From Chaos to Connection: How Casa Pacifica Transforms Families

Evan, 12, loves baseball—but at home, life often felt like a series of strikes.

Struggling with severe ADHD and intense anger, he lived in a home where strict rules and frequent outbursts created tension and division. Overwhelmed by his emotions, Evan’s self-esteem and relationships with his parents suffered.

“It always felt like we were all talking, but no one was really listening. Every conversation turned into an argument, and we didn’t know how to connect as a family,” his mother Julia says.

Even amid the daily tension, Evan quietly hoped for a change. He wanted to understand his feelings and find ways to prevent the arguments that had become all too familiar.

Evan’s family was eventually referred to Casa Pacifica and its Therapeutic Behavioral Services (TBS) program. TBS provides supportive strategies and skill-building interventions designed to help youth thrive in their daily lives. The program also guides parents and caregivers in understanding and managing behaviors through practical, short-term goals tailored to the needs of the child and family.

Although initially reserved with his TBS team, Evan soon developed coping strategies to manage his anger and was open to practicing them during visits. It soon became clear to TBS Program Lead, Nicole Magana, that the family’s dynamic played a key role in Evan’s challenges.

“Families are at the center of every child’s healing,” Magana explains. “When we help parents understand their own impact and guide them in new ways to connect, it can completely change a child’s experience at home.”

With patience and care, Magana invited Evan’s parents to join a single coaching session. Initially hesitant, they soon recognized how their own approaches had contributed to conflicts at home. Through guided parent sessions on perspective-taking, active listening, and validation, Evan’s parents discovered new ways to support him—and themselves. The entire treatment team worked collaboratively to help the family learn healthier communication, co-regulation techniques, and coping skills.

Today, Evan is learning to channel his energy on the baseball field and at home. What was once a household filled with tension is now a place of understanding, growth, and hope—a transformation made possible by Casa Pacifica’s dedicated team and donors like you.

If you’re interested in supporting Casa Pacifica’s life-changing mission, donate now!