Easterseals Michigan Fall / Winter2017
Spotlight On‌
Joshaunna
At just nine years old Joshaunna was experiencing depression, anxiety, and difficulty with her school work. She became increasingly isolated from family and friends. Her family turned to Easterseals where she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. With regular counseling, her grades and social life improved. At age 15, Joshaunna began to participate in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), which she credits with changing her life. In the program, she learned coping skills for dealing with emotion,
began meeting new friends, became more social, and dramatically improved her grades. She also became active with Easterseals’ Teen Advisory Council and graduated from high school with honors. Today, Joshaunna works for Easterseals as a youth peer support specialist, one of the first in Oakland County, helping other children find their own unique road to recovery. She also continues her own personal growth and is setting goals for the next stage of her life which includes helping others.