Welcome to Pace Macon

When McKenzie came to Pace, she hoped to learn to effectively communicate with her peers and she worked with her therapist to identify situations in her life that went poorly due to communication barriers. Over several months, McKenzie learned how to identify her needs and share her points of view harmoniously. She learned how to craft ‘I’ statements, use words and phrases to diffuse a situation, adjust her body language, and practice active and reflective listening. “Pace taught me to avoid situations that could escalate into something unsafe or get me into trouble. I learned when and how to walk away from situations, and the importance of communicating better with family and classmates.”

Sarah is a fierce protector of her family and is a natural-born leader. She can think fast, and is solutions-focused and action-oriented. While these are great leadership qualities, they have caused her to occasionally clash with authority figures. Her behavior has also made it difficult to establish meaningful and constructive relationships with her peers and teachers.

While enrolled with the Pace Reach Counseling Program in Macon, Sarah learned about her own personal communication style, and how she shows and receives love with friends and family. She recognized her protective instinct and realized it stems from watching her family struggle with poverty, the absence of a father figure, and witnessing her mother in an abusive relationship.

*Name and details have been adjusted in this story for anonymity.