A teen, recently home from a year in treatment, logs onto Zoom for the first session of a new group. She’s repeating a year of school and feels out of step with her peers. She knows she’s done meaningful work, but it’s easy to feel like she's falling behind in day-to-day life. Then, another girl shares that she’s also repeating a year—and struggling to balance the growth she’s made with the reality of returning to school, friends, and old routines. The conversation that follows is honest, familiar, and surprisingly effortless. For the first time in a while, the teen doesn’t feel so alone. Homing Instinct’s Post-Treatment Peer Support Groups are all about that moment- the power of being understood.
Founded by Ciara Fanlo, who underwent treatment as a teenager, Homing Instinct offers mentorship and coaching support services to struggling adolescents and young adults. These virtual groups, led by Ciara and Erica Sung, MSW, were created for adolescents navigating the often-overlooked phase after wilderness therapy, residential treatment, or therapeutic boarding school.
“They’ve done deep work,” Ciara says, “but they often come home to a world that hasn’t changed with them. When I came home from treatment, I felt like an outsider. It would have been a game-changer to connect with other teens who were going through the same thing.”
The peer community is often one of the most impactful parts of a therapeutic setting. This group aims to carry that connection forward into the harder, lonelier moments of reintegration. Some teens are starting at new schools, and many feel distant from their old friends. These groups give them a place to land.
The pilot group brought together students from seven different therapeutic programs. Weekly Zoom meetings quickly became a highlight of their routine, with participants sharing:
“This ended up being my favorite part of the week.”
“I only wish we met more often.”
“I love this group because it didn’t feel like just another skills group. We discussed real issues and offered each other genuine advice. But most of all, I enjoyed being there. It was so welcoming and easy to join.”
“It’s so relieving to be able to talk to others who actually understand how hard it is. I felt less alone, and that made all the difference.”
Each session includes guided discussion, creative prompts, and space for honest peer connection. Participants consistently report feeling more hopeful, understood, and supported.
Teens / young adults ages 13–22 who have completed therapeutic programs and are seeking post-treatment support in a peer setting are encouraged to join.
To learn more or refer a teen, visit hominginstinct.org/support-group, or reach out directly to ciara@hominginstinct.org.
About Homing Instinct
Homing Instinct offers mentorship, coaching, and support services for teens and young adults navigating mental health challenges, life transitions, and the journey after treatment. It was founded by Ciara Fanlo, who spent time in treatment as a teen and later became a mentor and advocate. The practice offers one-on-one mentorship and coaching, family guidance, and virtual peer support groups to foster connection and community. Learn more at www.hominginstinct.org.