandparents. Her grandmother was the only one she

“Her mother’s health was declining, and that was a

was close to and trusted. Jenny often reflected on

big stressor for Jenny,” Julia said.

her grandmother’s love during counseling sessions,
and it was the only time Julia saw signs of security.

Julia knew she was doing everything she could, but
Jenny actually seemed to be getting worse. Then the

Through in-home sessions, Julia was able to assess

unthinkable happened: Jenny’s grandmother died

the family strengths and risk factors and put together

suddenly, sending Jenny into a downward spiral. At

a six-month plan to positively impact the troubled

this point, residential treatment seemed to be the

teen and her family. Functional Family Therapy is

only answer.

a short-term, research-tested counseling program
offered to at-risk youth and their families.

Jenny was checked in to a 30-day facility, where she
received intense daily therapy. Upon her release, she

Most of the weekly meetings took place at the

met with Julia a few more times. “She seemed to be

grandparents’ home with the family in attendance,

finally dealing with the death of her grandmother,”

but Julia often met with Jenny independently as

Julia recalled. “Her concern was that if she continued

well. Julia knew how difficult Jenny’s home life was

to live at home that she would never be happy or

and fully supported an upcoming spring break trip

feel safe.”

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