Family Service Center helps some find hope

A mom walked into our office alone and began a casual conversation about the holidays. Her counselor listened and then asked, “How are your children?”

The room became awkwardly silent and the mom began to cry. Through tears, she talked about having no peace, said she was an awful mother and that teachers call her constantly about her children’s misbehavior.

“No matter how many times I talk to them or how loud I yell, nothing changes.”

She talked about home life — how her children won’t clean up, they talk back and rarely complete their homework and how alone she feels in disciplining them since the death of her husband.

Through sobs, she explained she loved her children but felt she had no control despite trying to be a good parent.

Four months later, when this mother left the office, the counselor had helped her identify her strengths and build discipline plans she felt comfortable enforcing.

Slowly, the children began to see their mom in a new light, and their behavior began changing.

The family emerged from counseling with a mom who was confident in her parenting skills and children who respected her.

This is a story most of us can relate to, and although it’s not based on a real person, most of us, whether we have children or not, have been in a place that seems overwhelming and permanent.

For anyone in our community who has suffered, maybe from conflict at home or the death of a loved one or maybe from something entirely different, you’re not alone.

Every day, individuals and families across our county suffer. Some people know where to go for help, but many don’t.

When you’re in the beginning stages of chaos, it might feel like your plane has crashed in the middle of the ocean and you’re the only survivor. You’re getting tossed by waves from all sides, gasping for air yet it’s too deep to stand. You’re simply trying to survive.

During this overwhelming time, people often don’t have the energy to find out where to go, who to talk to or how the process of counseling works. But it’s during this stage that finding a lifeboat can mean the biggest difference.

At Family Service Center, we provide services that help individuals and families move from chaos to hope.

Some services take place in schools or community centers, so people have the greatest access to counseling when they need it.

Other services take place in our offices in Galveston and Dickinson.

But always, we work with our families accessing resources from community partners and area businesses to ensure positive outcomes.

Most importantly, we believe every day isn’t perfect, every day isn’t easy and every day won’t go as planned. But, with proper guidelines, respect and working together, we can get through every day stronger and healthier.

If you’re interested in learning more about our services or in supporting our programs by attending the “Connections of the Heart” gala Feb. 3, call 409-762-8636 or visit www.fscgal.org.

Phylette Willis is the clinical director at Family Service Center of Galveston County, a nonprofit counseling agency, as well as the director of the Services to At-Risk Youth Program. Shannon Guillot is the community liaison at Family Service Center and oversees the Digital Storytelling Project at the agency.