Ms. Leyla Fonseca

LMHC

Working in a special education school has given me valuable insight into the unique challenges my clients face in their daily lives. One of the most striking patterns I’ve observed is how some students cope with anxiety in unhealthy ways. For instance, one student wears the same hat every day. While this may be related to her autism spectrum disorder, by providing a sense of familiarity and sensory comfort, she’s also using it to hide a bald spot caused by trichotillomania. Her anxiety, combined with the compulsion to pull out her hair, is deeply distressing and difficult to manage. Another student, who lives with PTSD, experiences anxiety so pervasive that it manifests through skin picking. She is often left with visible bruises and scabs on her arms, legs, and even her face. Witnessing these struggles firsthand has pushed me to grow as a therapist. I’ve learned that while immediate coping strategies can provide short-term relief, long-term healing requires consistent, collaborative support. This means working closely with both the school team and the students’ families to create a unified approach and one that ensures the student receives the same level of care, understanding, and reinforcement across all environments.