At seventeen, Lucy’s world felt overwhelming. A traumatic family event, combined with the pressures of high school and college applications, set her on a path of debilitating anxiety. “I just felt really awful, and didn’t want to feel that way ever again,” she remembers. This experience led her to seek professional support.

As soon as Lucy connected with her therapist, Deepali, she noticed positive results. “What made our sessions different from talking to a friend was having someone challenge the thinking patterns that were negatively impacting my life,” Lucy explains. “Deepali gave me sound, reasonable feedback that made me examine my own role in situations.”

Nearly five years later, Lucy’s therapeutic journey continues. Through her work with Deepali, she’s navigated college transitions, relationship challenges, and self-discovery. The support has been both deeply personal and remarkably practical; spanning from time management and sleep hygiene to communication skills and healthy boundaries.

Today, Lucy has a bachelor’s degree in music and choral music education and is pursuing her music education credential at Cal State Long Beach. She plans to become a choir teacher, a path that parallels her own healing journey.

“Choir was the one place where I could fully be myself. It made me feel accepted, like I had this sense of belonging,” she recalls. “I want to create that same space for other students struggling to fit in or with things going on at home. A lot of us really need a safe place.”

Lucy’s path from overwhelmed teenager to confident future educator highlights how counseling can be a powerful tool for building a purposeful, authentic life.

Buckelew’s Counseling Services provides compassionate, client-centered support for individuals, youth, couples, and families across Marin and Sonoma counties. We offer evidence-based therapeutic care designed to meet the specific needs of each individual at every stage of life.

Data Point:
This fiscal year, Buckelew served more than 230 counseling clients