CASTLE Children's Mental Health Services Helps Josie Overcome Severe Anxiety and Regain Confidence
Learn how Virtua’s CASTLE child mental health services helped a teen overcome severe anxiety and thrive at school and home.
Scott and Rebecca Donia were at a loss. Their 12-year-old daughter, Josie, was having difficulties in school, hiding in the closet when she felt anxious or frustrated, and pushing away anyone who tried to help. Seeing and hearing things, she often resisted even leaving the house.
The Donias turned to Virtua’s Children Achieving Success Through Therapeutic Life Experiences (CASTLE) program, which provides comprehensive mental health services geared to help children who have emotional, behavioral, or psychiatric disorders.
Now, more than five years later, Josie has grown in confidence, can more positively express herself, and is looking toward a future helping others.
“It's like a weight lifted off your shoulders. It’s not long ago that we thought Josie was going to be living with us the rest of her life,” said Scott. “I now think Josie is going to be off on her own one day, living her life, not being in my house just watching TV and on the Internet. She’s going to live a full life.”
Therapy helps Josie articulate her feelings
Josie was admitted into CASTLE’s partial hospitalization program, which provides therapeutic services alongside academic instruction during typical school hours. A first step was weaning Josie off medication a doctor prescribed for what they thought was ADHD.
“It was the medication that caused her to hallucinate and be more anxious,” said Heidi Mail, LCSW, Josie’s therapist at CASTLE. “We realized a lot of what she experienced was due to anxiety, but she didn’t know half the words to explain it. We tried to give her the words to articulate her feelings.”
After three months, Josie progressed to CASTLE’s outpatient program. Children meet with a therapist once a week to work on issues related to home, school, and social situations. Attendees also may receive group therapy, medication management, and psychiatric evaluations.
Painting was an effective part of Josie’s therapy.
“Whenever I was feeling anxious, I would tend to hide because I wanted to be in a quiet area,” she said. “Painting blocks out everything and helps me feel calmer. I’m at home when I’m drawing, like I’m in a field of roses with no one else there.”
From feeling ‘too far gone’ to ‘seeing the light’
The Donias and Heidi are proud of Josie’s progress. She joined her high school marching band, went on the senior trip to Disney World, and earned her driver’s license. In June 2025, she graduated from high school.
“It’s a long journey, but it’s a journey you have to take because there’s a reward at the end,” said Scott. “I never thought we were going to get to that end either, but now we’re seeing the light.”
“When I was in middle school, the only thing I could think of was I’m too far gone, I’m never going to be able to get better. No one is going to be there to help me,” said Josie. “But after I came here, I’ve been able to fix myself and not be who I was back then.”
With continued care, Josie is looking to attend college and become a therapist.
“I want to help people who have struggled because they deserve the help that I’ve been getting,” she said.
Therapy at CASTLE can help your child succeed
CASTLE is dedicated to helping your child improve in areas where they struggle so they can feel successful in school, at home and in life. To learn more or get started with a preliminary assessment, call 856-322-3270 (Berlin), 856-246-3013 (Camden), or 609-444-5635 (Willingboro).
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