“Every time I walked out of therapy, I felt like somebody again. That’s something I struggled with my entire life.”

Mark had sunk so low that he attempted to take his own life. Twice in one week.

The death of Mark’s father triggered a flood of painful emotions stemming from childhood trauma. These emotions created low self-esteem, unworthiness, and depression. All of this, when combined with the stressors of work and daily life in adulthood, became too much to bear.

Mark’s suicide attempt was the wake-up call that set the treatment process into motion.

“The doctors said I shouldn’t be alive,” he recalls. “And I knew that God must not have been finished with me.”

Mark sought treatment at a local facility but was told he would have to wait 6-8 weeks to be seen or would have to look elsewhere. Mark had heard about Christian Family Solutions (CFS) through a trusted friend and reached out to learn his options.

“I remember the tone of voice on the phone, the reassurance that help was there.”

Within three days, Mark began an intensive outpatient program (IOP), working under the care of a therapist four days per week, three hours per day.

“I didn’t have to worry about anything like health or disability insurance. Or working with my employer. The team at CFS helped me work through all that… I only had to worry about getting into that therapy room and getting better.”

Mark came to therapy from a dark place. He didn’t want to wake up in the morning. He wanted to end the feelings that plagued him – the feelings that he didn’t deserve to be alive and that he didn’t deserve the love given to him by his wife of 26 years. Deeper still, he didn’t think that God could love him.

“I am not kidding when I say this: CFS saved my life.”

Following his intensive program, there was still work to do. Mark made a strong connection with his outpatient therapist, who he only sees now as needed. He is back to work and using the skills he learned in therapy.

“My therapist went with me to the darkest edge and brought me back.”

Above all, Mark realizes how deeply he is loved by a God who will never let him walk alone. He remembers these words from his therapist: ‘Mark, you know God is walking with us through this journey.’”

And the journey isn’t over. Mark has a desire to share his story. His struggles led him to talk openly about the PTSD of childhood bullying and the decline of his mental health. His advice for anyone dealing with mental health challenges: “You can heal. Anyone can heal. You just need to pick up the phone and take that step.”

We are grateful to our partner congregations and our donors who help make care accessible to more people. You can learn more about intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) here.