Hero Spotlight: A Home Within
Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby is a licensed psychologist, licensed marriage and family therapist, board-certified coach, AAMFT clinical supervisor, host of the Love, Happiness, and Success Podcast and founder of Growing Self.
Updated on November 26, 2025
Holidays can bring up so many emotions — gratitude, tenderness, longing, and everything in between. This season often puts belonging under a soft spotlight, which is why it felt like the right time to revisit this conversation about A Home Within and the impact that one steady, caring adult can have in the life of a young person who has never truly had that before.
Hello, dear therapists! It’s Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby here, and I’m absolutely thrilled to share with you something that I believe is a beacon of hope and transformation. Today, I want to talk about an extraordinary organization, A Home Within, and its crucial role in supporting children and young adults transitioning out of foster care.
Their mission is simple yet profoundly impactful: connecting these young individuals with pro-bono therapists for stable, long-term relationships. And as a therapist, I understand the deep value of this connection, so I’m excited to delve into why this matters so much.
If you’re craving a supportive professional community yourself, you can learn more about The Growth Collective for Therapists — a space I created so you don’t have to do this work alone.
A Home Within: Healing Through Consistency
The journey of children in foster care is often marked by upheaval and inconsistency. Because of this, A Home Within aims to counter that instability by providing a constant therapeutic presence in these clients’ lives. This stability is not just comforting; it’s genuinely healing.
As these young adults transition out of foster care, the challenges they face can be overwhelming. So a dedicated therapist becomes a guiding light, helping them find their path, whether it’s pursuing education, starting a career, or simply learning how to trust and build healthy relationships.
Breaking the Cycle
Many foster youth face grim statistics, including higher risks of homelessness and incarceration. Even so, through consistent therapeutic support, we see a remarkable turnaround. These individuals gain the tools and confidence to break free from these statistics, building a life filled with hope and possibility. With a dedicated therapist by their side, these young adults learn to advocate for themselves. They become more articulate about their needs and desires, making informed decisions about their future.
If you’re considering a volunteer opportunity, I encourage you to get connected with this fantastic organization. It’s opportunities like this that can make being a therapist so meaningful.
A Community of Support
A Home Within isn’t just about connecting therapists with foster youth. It’s also about building a community that supports each other. Their approach includes providing continuing education and consultation groups for therapists, ensuring that they’re well-equipped to handle the unique challenges these young adults face.
In addition, this is the kind of support network that can help you maintain healthy boundaries as a therapist, practice good self-care, get reliable guidance, motivation, and encouragement, and thrive in your therapy practice, beyond your role as a volunteer. (P.S. — this is very much in alignment with what we do for our therapists at Growing Self! Explore our group private practice opportunities to learn more).
You’re There
For Them.
We’re Here
For YOU.
Craving community, consultation, private practice support and learning experiences that help you grow personally and professionally?
The Joy of Giving Back
Volunteering with A Home Within is more than just a professional commitment; it’s a personal journey. As a therapist, you get the unique opportunity to witness and nurture the incredible resilience and strength in these young people impacted by the foster care system.
If you’re a therapist inspired to make a difference, joining A Home Within is easy. Visit their website to learn how to get involved. Whether it’s providing direct therapy, leading a consultation group, or contributing to continuing education, there’s a place for everyone.
Building Your Professional Home
If you’re craving deeper support in your own professional life — a circle of colleagues who understand the emotional work you do and genuinely care about you as a human — I would love to invite you to explore The Growth Collective for Therapists.
It’s a professional homebase designed so you don’t have to do this work alone. Inside, you’ll find:
- A steady community of thoughtful, mission-driven therapists
- Deep, meaningful consultation
- Relevant, growth-oriented CEUs
- A strong referral network
- Real conversations about clinical work, boundaries, self-of-therapist growth, and building a sustainable practice
If you’ve ever wished for a place where you could show up as your full self — clinician and human — this community was built for you.
And if you’d like to keep the conversation going, I’d love to connect with you on LinkedIn. It’s one of my favorite places to share ideas, reflect on the work we do, and stay in community with therapists who care about relational, heart-centered practice.
My conversation with Candice Simonds from A Home Within has been nothing short of inspiring. If you haven’t listened to the episode yet, I encourage you to do so. It got me thinking about the power of human connection and the transformative impact we can have, one life at a time. So to my fellow therapists, I encourage you to consider being part of this beautiful mission.
xoxo,
Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby
RELATED: Why Therapists Are So Vulnerable to Burnout, Why Therapists Need to Grow Too, Should You Start a Private Practice?, Why Therapy Clients Ghost
FAQs
What is A Home Within?
- A Home Within is a national nonprofit that connects youth who have experienced foster care with volunteer therapists who offer long-term, pro bono therapy without the typical time limits or insurance restrictions.
How does long-term therapy help foster youth?
- Consistency is critical for healing attachment wounds and complex trauma. Long-term therapy allows young people to build trust, develop emotional regulation skills, and experience a relationship with someone who stays.
Why do many foster youth struggle after aging out of the system?
- The transition into adulthood is challenging for all young people, but foster youth often face it without family support, financial resources, or stable housing. As a result, they are more vulnerable to homelessness, unemployment, and involvement with the justice system.
Can therapists with full caseloads volunteer?
- Yes. Many volunteers offer just one pro bono hour a week. A Home Within supports therapists with consultation groups, CEUs, and community, making the experience sustainable even with a busy practice.
Is this a good fit for newly licensed or early-career therapists?
- Absolutely. A Home Within supports therapists at all career stages. The consultation groups and community support help new clinicians feel grounded and equipped for the work.
What if I’m not able to provide therapy but still want to help?
- There are additional ways to get involved — including leading consultation groups, offering continuing education, or contributing your skills in other supportive roles.
Resources:
Ruff, J. A., Jones, R. M., & Clausen, J. M. (2020). A descriptive analysis of long-term treatment of adolescent-aged foster youth. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 37(3), 285–298. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7163907/
Sariaslan, A., Långström, N., Sharp, D. J., & Fazel, S. (2021). Long-term health and social outcomes in children and adolescents placed in out-of-home care: A Swedish national cohort study. JAMA Pediatrics, 175(6), 585–593. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8546624/
Greeson, J. K. P., Usher, L., & Grinstein-Weiss, M. (2014). One adult who is crazy about you: Can natural mentoring relationships matter for youth leaving foster care? Children and Youth Services Review, 36, 133–140. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4059558/
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