When Emma’s* second child was born with health issues, the whole family felt the stress, especially her oldest son, Austin*.
“He didn’t know how to explain anger, he only knew what it meant to be ‘mad.’
That’s when someone mentioned a free group called Extinguish Your Fire. Emma didn’t know what to expect, but she signed up.
“We didn’t even realize it, but this group came at exactly the time we needed it.” “I cannot say enough great things about these groups and our family’s experience!”
What started as a simple suggestion became the beginning of a transformation, for Austin, and for their entire family.
*Names Changed
Austin’s first group gave him more than words. It gave him tools.
He learned how to name his emotions, express his feelings, and take calming steps when things got overwhelming. After a group, he could say ‘I’m angry,’ and talk about what to do about it. The structure of groups gave him comfort, and the facilitators provided space for him to grow. The relationship with facilitators was another source of strength.
“Peggy pulled my son out of his shell. She calls him a leader. I never would have used that word to describe him before. But she saw that in him – and helped him believe it too.”
The changes have reached far beyond group time. The stories read in sessions became bedtime favorites. Board games he brought home became family game night staples. Posters brought home from group decorate their kitchen wall – reminders of calming strategies, breathing exercises, and daily mantras repeated every morning and night, with the whole family participating.
“We didn’t realize how much we were already doing, but the groups helped us make it intentional, consistent, and make it fun!”
For Emma, the connection wasn’t just for her son. It was for her, too.
While Austin built emotional tools, Emma found connection. While the kids were in group, parents gathered over coffee. They talked, shared, and started to let go of the idea that they were alone.
“There’s this idea that you’re the only parent struggling. That it’s just your kid who can’t sit still or who gets overwhelmed. Then you sit down with other parents and realize, you’re not alone. And that changes everything.”
Looking back, Emma reflects on how things may have been different if she’d had access to something like this when she was young. But she is deeply grateful her son has it now.
“Mental health is so important. I’m so grateful my son is learning this now.”
“That first group just kind of fell into my lap,” Emma recalls. Now she is the one spreading the word. “Anyone I talk to that has a child that I think might benefit from these programs, I’m like, ‘Oh my goodness, you need to sign up!’ They’re free and they’re wonderful programs not just for the children, but they’re fantastic for the parents, too!”
Behind this door is a story of growth, connection, and quiet transformation. It started with participating in a group, and opened up a new way forward for an entire family.
