After a wild two-year search for answers, Stefanie visited doctor after doctor, struggling with a range of symptoms in her body. Despite numerous tests, nothing physically wrong was found, and she was cleared medically. Frustrated and exhausted, she was advised to see a psychologist. Desperate for answers, Stefanie agreed.

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It was in therapy that Stefanie was introduced to the concept of unprocessed trauma and how it connects to our emotions and body—a concept she had never considered before. As she reflected on her past, everything began to fall into place. She traced the root of her trauma back to when she was six years old, after her brother’s suicide. The shock and grief of losing him in such a traumatic way had left deep emotional scars, not just on her but on the entire family.

 

For Stefanie, the trauma of his death never fully healed. The silence that followed, the unanswered questions, and the feelings of abandonment created a heavy burden. Her family, too, struggled with the loss in different ways, and the impact of her brother's suicide reverberated throughout their lives, creating a ripple effect of unresolved grief and pain. As Stefanie grew older, she realized that the loss of her father at 16 had compounded this trauma, amplifying the emotional and physical toll she had carried for years.

 

As Stefanie found healing and freedom, she felt deeply compelled to create a place of hope and healing for others facing similar struggles. Recognizing the barriers to accessing timely help—such as not knowing where to start with finding a therapist, long waitlists, complicated systems, and high costs—she became determined to provide a solution. Her dream was to offer both holistic and practical services, making the support people need easily accessible, without delays.

 

The Ungar Center for Hope is already operating as a mission-driven organization, offering a wide range of holistic services to individuals seeking healing from trauma. We are actively supporting individuals through personalized therapy, wellness programs, and trauma recovery initiatives—striving to break down the barriers to emotional healing and make these resources accessible to everyone. Our commitment is to provide compassionate care and practical solutions, helping individuals heal and reclaim their lives.