‘I wouldn’t be here today without Rogers’: Former Nashville patient achieves dream, credits her treatment

Achieving a goal that once seemed out of reach, former Rogers patient Kennedy recently shared that she’s continuing her college journey with confidence and hope for the future.

Read her comments here:

“September 2021 was the darkest chapter of my life. I was a sophomore in high school, failing every class, skipping school, and isolating myself from the world. I had no friends, no outlet, no hope. I truly believed I had reached the end. But I didn’t. A month and a half later, I was admitted into the PHP program at Rogers in Nashville, and that decision changed everything.

Rogers saved me. I still remember one day in particular when we were asked to set both short- and long-term goals. I remember exactly what my top long-term goal was: I wanted to get into a college that I chose, one that I sought out for myself. Not just anywhere that would take me, but somewhere I genuinely wanted to be. After seven weeks, I was discharged. From there, I began piecing my life back together—raising my grades, finding friends, and falling in love with learning again.

Two years later, in December 2023, I was accepted to my dream college. I didn’t think it was possible, but there it was on my computer screen: ‘It is my privilege and pleasure to offer you admission to Connecticut College.’ I must have read that sentence a hundred times.

Now, it’s September 2025. I’ve just started my sophomore year at Connecticut College, and I can honestly say I have never been happier or healthier. The journey hasn’t been easy, but it has been worth it. And I know, without question, that I wouldn’t be here today without Rogers.”

~ Kennedy, former Rogers patient

Kennedy’s former Depression Recovery treatment team members recall working with her.

“Kennedy was such a delight to work with!” says Amy Blount, LCSW, clinical supervisor in Nashville. “It’s not often that we get to see or hear how our previous patients are several years after working with them, especially the adolescents who are in a transition period of their life.  Kennedy had a fuzzy idea of what she wanted, but she didn’t have any hope or motivation to figure out how to get there. She was open and allowed Ernie and I to push and challenge her throughout treatment. I remember she was applying to get into a private college preparatory school during her time in treatment and would continuously express doubt of her ability to be accepted into the school. We created BAs and exposures to help reduce procrastination and increase self-confidence in completing her video application. She had low self-esteem and didn’t want anyone to see her on camera, but she did it! And she allowed staff to watch her application video and provide feedback. The courage and confidence I remember seeing from her toward the end of my working with her was a total 180 from the patient that walked in the door. It’s encouraging to see the long-lasting impact our work and relationships with our patients have on their future success.”

“I completely agree with everything that Amy said!” adds Ernie Valente, case specialist in Nashville. “This patient worked so hard to push through her anxiety and depression. Even for as hard as she worked with us, reading what she wrote, it sounds like she may have been struggling even more than we probably knew at the time. It’s so incredible to actually hear from patients and how their time with us helps them. Honestly, reading her note really brightened my day!”