Flourishing Families
We offer a FREE comprehensive, educational 5-week program to support the parents, guardians, and caregivers of young adults who live with a mental health and/or substance use condition. The program is comprised of:
Healthy Relationships Workshops
Weekly, 2-hour educational classes for learning and practicing strategies to build satisfaction in your relationship with your young adult(s); the topics for these sessions include Personal and Family Recovery, The Power of Empathy, Self-Care & Resource Coordination, Tools to Engage in Difficult Conversations, and Shifting Away from Shame and Blame
Parent/Family Coaching
Weekly, one-hour individualized skills-building sessions to make progress toward caregivers’ goals and improve functioning and satisfaction
Community Conversations
Monthly roundtable discussions with families and community experts accompanied by ongoing, online asynchronous discussions on a variety of topics
To learn more about joining the next open session of Flourishing Families, contact Courtney ( cjoly@bu.edu) by email or phone: 617-483-3827.
The Impact of CMHEP on Parents and Families
Students’ skill and support development through participation in the College Mental Health Education Programs also provides families with hope. Below are some parent and family testimonies addressing the changes they felt and observed in their loved ones:
“The Niteo program changed the path of my life when I was struggling and gave me the confidence and resilience that I needed to succeed. I not only learned how to manage my mental health symptoms, but I was able to develop my interests in the field of psychology as well. I am eternally grateful for [the] community at Niteo which has provided me with continual support every step of the way as I finish my college career.”
– NITEO Graduate
“I came to NITEO as an alcoholic in early recovery convinced things were about to go bad, like they always did, as soon as I got ready to go back to school. I was very much certain that nothing could convince me otherwise. Through NITEO classes and coaching, I came to believe that my low self-worth and unfortunate perspective on life were able to change. CBT, meditation, and writing played a role in that. The way it provided structure, the instructors, the friendly staff, and the resources at the center itself made a large impact on me. After NITEO, I attended college in the spring of 2015, taking just one class but working two jobs, and got an extremely high mark. Now I am taking two intensive summer courses at [college] and working two part time jobs. I have been sober 16 months and am ready to go back to school full time in the fall. NITEO was the bridge between lost and confused and hopeful and in tune, and I would highly recommend it to anyone that began struggling after or shortly before they went to college. The program has the potential to save lives, I have seen it first-hand.”
– NITEO Graduate
“I had recently taken a medical leave of absence from college and became hospitalized after leaving. When I was released from the hospital, I felt unprepared to return to school after being out and away from school for such an extended period of time, leading me to find the NITEO program. This program suited me perfectly, as all of the young adults, there were in similar situations as I was. This program has enabled me to realize that I am not alone in my struggles and that with the help of such dedicated staff and peers, I can return to school feeling confident and determined. Now that NITEO has ended I am working closely with my one-on-one coach to help find me job opportunities and also to research colleges that might be suitable for me in the near future. I have applied to many workplaces and am in the process of finding work until I feel ready to return to school. If NITEO had not been there for me I would not have had the opportunity to meet the incredible staff and fellow students that helped me get back up on my feet. NITEO and everybody who works there has been so incredibly kind and willing to go above and beyond to ensure I received the support I needed to succeed. This place is the only one of its kind and for anybody willing to put the time and work into getting help, it is for them.”
– NITEO Graduate
“We are so very thankful that we found you and NITEO. It has been a life changer for our son. You have a wonderful staff and program. It is so important for these young adults to know that others are experiencing the same thing and there is a safe place to go and rebuild yourself. I loved your term ‘scaffolding.” Some people can add a story or two quickly but for others just getting a half story up higher is enough for now. We do consider you family now, and we are more committed than ever to the program and helping others who face what our son has faced.”
– Mother of a NITEO graduate
“Our son was diagnosed with bipolar disorder 4 years ago and had to drop out after his freshman year. He was enthusiastic about attending and had received an academic scholarship, but the disorder was unmanageable at the time, and he needed help. My husband and I met with Larry and Courtney to make sure NITEO would be a good fit for our son. We left that office with tears in our eyes because we knew this program was too good to be true. We watched him regain his confidence and balance within himself over the semester. He gained friendships and the students gathered outside of the classroom for social events that they planned themselves. When I asked him about the benefit to participating in NITEO, he told me that it gave him the confidence to get back to college. Our son informed us that he signed up for a college class this summer and is paying for it on his own. He has held a job for 4 months now and is doing well. This program has given our son hope and that hope transcends throughout this entire family. We have always had faith in our son and his potential but without the NITEO Program, he would not have the confidence and self-esteem to make his dreams a reality.”
– Mother of a NITEO graduate