17 years old, in wilderness therapy, with a crown of branches and a fire I made.

My name is Ciara.

I was just like your child.

I was intelligent, bright, and full of promise, then when I hit the teenage years, my life fell apart. I became a shell of myself, and unrecognizable to my parents. At my core, I just felt “wrong” and empty. I was constantly cycling through extreme emotions, and always looking for relief in other people. I felt sensitive, insecure, and had no sense self-worth, or hope things would ever change. So I did anything I could to numb the pain — disordered eating, self-harm, and suicide attempts.

After countless therapists and medications, I was finally sent to an inpatient hospital, wilderness therapy, and a therapeutic boarding school.

My experiences ranged from healing to damaging to disorienting, and everything in between. During this time, I unintentionally approached it like a study in human behavior—watching closely, observing dynamics, and mentally taking notes. I noticed how my peers responded to the programs, how the adults interacted with us, and the varying impacts of different approaches. I saw how some were meaningful and supportive, while others created pain and confusion in the name of therapy.

As a young adult, I needed to make sense of what I had experienced — recover from the harm caused, retain what had healed me, and rebuild my life from a place I’d never expected to be.

Now, I am the mentor I wish I had when I was in your child’s shoes.

As I began sharing my story, people started reaching out—asking questions, seeking advice, and wondering if I could connect with their teen. Word spread, and I quickly realized how much this kind of support was needed. That’s when I decided to dedicate myself to this work full-time.

In developing Homing Instinct, I reflected on everything I’d learned—from my time in treatment, my work in therapeutic settings with young people, and the countless conversations I’ve had with families over the years. My goal has been to create the kind of support system that would have been transformative for me during my own journey towards adulthood.

I know what your child is going through.
I understand the chaos and confusion your family is feeling.
And I recognize the strength and faith it takes to show up to this journey.

It is the greatest gift to be part of a teenager’s ecosystem, to be entrusted with their most powerful and transformative journey, and to be, for someone else, the person I needed when I was younger.

Everything I do is in service to adolescents everywhere.

If there is anything you take from reading this, please know I, with my whole heart, believe in your child's ability to triumph, to thrive, and to bravely become their true self. Sometimes, these painful, scary, and challenging years are the necessary initiations—the passages they must walk to step into who they are meant to be. I encourage you to hold faith in them, in yourself, and in the journey they are meant to take. It would be an honor to walk alongside you.

My Background: