Month: May 2025

Why Summer Is the Best Time for Teen Therapy
When the school year ends, most teens look forward to a break from homework, early mornings, and packed schedules. But for many, summer isn’t all sunshine and freedom, especially for those already struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, or emotional challenges. Without the structure and social connection that school provides, some teens spiral deeper into isolation, risky behavior, or worsening mental health.

Over 60% of U.S. youth experience at least one traumatic event before age 16.¹ In 2023, 4 out of 10 high school students felt so sad or hopeless almost every day for at least two weeks in a row that they stopped doing their usual activities.² This is a reminder that many teens are quietly struggling and need real support.

That’s why summer can actually be the best time for teen therapy. And at Innova Joy, we’ve designed our summer programs with that exact idea in mind. 

A Space Built for Teens
Innova Joy is a trauma treatment center and therapeutic day school for teens ages 12 to 17. We represent a beacon of hope for families seeking compassionate mental health support to help teens stabilize, heal, and rediscover joy. With locations in Boerne and New Braunfels, we offer teens a safe and supportive space designed to promote healing, connection, and growth. Both campuses provide a peaceful, engaging environment where teens can step away from daily stressors and focus on their emotional well-being through structured therapy, meaningful relationships, and real-life skills.

A Break From Academic Stress
During the school year, therapy often gets squeezed in between classes, extracurriculars, and homework. Teens are already overwhelmed, and it can be hard for them to fully engage in therapy when their mental energy is spent elsewhere.

For most teens, school is their biggest source of stress, something 83% of teens report feeling.³ When summer hits, that pressure finally lifts. It’s a rare window where teens can breathe, recharge, and focus on their mental health without the constant demands of school pulling them in every direction.

Summer creates a natural pause and offers the gift of time. Without the pressure of academic demands, teens have more space to focus on themselves, build emotional skills, and do the deeper work that healing requires.

Real-Life Skills in a Fun, Engaging Environment
Healing isn’t just about sitting in a therapist’s office. Teens need to experience connection, joy, and self-expression.

Our summer camp blends evidence-based therapy with creative outlets like art, music, mindfulness, and outdoor play. It’s therapy that feels like real life, helping teens practice emotional regulation, build relationships, and boost confidence in ways that stick long after summer ends.

A Fresh Start Before the New School Year
Starting therapy in the summer gives teens the chance to build a solid emotional foundation before heading back to school. Whether it’s managing anxiety, improving relationships, or processing trauma, the progress made over the summer can help them feel more prepared and empowered in the fall.

Addressing trauma early makes a big difference; it helps teens better manage their emotions, reduces PTSD symptoms, and builds lasting resilience for the future.

Personalized, Teen-Centered Care at Innova Joy
At Innova Joy, we specialize in mental health care for teens. Our licensed therapists speak their language, our space is designed with their comfort in mind, and our programs are built around their needs and not just checklists.

What We Provide:

• Trauma-informed care
• Evidence-based therapy (CBT, DBT, EMDR, Art & Music Therapy, and more)
• Group connection with peers
• A safe, no-judgment environment
• Fun, structured activities that support healing
• Locations in Boerne and New Braunfels
• Insurance-friendly options + scholarships available

What We Treat:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Mood Disorders
• PTSD 
• Trauma
• Sexual Abuse
• Suicidal Thoughts
• Trouble at School/Home
• Behavioral Issues

Our team is committed to helping teens develop emotional resilience, social skills, and healthy coping strategies in a place that feels like home.

Make This Summer Count
If your teen is struggling, don’t wait for things to get worse when school starts. Summer is the perfect time to hit pause, get support, and reset.

Innova Joy offers summer therapy programs at our Boerne and New Braunfels locations, making it easier for families to access care nearby. Spots for Summer 2025 are limited, so contact us now to sign up today. 

Let this be the summer that changes everything.

1. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) – Understanding Child Trauma https://www.samhsa.gov/child-trauma/understanding-child-trauma ↩︎
2. CDC – Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data Summary & Trends Report: 2013–2023 https://www.cdc.gov/yrbs/dstr/index.html ↩︎
3. American Psychological Association (APA) – Stress in America: Are Teens Adopting Adults’ Stress Habits? https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2013/teen-stress ↩︎

Every Child Deserves a Chance
May is National Foster Care Month, and at Innova Joy, we’re taking time to honor the resilience of foster children and shine a light on the kind of support that can truly make a difference.

Roughly 75% of the kids we treat have been through the foster care system. Of those, about 70% have been adopted, and 50% have been through CPS.  These children have often experienced trauma, loss, and instability, and many struggle to feel safe in a world that has let them down. 

At Innova Joy, we specialize in helping these kids heal. We don’t just offer structure. We offer connection, consistency, and a safe place where they can begin to rebuild trust. Our team understands the unique challenges faced by children from foster and adoptive backgrounds, and we’re committed to walking alongside them with compassion and care.

A Safe Place to Heal and Learn
Innova Joy isn’t just a therapy provider. We’re a therapeutic day school. That means our kids receive mental health support and education in one safe, consistent environment designed specifically for healing and growth.

Many of the children we serve have had difficulty in traditional school settings due to trauma responses, behavioral challenges, or emotional needs that weren’t being met. Our program is built around the understanding that kids can’t learn if they don’t feel safe.

We create that safety through trauma-informed therapy, small class sizes, predictable routines, and caring adults who meet kids where they are every day.

When Support Makes All the Difference
One of our students came to Innova Joy when he was 13, not long after being adopted from foster care. He was having a really hard time, being bullied at school, struggling with self-harm, and dealing with anxiety and trauma that made it hard to function day to day. He was angry, overwhelmed, and didn’t feel safe anywhere.

He spent about four months with us. During that time, we worked closely with him and his family to create consistency, build trust, and help him feel supported. Slowly but surely, he began to open up, regulate, and find his footing again.

Now, he’s in high school and doing so well. He’s on the basketball team, plays in the band, and just went to his first school formal. His mom told us, “Thank you for saving my son’s life.”

“Every kid deserves a chance to feel safe, connected, and hopeful about their future. That’s why we show up every day, for them.” Founder of Innova Joy, Dr. Kasi Howard

Tailored Support That Makes a Difference
We know that kids in foster care need more than one-size-fits-all solutions. That’s why we offer:

• Individual and group therapy grounded in trauma-informed care.
• Family therapy and caregiver support, including foster families.
• Personalized academic instruction that supports both learning and healing.
• Collaboration with case workers, schools, and agencies to ensure consistency.
• A team that shows up, listens, and never gives up on a child.

We help kids feel safe, connected, and supported, so they can begin to trust, regulate, and move forward.

Two Locations, One Mission
Right now, more than 369,000 children are in foster care across the U.S.¹ Many of them are dealing with layers of trauma, on top of the everyday challenges of just being a kid. And far too often, they fall through the cracks when it comes to mental health and education.At Innova Joy, we make sure that doesn’t happen. With therapeutic day school campuses in Boerne and New Braunfels, we provide a safe, consistent space where foster kids can receive the structure they need and the compassion they deserve, so they can not only recover, but truly thrive.

Let’s Keep Showing Up for These Kids
Whether you’re a foster parent, caregiver, caseworker, teacher, or someone who cares, thank you. You’re part of the community that makes healing possible. If you know a child who could benefit from a therapeutic day school setting and compassionate mental health care, reach out. We’re here to walk alongside them. Serving families in Boerne and New Braunfels, Innova Joy offers a safe place for kids to learn, grow, and heal.

Reach out today to speak with our team and learn more about our programs.
Because every child deserves a chance – and a safe place to learn, grow, heal, and experience joy. 

1. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children’s Bureau. 
   https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/afcars-report-31
   
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