With Help from Dungarvin Wisconsin, Woman Finds Path to a Happier Life

Dungarvin Wisconsin has a strong history of supporting people with significant mental health diagnoses, with a goal that our provision of critical supports and services and their own personal growth will allow them to transition to a less restrictive setting in the future.

In 2024, Kristy came to Dungarvin to receive services for several months at a one-bedroom home that was specifically modified to meet her unique needs, the foremost of which was self-harming. She was making great strides, including attending online schooling while experiencing fewer instances of hurting herself, but the county who placed her at Dungarvin decided that she was ready to step down to a less restrictive setting, and Kristy ended up leaving our services.

Unfortunately, things did not go well for her, and she found herself back in a state-run mental health facility in a highly restrictive setting. When it was time for her to be discharged in March of 2025, Kristy insisted on returning to her Dungarvin home to continue to build on the progress she had made in 2024.

The second leg of Kristy’s journey with Dungarvin started out a little bumpy, with a couple of instances of self-harming, but due to the excellent supervision and the safe environment Kristy’s staff helped to create for her, she soon started making great strides and was back on the path to a much happier future.

Kristy studied and passed exams to get her life and health insurance sales licenses. She also started dating during this time and is now engaged to be married. After five months of support from Dungarvin in 2025, Kristy left to live with her fiancé and continue her journey. Just before she moved out, we sat down for a conversation and I asked her a few questions about her Dungarvin experience.

Matt: Why did you return to Dungarvin?

Kristy: “I enjoyed the staff and having my own place. It was relaxing here. I could do my own thing. I could heal from everything. I felt like I was making progress last year when I was here, and I wanted to continue to make progress.”

What was different about Dungarvin compared to other places where you have received services?

“Staff were very interactive with me when I felt like self-harming. Staff gave me some good pep talks. They were very supportive and helped me become the best version of myself. They had my best interests at heart. When I couldn’t see my potential, they could.”

You said that you were impressed by the flexibility of Dungarvin’s services. What do you mean by that?

“This placement offered me the least amount of restrictions, so that I could have as much freedom as possible while still having support.”

Would you recommend Dungarvin to someone else in need of support, and why?

“Absolutely. This is the best group home I’ve ever been. It was the most supportive. Staff supported my individuality. I was allowed to have my freedoms. I’ve found other places to be too focused on rules.”

What was your favorite part about your experience at Dungarvin?

“I felt safe and like I could be myself. It felt like a good and safe place to recover. I could reach out and explore new things with the support I needed, plusI really enjoyed the staff.”

Congratulations, Kristy, and best wishes to you on your journey ahead. And thank you to her excellent team of DSPs at Dungarvin Wisconsin!