Success Stories l Key Assets Kentucky

Every Step is KEY to Growth

We invite you to read through real-world examples of how our therapeutic approaches have facilitated transformation and healing in our clients’ lives. Each story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the profound impact that compassionate, personalized therapy can have. Explore these stories to understand the depth of our commitment to improving mental health and well-being.

Names have been changed to protect the person’s identity.

Success Stories

"Caleb" has made a great deal of progress this year! Caleb came to Key Assets in 2020 as a step-down from his placement with Purchase Youth Village. He struggled with a significant trauma history, aggression, and difficulty engaging with peers. Caleb was disconnected from his family of origin after Read More
being exposed to many inappropriate forms of parenting, environments, and discipline. Over the years, Caleb built relationships with Key Assets' peers and staff and began developing social and coping skills to manage his emotions. This past year, he has markedly succeeded in increasing participation in his schooling and utilizing independent living skills to care for himself. He achieved reductions in verbal and physical aggression, improved his school grades, and demonstrated independence in many other areas. Everyone enjoys spending time with Caleb as he is willing to teach others about his interests in building, thrifting, and video games. Caleb always has a story to tell and a joke to make. He continues to work towards graduating high school and progressing in his independent living skills. We look forward to seeing everything that Caleb achieves in his life!

"Justin" has a beautiful success story! He arrived at Key Assets in 2019 following a string of disrupted placements. He struggled with managing emotions and had intense meltdowns that often resulted in Read More
significant harm to others. Justin loved his adoptive family and experienced feelings of abandonment when they decided to relinquish custody. Over the years, Justin has built strong relationships with his Key Assets staff and has learned many coping skills to manage his emotions. He significantly reduced physical aggression, fecal play, and other target behaviors. Justin has a quirky personality and loves to make people smile. His positive attitude and willingness to form new relationships demonstrated resilience despite previous significant losses. Justin gained many independent living skills by helping with household chores, budgeting/spending his allowance, and participating in community outings. He completed high school and transitioned to a step-down community placement in February 2024. Justin exceeded all expectations and graduated to his next chapter of life with a smile!

I work with a middle school girl, "Lisa", who recently experienced suicidal and self-harm behaviors and ideations. I worked with her and her guardians to create a safety plan. She recently contacted me Read More
(per her safety plan) for additional support. It can be challenging to reach out for help during such moments. I am grateful that she trusts me enough to reach out during tough times and that she was able to follow her safety plan to prevent herself from using self-harm to cope with her stress.

I am a therapist, but I was able to do a little case management work for "Betsy" and her family. I was able to get them a bunk bed and bikes for all five kids last summer by using some of the free yard sale sites. Read More
It made the kid's day whenever I dropped off the bikes; they were so excited to hop on and ride. It also meant a lot to my parent client because she has a low income and isn't often able to buy extra things like that for the kids. So, she was very appreciative, and I know that it also made a difference for her.
I'd also like to add that in the mom, who is my client, I've seen a lot of progress in her ability to communicate and advocate for herself. I've spent several hours either on the phone with her and various agencies, attending IEPs with her for her children, or just providing support while she called insurance, schools, etc., to get assistance and problem-solve for different things that she has had to deal with. I certainly believe that we, as a team, have made a significant positive impact on that family!

A referral for a sibling set resulted in a month of therapy services before a referral for Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy and the offer to begin therapy services with one of the parents. The parent agreed and has taken what Read More
was learned and processed it through Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. "Jon" expresses ongoing amazement at how organically positive adaptive beliefs impact the Client's and the family's mental health. The sibling set has been receiving excellent Targeted Case Manager services that have not only shifted their once wary perspective of mental health services to a deep appreciation but also increased the involvement of the other parent in the unique needs of the children. The Client's journey is a testament to the power of therapy services in improving mental health amid life's challenges.

We had the opportunity to work with "Amy" who received a Targeted Case Manager and therapy services for several years and were recently discharged from therapy services. They now feel safe talking with their caregivers Read More
about mental health issues. The caregiver has recently started therapy services with another Key Assets Therapist and reported making difficult choices to improve their mental health and is seeing the impact their choices do and will continue to have on the siblings' mental health as well.

"Reid" receives therapy, targeted case management, and community support from us. He is a middle-aged man with several physical ailments. On top of that, he experiences extreme anxiety that has Read More
prevented him from receiving the medical care he needs (among other limitations he has because of anxiety). We have been working hard using exposure therapy to help him learn how to manage his anxiety. He has now attended at least one medical appointment with his Community Support Associate! I am beyond proud of how this client's team has shown up for him, shown him genuine care and compassion, and helped him find and use resources to allow him to better care for himself.

Not long ago, "Sue", the mother of a 20-year-old, we will call him "John", began therapy services with me. During the first initial intake session, Sue cried, overwhelmed with emotions. She said that her tears were not from sadness but gratitude to finally, after being on the waiting list for quite some time, be able to get some help for her son. John and Read More
his family have been pleased with the therapy services they have been receiving, and he will soon be tested for autism. His family life is stable and supportive, but this was not always so. Years ago, his mother, due to immigration issues, which have since been resolved, had to leave him, and return to Mexico. John was then sent to a foster home where he experienced trauma. His biological father and grandfather also passed away a few years ago.
John's mother says that she thinks he has improved considerably since he has been in therapy. At times, family sessions were conducted while we walked around the large home so that John could have a break. He finds pacing and engaging in repetitive movement helpful, although he does his best to sit and focus during the session on Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) techniques. Sue says John has had significantly fewer behavioral outbursts, less yelling, less picking on his younger sister, and has not walked alone outside the house since therapy. John and the family signed a behavior contract, and a chart is posted in his room for him to easily reference rewards listed for good behaviors, rewards such as his favorite meal, Taco Bell, and video games.
Recently, while working on DBT interpersonal skills in session, John witnessed his tearful crying mother exploring, processing, and expressing bottled-up strong emotions. She said to him, "I am so worried that when you wander off, the police will pick you up, not knowing that you have a disability and put you in jail or someone might kidnap you, and I would never see you again." After being prompted, John looked at his mother and sincerely apologized.
Sue says she and her whole family feel much better since receiving therapy services. She appreciates and needs support, someone to talk to, education, therapy techniques, direction, and encouragement. She also says that John's behavior has improved; he tries to practice the skills he has learned and does not walk off alone. John routinely has weekly therapy sessions. Sue, his mother, says a few days after his therapy session, he asks her when that lady is coming back, his way of saying he also enjoys therapy and feels supported and hopeful.

When "Brooke" first entered our program, she would rarely speak and had frequent meltdowns that lasted for hours. Before she left us, she was able to communicate in partial sentences, sing, perform several ADL's, and use coping skills to calm down - all by herself at times! The youth has been identified as being non-speaking. However, this youth has Read More
been working on increasing her ability to communicate during speech, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), and psychotherapy services. The youth's therapist has been working on interoception which involves understanding one's own body signals. One day the youth was escalated and attempted to elope off of the bus when coming home from school. After the therapist and staff were able to get the youth safely inside the group home, the therapist started prompting the youth to identify different flash cards. The youth was able to identify all the body parts on the flashcards until she got to the picture icon for a stomach. Therapist used a touch prompt and asked the youth what part of the body it was. The youth responded by saying "cramps." The therapist confirmed what was stated and asked her if it hurt or felt good. The youth responded "hurt." The therapist and staff later found out that the youth was experiencing her menstrual cycle. The youth was then able to receive medication that helped reduce the symptoms. This was the first time this youth was able to identify a bodily sensation. This improvement allows the youth to independently advocate for herself and communicate her needs with others.

"Rob" has been in therapy for quite some time but has struggled with making progress toward his goals. He has severe agoraphobia, which prevents him from leaving the house. We have started EMDR, and he has finally started to make progress! We have been working on going for walks together, and when we started, we were barely able to make it off his front porch. Recently, we’ve been able to walk down the block to the crosswalk, but his anxiety prevented him from crossing the street. On our last walk, he was able to walk down the block and, without prompting, crossed the street! This may seem like a small achievement for most, but for Rob it was huge and his first step in getting him out of his house.

My client, "Joe", has been struggling with separation anxiety to the point where they cry every morning before school. We are on week 4 of no tears in the morning!

One of my clients, "Tim", has struggled with behavior and anger management at home and school for years. Tim has not had an incident at school in 3 months!

With assistance from several other Behavioral Health Service Organization team members, one Targeted Case Manager has finally found a bed for his adult client. "Chris" had been sleeping on an old, broken couch originally donated by Goodwill four years ago. This client had a host of chronic medical issues, all of which were exacerbated by his inability to have any restful sleep on the unsupportive, lopsided couch. This case manager worked to collaborate with community partners, and to arrange to transport a donated bed for Chris.

Several of my clients are participating in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TFCBT) with me. All of those recently reassessed had a significant reduction in trauma symptoms, especially "Emma".

"Nick" suffers from generalized anxiety disorder. GAD-7 assessments and reassessments show that there has been a MAJOR reduction in symptoms over the past six months.

Our team has successfully advocated for the rights of "John" for appropriate in-school services and 504- accommodations, specifically related to the client's significant symptoms of ADHD and Social Anxiety. Sometimes, other members of John's support systems (parents, teachers, prescribers, etc.) are not always easy to coordinate and collaborate with. This was a significant success for our client due to the diligence and persistence of his Targeted Case Manager. Her efforts have made a major positive impact on John's functioning at school.

"Leeanne" has participated in Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy (including the model, methodology, and mechanism) to eliminate the negative emotional charge attached to her trauma history of automobile accidents. Previously, Leeanne struggled with significant symptoms of anxiety (verging on panic) almost every time the brakes were applied while riding in a vehicle. This severely limited her capacity to obtain her own driver's license. Since participating in EMDR Leeanne has seen a major reduction in symptoms!

After working with her therapist for 16 bi-weekly psychotherapy sessions "Kelly" was able to reduce her levels of depression from 43 (severe depression) to 22 (mild-moderate depression) on the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). This is a major difference and a great success!

"Brian" graduated high school last year. He was experiencing a lot of anxiety about what to do next in his life. He was able to get a job and at first, was very anxious about going to work. Brian was able to use skills to manage his anxiety at work and after about a month of working experienced minimal anxiety at work. This is a huge milestone for him!

I work with a young girl on processing past trauma and healthy communication. "Emily" came to therapy because of disruptive and argumentative behaviors. Her mother recently reported that over the last three weeks Emily has only had 1 or 2 instances of disruptive behavior at home.

"Brent" has been working with his therapists for a little over a year. He was very resistant to therapy last school year in the fourth grade, refused to practice coping skills and would not participate in mindfulness exercises. The therapist continued to meet with him weekly and try to help him process his emotions. Following a major behavioral outburst at school right Read More
before Christmas, things changed. He arrived in session and said he was ready to make a change. Since that time, Brent has been able to successfully learn many coping skills and eagerly participates in activities. He is willing to talk about his feelings and has learned to verbalize his emotions, ask for personal time-outs from class, identify complex emotions and is even able to recognize many of his triggers. He still has anger outburst, but they do not last as long, and the frequency has certainly decreased. Rightfully, our therapist is extremely proud of Brent for putting in the hard work this year and really working to make a change. This will definitely assist in making his make his transition to middle school next year successful.