At 8 years old, Daniel is a talented, polite and artistic young boy with a lot to say. But for a time, finding the right way to express what he was feeling wasn’t easy.
Daniel began receiving Therapeutic Behavioral Services (TBS) from Casa Pacifica at the age of seven, during a period of significant transition in his young life. He was moving between the homes of his mom, dad and grandmother each week, while also adjusting to life with his younger brother, who has autism. The changes in routine and living arrangements could be overwhelming, making it difficult for Daniel to regulate his emotions.
TBS is a personally tailored, short-term behavioral service program to teach children new skills to help them manage challenging behaviors while emphasizing the child’s strengths.
When he became frustrated or overwhelmed, Daniel sometimes expressed those feelings through physical or verbal aggression. His treatment team worked with him to understand what was behind those behaviors and, more importantly, to give him new tools to respond.
Daniel worked hard.
With the support of his Casa Pacifica team, he began learning coping skills to help him manage difficult emotions and communicate his needs in healthier ways. His mom and grandmother were an important part of that process, attending visits, staying engaged and learning the same skills so they could reinforce his progress at home.
Over time, those new skills began to make a difference.
“I’ve watched Daniel work so hard to understand his emotions and learn how to express what he needs. The changes we’ve seen in him have been incredible,” says his mother, Lyne. “We are so proud of how far he has come, his new confidence, and so grateful for the support that helped him get here.”
Today, Daniel is using his words to ask for what he needs and wants. Instead of reacting physically or verbally when he is upset, he can identify his emotions and explain what he is feeling. He has built stronger relationships at home and at school, and he is learning that his voice can help him solve problems rather than escalate them.
Perhaps most remarkably, Daniel has begun passing those lessons along to his little brother, encouraging him and teaching him some of the skills he has learned himself.
During progress review meetings, Daniel is no longer simply a child being talked about by the adults around him. He speaks up. He advocates for himself. He openly shares his strengths, his concerns and what he needs.
And soon, he will have another reason to speak up: Daniel is preparing to graduate from TBS.
His entire treatment team is celebrating this milestone alongside Daniel and his family—not simply because he has reached the end of a program, but because of how far he has come.
Your support helps make journeys like Daniel’s possible.
When you give to Casa Pacifica, you help children access the caring professionals, individualized support and practical skills they need to navigate difficult moments and move toward brighter futures.
For Daniel, that journey has meant learning to manage big emotions, finding his voice and discovering that the skills he learned can help not only himself, but someone he loves.
Thank you for helping children take their next step forward.
About Casa Pacifica
Headquartered in Camarillo, California, Casa Pacifica is the largest nonprofit provider of children’s and adolescent mental health services in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties. Our nationally accredited programs include residential treatment, therapeutic behavioral services, wraparound care, transitional youth services, school-based mental health services and foster care support, along with a fully certified, diploma-granting Non-Public School serving grades K–12. Casa Pacifica specializes in treating youth facing complex mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, and emotional dysregulation. Since 1994, Casa Pacifica has helped transform the lives of nearly 54,600 at-risk children and youth.
For more information or to get involved, email info@casapacifica.org or call 805-366-4040.