Mila is a dreamer.
At just 11 years old, the sixth grader from Milwaukee envisions a future where she’s a Disney Imagineer, creating magical experiences through her love of art and engineering. “I’ve always been creative,” Mila says. “I love designing little houses, acting in plays, and even dancing. My mom says it’s in my blood because both my parents are passionate about the arts.”
But Mila’s journey to building her dreams hasn’t always been smooth. Like many kids her age, she’s faced challenges that felt overwhelming. “I used to feel like my body was shutting down,” she admits.
Her mom, Deana, noticed the signs early on and wanted to help Mila find a way to navigate her emotions. “Mila was really little, but I could see that she was dealing with big feelings,” her mom recalls. “She’s always been someone who feels deeply, and living between two homes—primarily with me in Milwaukee and visiting her dad in Chicago—made things even more complex. I wanted to give her the tools to handle those feelings before they became too much to carry.”
“I didn’t know how to control my feelings. I’d get angry or sad, and I didn’t know how to use my voice to talk about what was going on. It felt like everything was bottled up."
Mila started art therapy, and from the very beginning, it was clear that she had found a safe space. Working with her therapist, Teresa Buss, Mila began to understand her emotions and learn how to express them. “When I first started therapy, I liked that I could play while talking about what was happening,” Mila remembers. “It made me feel comfortable. Now, I’ve learned how to check in with my body and figure out what I’m feeling before I even say anything.”
One of the coping mechanisms Mila learned from Ms. Buss is what they call the ‘Feeling Robot.’ “It helps me practice what I want to say,” Mila explains. “You rehearse it until you feel ready to say it out loud. It’s really helped me, especially when I’m nervous or emotional.”
Therapy became especially important when Mila faced one of the hardest moments in her young life—her dad’s brain cancer diagnosis. “It was really scary,” Mila shares. “I didn’t know how he would look or act after the surgery, and I was afraid to see him. Therapy helped me figure out strategies to talk to my stepmom about my fears and to feel more ready to visit him.”
Mila is proud of the progress she’s made. “I’ve learned how to stop holding things in until they explode like a volcano,” she says. “I can talk to my mom, my siblings, and even my dad about how I’m feeling. I’m learning how to explain myself so people understand me better.”
Looking ahead, Mila is excited about her future. She dreams of attending Yale someday to study engineering. Even more than that, she dreams of building a life where communication and trust are at the center. “I want my future family to feel safe to share their feelings, just like I’ve learned to do,” she says.
For Mila, therapy at Rawhide has been life changing. It’s given her the tools to navigate life’s challenges, the confidence to pursue her dreams, and the ability to deepen her relationships with those she loves.
“Mila’s story is still being written,” says her mom. “I know she’s writing it her way—with courage, kindness, and a whole lot of heart.”