Beth's Story - Trust

November 01, 2025

Like most people, I came to HopeWay during an extremely difficult time in my life. I was in the midst of a mental health crisis, and knew I needed intense and immediate help.

I found myself at HopeWay in the spring of 2024. As I walked through the front doors, I somehow knew I wouldn’t walk out the same. It was clear that if I wanted to find healing, this was going to be a season of hard work that included intense therapy to address deep-seated challenges, all while learning to be vulnerable in a group setting.

To say I was nervous was an understatement. But soon after I arrived, I realized HopeWay truly fosters an environment built on trust. Through my journey, I came to understand trust in three powerful ways: learning to trust others, allowing others to trust me, and ultimately learning to trust myself.

Trusting Others

When I began my healing journey, I was in a place of deep emotional pain. It felt like no one could possibly understand the weight I was carrying. But from the moment I arrived, HopeWay’s staff, and even other clients, showed me that I could rely on them. Their steady presence, honesty, and care built a sense of safety I hadn’t felt in a long time.

At first, group therapy was one of my biggest fears. I worried about being vulnerable and sharing the intimate details of my story out loud with others. But from my very first session, I felt surrounded by people I could trust. The therapist created a safe space, and the other clients  listened without judgment. Their sincerity helped me open up, and every time I shared, I grew a little stronger.

The connections I made during treatment, whether brief or long-lasting, reminded me that trust is the foundation of healing. It’s what allows you to take the first brave step toward change.

Earning Trust

Through those moments of connection and vulnerability, I discovered how powerful it is to be someone others can trust. Meeting people in their pain gave me perspective and reminded me that honesty and openness create true connection. HopeWay brings together individuals from all walks of life, yet within those walls, we were united by a common purpose: to get better.

When everyone around you is committed to healing, there’s a shared sense of accountability and integrity. It becomes easier to do the hard work when you know people are counting on you. Something I heard during my time in treatment has stayed with me: “Healing is a group activity. It can’t be done alone.”

In learning to be open and dependable for others, I found my own sense of purpose beginning to return.

Trusting Yourself

The final, and perhaps hardest, lesson I learned at HopeWay was how to trust myself again. Allowing myself to believe I was capable of healing, and that I deserved it, was one of the most transformative parts of treatment. For so long, I had doubted my strength and questioned every decision. But here, surrounded by people who believed in me, I began to rebuild that inner confidence piece by piece.

Even a year after discharge, I continue to rely on the self-soothing techniques and practices I learned at HopeWay. They remind me that I can trust my own instincts, my resilience, and the progress I’ve made.

I was right to believe I wouldn’t be the same after treatment. More than a year later, I live a fuller, healthier, and more meaningful life.

The therapists and staff at HopeWay embody trust in every word and action. It isn’t just something they talk about; it’s something you feel the moment you walk through the doors. This is a place where trust and compassion are given freely, and I’m grateful to the staff and other clients for teaching me their true value.