At Homeboy Industries, a young person can push a therapist away and still find the door open when they return. Tom Vozzo sits down with therapists Fajima Bedran and Jason Delgadillo to explore how trust, belonging, and consistent care help young people heal from childhood trauma. Together, they discuss youth therapy, complex trauma, EMDR, and the relief of realizing that abuse and neglect were never your fault.
Fajima and Jason also examine how food insecurity, unstable housing, substance use, and social media perfectionism complicate youth mental health. They share how Homeboy’s community extends support beyond therapy, why forgiveness should never be forced, and how avoiding painful feelings can keep those wounds active. Their conversation reveals what becomes possible when people have both practical support and someone who keeps showing up.
[00:00] Introduction
[00:25] Tom welcomes Fajima Bedran and Jason Delgadillo
[02:13] How mental health therapy began at Homeboy Industries
[04:50] Understanding complex trauma and early relationships
[06:59] What it means to do therapy the Homeboy way
[08:03] Judgment, authenticity, and unconditional positive regard
[11:54] Why Jason wanted to work at Homeboy
[13:59] How youth therapy differs from adult therapy
[15:41] Childhood neglect, abuse, and attachment wounds
[17:15] The relief of realizing it was not your fault
[19:05] What keeps young people coming back to therapy
[22:06] How Homeboy’s community reinforces therapy
[24:39] Helping young people explore their emotional wounds
[27:25] Why suppressed emotions come out in other ways
[30:33] Are love, forgiveness, and mercy essential to healing?
[32:58] Care, intimacy, and boundaries in therapy
[35:10] Faith, self-love, and healing
[37:54] Food insecurity, housing, and substance use
[40:34] Combining emotional support with practical help
[42:29] Social media misinformation and youth perfectionism
[45:34] Why avoiding painful feelings can get in the way
[47:19] What gives Fajima and Jason hope
[49:13] Recognizing Homeboy’s mental health team
