Spring 2025

,armony at ,ome supports children e\periencing difficulties at home including support for teen parents through access to counseling and other resources. A bout 20 years ago, Julianne Leavy drew on her work as a therapist to establish Harmony at Home. By bringing counseling pro- grams to nearly 50 Monterey County schools, the nonprofit supports children e\periencing obstacles and trauma. Individual and group pro- grams e\plore topics liOe bullying prevention, mental health, communication and parenting, with a focus on teen parents and families facing divorce-related challenges. Trauma compounds the typical ups and do[ns oJ childhood, e\plains ,armony at ,ome Director of Operations Joaquin Hernandez. “We help teach coping strategies. We help teach them ways to interact and to navigate life,” he says. The organization hosts assemblies and makes counseling easily accessible at school, connect- ing students with people they can trust. ±-t’s a constant Jor children e\periencing the ebbs and ¾o[s oJ liJe,² ,ernande^ says ±8hey can take all that trauma they’ve been holding for the week, put it on the table, and just be a kid for 45 minutes.” Many Harmony at Home counselors are therapy students completing their professional licensing, and they’re supported by an e\peri - enced clinical supervision team. “We want to help develop the counselors of the future,” Hernandez says. “We know that there’s a need. If we can help develop strong counselors, it’s only going to benefit 1onterey County ² For more information, call 831/625-5160 or visit www.harmony-at-home.org. 2onprofit 7uppor ts 7tudents and Families in Tough Times & = 6 )2) ) & 6 - 2C/ 7 SHORT C987 GIVING BACK 96 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • S P R I N G 2 0 2 5 Photo: Dulse Silva