Stepping into our client’s life:
For his entire adult life, Andrew struggled with various mental health challenges. At age 32, he had recently completed an intensive residential treatment program and had even successfully gone through their supported living program. Andrew chose to remain in the same city where his treatment program was located and was still connected to a therapist and psychiatrist there. His parents lived back home (in a different state) and supported Andrew with his first real go at independent living, with the hopes that he would be able to build his competency and confidence so he could eventually move back to his hometown.
As time progressed, his parents felt something was wrong – he did not sound well, and as much as they could discern, he was not keeping his therapy or psychiatrist’s appointments consistently. Clearly he was not happy, but they were also concerned about where this downward cycle would lead. This is when Coach-Mentors was asked to intervene.
How Coach-Mentors helped:
As the coach-mentor got to know Andrew and as he began to trust him, we learned that Andrew had let a “friend” move into his apartment. Andrew was feeling lonely, but he felt it was good to finally have a friend. However, it became clear that the friend was taking advantage of Andrew – taking his car when he wanted to, not returning his keys, becoming domineering of Andrew, and effectively preventing Andrew from getting to his appointments, getting a job, etc. He did not want to lose this friend and thus did not know how to navigate this difficult situation.
Over time and with the support of his coach-mentor, Andrew was able to set limits and regain his apartment and his car. Coach-Mentors helped him re-establish contact with his therapist and psychiatrist, get back on schedule with his medication, and support him in joining a local tennis club, where he worked with a tennis coach and met new people, some of whom became friends.
Andrew also was supported in preparing for a job search, exploring options, preparing his resume and practicing for interviews. Andrew got his desired job working at UPS where he was able to become increasingly financially independent.
He also began to resume regular communication with his parents and reconnected with a social club sponsored by his former treatment center.
Takeaway:
The value of meeting our clients face to face, at home and in the community is evident in Andrew’s case. No one would have known about the predatory roommate without showing up in person and being part of Andrew’s day-to-day life. To his parents’ credit, they allowed us to help Andrew learn how to set his own boundaries and gain control over his life, rather than intervening for him, and that opened the door to the amazing growth Andrew experienced.
Meet the Mentor:
Alina Schindler is a warm, intuitive, and highly trained mentor with a strong clinical foundation and years of experience supporting adolescents, young adults, and families. She holds a Master of Science in Counseling, with specializations in Mental Health Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy, and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Central Florida, where she graduated with honors. Her academic background gives her a deep understanding of emotional development, family systems, and the practical skills young people need to thrive.
During her graduate training, Alina served as a Mental Health Intern counseling individuals, groups, and families — including truant and ungovernable youth ages 10–17. She completed intakes, needs assessments, and suicide-risk evaluations, and collaborated closely with school personnel and court officials. Her supervisors consistently praised her ability to connect with adolescents, noting her “vibrant personality,” “graceful and empathetic delivery,” and the safe, trusting environment she created for teens to open up. One supervisor wrote that she “went above and beyond the call of duty” and “left a footprint in the hearts of the staff and clients.”
Across all her roles, Alina has demonstrated a natural ability to build rapport, create emotional safety, and help clients feel understood. She brings a calm, grounded presence to her mentoring relationships, blending her clinical training with practical guidance and steady encouragement. Clients and families appreciate her empathy, professionalism, and her ability to help young people develop confidence, structure, and healthier patterns in their daily lives.
Alina’s approach is both supportive and empowering — meeting clients where they are, helping them navigate challenges, and celebrating meaningful progress along the way.