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Matt started out a happy child, until years of family violence left him deeply traumatised.
At thirteen, he was struggling with substance abuse and his behaviour appeared violent and aggressive. Matt* was expelled from school, labelled a “bad kid” and talked about harming himself.
Our therapy team recognised that beneath Matt’s difficult behaviours was a deep well of pain. These behaviours were not signs of a "bad kid" but the visible effects of trauma.
But what were the factors that shaped Matt’s young life?
By the time he was in primary school, Matt had witnessed his father’s violent behaviour toward his mother and sisters. At just eight years old, he knew that what he was seeing was wrong, but he didn’t have the words to speak out.
Matt carried a heavy emotional burden. He believed that he was responsible for stopping the violence in his family and felt guilty for not being able to protect them.
Children like Matt, who haven’t experienced safe, loving relationships, struggle to make sense of their feelings. Without the support they need, they may act out in ways that are harmful to themselves and others.
Matt felt alone. None of the adults in his life asked if he was okay.
We helped Matt process his profound sense of disconnection. As he talked about his anger, we created a non-judgmental environment where Matt could explore his painful emotions and rebuild a sense of security.
With time, we helped him understand that his outbursts weren’t a sign of being "bad" but a sign of the emotional pain he had carried for so long. Instead of being punished or rejected, he was met with empathy and understanding.
We saw remarkable changes in Matt as he worked through his trauma. His posture relaxed, his frown softened, and he began to communicate more politely. It was a clear sign that he was beginning to heal.
There was hope.
Today, Matt is thriving in school and is even on the students representative council. One of his greatest motivations for change was to pave a better example for his sisters. Matt wants to ensure they too receive the love and care they need to grow up happy and healthy.
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Your donation is secure and protected.
Matt started out a happy child, until years of family violence left him deeply traumatised.
At thirteen, he was struggling with substance abuse and his behaviour appeared violent and aggressive. Matt* was expelled from school, labelled a “bad kid” and talked about harming himself.
Our therapy team recognised that beneath Matt’s difficult behaviours was a deep well of pain. These behaviours were not signs of a "bad kid" but the visible effects of trauma.
But what were the factors that shaped Matt’s young life?
By the time he was in primary school, Matt had witnessed his father’s violent behaviour toward his mother and sisters. At just eight years old, he knew that what he was seeing was wrong, but he didn’t have the words to speak out.
Matt carried a heavy emotional burden. He believed that he was responsible for stopping the violence in his family and felt guilty for not being able to protect them.
Children like Matt, who haven’t experienced safe, loving relationships, struggle to make sense of their feelings. Without the support they need, they may act out in ways that are harmful to themselves and others.
Matt felt alone. None of the adults in his life asked if he was okay.
We helped Matt process his profound sense of disconnection. As he talked about his anger, we created a non-judgmental environment where Matt could explore his painful emotions and rebuild a sense of security.
With time, we helped him understand that his outbursts weren’t a sign of being "bad" but a sign of the emotional pain he had carried for so long. Instead of being punished or rejected, he was met with empathy and understanding.
We saw remarkable changes in Matt as he worked through his trauma. His posture relaxed, his frown softened, and he began to communicate more politely. It was a clear sign that he was beginning to heal.
There was hope.
Today, Matt is thriving in school and is even on the students representative council. One of his greatest motivations for change was to pave a better example for his sisters. Matt wants to ensure they too receive the love and care they need to grow up happy and healthy.
