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Resiliency from the Eyes of a Therapist
The below was written by one of our fabulous Clinicians. Our hope in sharing this first-hand experience with one of our child clients is to not only give you insight into some of the emotions our children navigate due to their trauma, but that everyone's road to healing and closure looks a little different. Oftentimes, our cases can take years to go through the legal system, leading to retraumatization and the potential need to re-enter our Clincial Program as these children may have to face their perpetrator for the first time since allegations arose.
We are so proud of not only our staff and their tailored, tireless work for every child victim, but the resiliency that these children own when given the chance to heal.
“I met [my] client in 2022. She entered our services at 8 years of age having experienced multiple incidences of sexual abuse by her mother’s paramour. When she entered the therapy room, she was riddled with anxiety, eyes wide and nodding in response to questions. She was incredibly guarded and looked like she was carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. I began by building rapport, approaching in a trauma-informed manner, gaining the much-needed trust to do our work. We began to form connection, and I began to see her open up more and more. In the therapy room she was able to say that she had been abused, she was able to talk about grooming that took place, she was able to speak her feelings aloud. Each time she would speak about the abuse, she would cry, and I would sit by her side teaching her to regulate and reminding her of her power. She worked through a trauma narrative and became louder and louder in the therapy room. And then she graduated from services.
As the trial approached [recently], I received a subpoena and then I was contacted by her mother stating she had requested to see me again. This time our focus was on court preparation. We began our work together again and we focused on court logistics but also on relaxation and a focus on her strengths. The goal was to empower her to continue to use her voice amid having to see her abuser again and state her abuse aloud to a courtroom. The trial was pushed back four times, and I remained by the family’s side helping them to cope and move forward. As the trial approached each time, my client would exhibit severe anxiety and panic attacks. I would work on relaxation with her, walking her through meditations and grounding exercises, celebrating her resilience, and engaging her in goofy activities that made her laugh, that offered distraction. During this time, she drew the therapy room as her safe place. Days before the final court date, the perpetrator in the case decided to sign a plea deal and receive 15 years of jail time with a lifetime protective order. This was justice for this family, a true closure to this case. I was able to close out with this family after this decision, giving the family a hug, reminding them of their strength, and wishing them well as they begin the next chapter of their lives.”
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