Adolescence can be a time of great change and rocky emotions for teens. When you add mental health problems to the mix, it can make growing up even harder. Jeremy knows all about that from experience. Jeremy changed his own outcome with the help of Tina Miller, his Starting Point therapist.

“When I first started going there, I was like 16 and I think I was at my worst mentally, so I just kind of dumped a lot of stuff on to her. Tina helped me a lot, helped me to understand some things. It didn’t take long for me to feel I could open up to her because she is casual, laid back. That’s the kind of energy I like in people. I just wanted somebody I could go to and talk about my problems like a friend rather than a therapist.”

Jeremy has problems with racing thoughts that often cause confusion.

“When I started, I had no desire for a future, I didn’t see that for me. I didn’t think I would graduate, ever be able to keep a job, I was having a lot of relationship problems and never thought I would actually find anybody. All that is different now.

I think one of the big reasons I’ve been able to progress and get better is thanks to Tina because I do almost see her as family now. I can just be myself when I go in there, she’s like that cool aunt you can go to whenever you have problems. Just being able to have someone I can go to and rant about things is just nice.

I now have a job that I like and I got my GED. I did find somebody, am engaged to be married, and mostly, thanks to him, I am actually seeing a future for myself. It did take quite a bit of time, but I am really proud of myself for how far I have come."

Jeremy and his partner are working and plan to attend school to become RNs. They plan to marry in April.