When 9-year-old Nolan started seeing his therapist during the spring of 2025, his parents described him as “out of control.” He had high anxiety, became easily overstimulated, and struggled to navigate anger. This often culminated in big meltdowns. Occasionally, the meltdowns would include aggression, and he would attack his parents or siblings at home or in the car while they’d be driving. At school, he was frequently disruptive in class during non-preferred activities and would destroy his homework and materials if he felt overwhelmed or didn’t understand something. Over the course of his time in the STARS program, him and his STARS
therapist met weekly and practiced lots of coping strategies for emotional regulation. Nolan especially loved using art to process his thoughts and feelings. His therapist was able to offer referrals for testing and diagnostic assessments, and he was eventually diagnosed with ADHD and began medication to help with stabilization. In the spring of 2026, Nolan’s therapist met with his parents to review his treatment plan, and his mom says she “doesn’t recognize her son”. While his parents say he “still has his moments”, his teachers reported zero behavioral issues this year. Parents estimated that he had 3-4 meltdowns throughout the school year, compared with at least 3-4 per month last year. His relationships with his parents and siblings have improved, and he has been able to develop and keep healthy friendships. Nolan reports using his coping skills to stay calm during TCAP and other tests, and he ended the year with excellent grades. His dad said he has become more patient, knows how to help himself when he gets anxious or upset, and is much quicker to apologize when he makes mistakes. Nolan and his STARS Therapist spent the last few sessions reflecting on his growth. He said he “didn’t even realize all of the progress he made” and that he “feels proud of himself” for his positive changes this year.
*Names and descriptive details have been changed for privacy
There are moments in a young person’s life when what they are feeling is too heavy to speak out loud.
For one middle school student, that weight showed up in the way she sat in class, quiet and withdrawn, struggling to connect with peers or find ease in her day. Teachers noticed more than academic challenges. They saw sadness that lingered, low self-esteem, difficulty building relationships, and the impact of grief after loss.
When Emma was first connected to support at school, she did not have words for what she was going through. So she drew it instead.
At first, Emma’s drawings reflected what she was carrying inside: pain, confusion, and thoughts she could not yet say aloud. Rather than turning away from it, her STARS school-based counselor, Sarah, helped Emma use art to deal with her heaviest emotions.
Over time, drawing became Emma’s language. When talking felt too hard, she used art to express what she was experiencing. Through that process, she began to slowly share more. She opened up about thoughts of self-harm and the depth of her emotional pain. Instead of being asked to move past those feelings, she was given a safe space to express them and begin to understand them.
Sarah supported her through regular sessions during the school day, offering consistent care, emotional support, and therapeutic strategies to help her navigate anxiety, depression, and grief in real time.
As trust grew, something began to shift…
Emma started coming in more often, not only when things felt overwhelming, but when she simply needed a place to land. She began to smile more. She started building friendships. By the end of the year, teachers described a noticeable change. The same student who once seemed shut down was beginning to show humor, personality, and connection in the classroom.
In time, her drawings also began to change…
And eventually, her final piece carried a message that marked how far she had come: “You don’t have to heal alone.” By the end of her time receiving support at school, her mother shared something simple but powerful. She said she was grateful to “have my girl back.”
*Names and descriptive details have been changed for privacy
Two years ago, Piper was struggling. She had a lot going on at home that made it hard to come to school. She felt alone and didn’t know how to ask for help. That’s when she met Kayleigh, her STARS counselor, who saw something special in her.
Kayleigh and Piper started meeting every week. They talked about what was making school difficult. Kayleigh listened, but she also pushed Piper to try harder. She reminded Piper that she was strong and that she mattered. It wasn’t always easy, but Piper kept showing up.
As time went on, Piper started to change. She stopped being afraid to speak up for herself. When someone treated her badly, she stood up and said “no.” She learned that it was okay to protect herself and find people who really cared about her. Piper was becoming more confident, and it showed.
Other people noticed too. Piper started coming to school more. She didn’t give up when things got hard anymore. Instead, she kept going. Soon, other students were looking up to her. She helped her classmates and showed them how to be brave too.
By the time Piper got to senior year, something amazing happened. She stopped keeping her problems secret. She asked for help when she needed it. She talked to Kayleigh and other adults she trusted. And then she actually did something about it. She didn’t just talk about change. She made the change happen.
Today, Piper is a different person. She found her strength. She found her voice. And she found out that she is stronger than she thought. Every single day, she keeps getting better. Piper’s story shows us that with someone who believes in you, you can do amazing things.
*Names and descriptive details have been changed for privacy
STARS does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, culture, religion or creed, socioeconomic status, language, age, sexual orientation, or national origin. No one shall be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any of STARS’ programs or activities. STARS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
This agency is funded, in part, by the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, the Tennessee Department of Education, and the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth. This project is funded under a grant contract with the State of Tennessee.
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