Irena S.

Like so many here, I had my life all figured out until my three children began to struggle with severe depression, anxiety, ASD, and substance abuse.

At the time, I was working as a college counselor, toggling between working with high-achieving, tightly wound students intent on getting into a prestigious college and caring for my own kids, who were struggling no matter how hard my husband and I tried to help them. Over the past 12 years, we’ve survived three stints in wilderness therapy programs and too many therapists, transitional programs, and treatment modalities to count.

Our struggles as a family brought me to my knees—but also redefined how I think about what truly matters and the importance of speaking openly about mental illness. I wrote about our family’s experiences in a memoir, The Golden Ticket, in 2023, and currently write a newsletter called The Curmudgeon’s Guide to College Admissions, which focuses on helping parents create a broader, more generous definition of success. I’m still learning how to let go of past trauma and live fully in the present, and I’m incredibly grateful for the support and community I’ve found through OPLM.