When Nikili first arrived at Help Group’s Project Six residential program and therapeutic school, North Hills Prep, she carried more than a backpack. She carried anger, grief, and trauma shaped by years of instability. Born in Los Angeles and exposed to methamphetamine in utero, Nikili entered foster care as an infant. Later, she became the victim of abuse by an adoptive family. Finding the courage to report it to her social worker once again changed the course of her life. She was sent to a treatment facility out of state, where she spent several years in a harsh and isolating environment. She struggled to connect and cope. Yet even in that dark place, there was one bright spot: working with therapy horses. “Horses were the first beings I felt really understood by,” she reflects. “They’re incredibly emotionally intelligent.” In 2013, Nikili was referred to Project Six, Help Group’s teen residential program, which would become a turning point in her life.
A Safe, Structured Place to Heal Help Group’s residential programs provide safe, structured homes for youth and adults with developmental or emotional challenges. With 24/7 care, therapy, and life skills support, residents build stability, independence, and a foundation for long-term growth and well-being. For teens like Nikili, Project Six offers educationally related residential treatment and therapeutic services designed to help young people gain the comprehensive skills necessary to successfully reintegrate into their local school, community, and family home. “When Nikili arrived, she had boundless energy and significant challenges,” shared Elin Bradley, Director of Therapeutic Schools and Residential Treatment at Help Group. Recognizing that Nikili needed consistency and patience, Elin assigned Residential Counselor, Andrew, to work closely with her. Andrew helped her stay focused on schoolwork, process her anger, and begin building trust. “I had no one I could rely on at that time, but Elin and Andrew were there for me, and I was probably not the easiest,” Nikili said with a laugh. “When kids went home for the holidays and birthdays, I never had that. And they treated me like family.” With structure, therapy, and unwavering support, Nikili began to make progress. “We were able to truly connect with her,” said Elin. “But it was Nikili who embraced the hard work and showed incredible resilience.” She completed her coursework at Help Group’s North Hills Prep and graduated high school— a milestone that once felt far out of reach. For perhaps the first time, she saw herself not just as a survivor but as someone with a future. One moment stands out as a turning point in her healing. Elin invited Nikili to share her story at one of Help Group’s signature events. “I remember thinking, I must have healed a little if I’ve been invited to speak in front of a large audience,” Nikili says. “That meant someone believed in me.”
Thriving and Giving Back Today, Nikili is thriving in the corporate world as a case manager at a law firm. She has built stability, independence, and a professional life she once couldn’t imagine for herself. But she never forgot the connection she found with horses. “I didn’t think I’d have the opportunity to ride again,” she says. “But I met people in the show jumping world who own their own business. I realized it was possible.” With the support of mentors at Global Sport Horse Stables, Nikili returned to riding and is now preparing for an upcoming competition season.
Her long-term dream is both ambitious and deeply personal: to start her own show jumping academy. When she does, she plans to partner with schools like North Hills Prep to provide access to equine therapy and to offer scholarships for children in foster care. “Watching her take off into young adulthood with such ambition and purpose has been nothing short of inspiring,” reflected Elin. “Team Project Six is immensely proud of Nikili and the collective effort that helped lay the foundation for her continued success.” Through her faith, her work with horses, and organizations like Help Group, Nikili says she has found something she once lacked. “I feel complete and full for all of the experiences I went through.” 
Healing Beyond the Classroom Nikili’s journey is a powerful reminder that Help Group’s residential programs support far more than academic growth. “For many young people, the work begins with stabilizing trauma, rebuilding trust, and learning how to regulate emotions shaped by early adversity,” said Dr. Susan Berman, Help Group CEO. “Healing doesn’t happen overnight. It happens in safe spaces. With patient adults. With structure. With an unwavering belief that help creates hope.” Nikili’s life today is living proof.