“Do you know why you were referred here?” Carl responded, “Because I’m bad.” During the earliest years of his life, Carl witnessed horrific domestic violence from the hands of his biological father. When Carl was seven years old, his mother separated from his father and remarried, unfortunately to another dangerous man, who sexually abused Carl. Carl grew angry and fearful. He experienced sleep disturbance and had nightmares regularly. He didn’t socialize with his peers and acted out aggressively. In addition, he would sometimes become so distressed at school that it interfered with his ability to learn. Worst of all, Carl expressed a desire to kill himself. The first priority for The NYSPCC was to address Carl’s suicidal ideation. Our therapist helped him to recognize the thoughts and emotions he experienced when the desire to kill himself arose and to identify people from whom he can seek help. During other therapy sessions, the therapist provided psycho-education to help Carl better understand his trauma and how it affects his emotions and behaviors. The therapist also helped Carl develop coping strategies, such as relaxation techniques and writing in a journal. The therapist also helped Carl’s mom understand how she could assist in her son’s recovery. Due to her own history of abuse, Gina suffered from depression, which affected her ability to help her son recover. The therapist encouraged Gina to enroll in her own trauma focused therapy. By focusing on her own health and well-being, Gina could improve her capacity as a parent, so that Carl would feel more secure and loved. With Gina’s permission, the therapist also worked with Carl’s guidance counselor to explore ways the school could also help address Carl’s mental and emotional state while he was at school. Teachers and school staff began offering more empathy and support, which helped to improve Carl’s behavior and academic performance. After nearly a year of weekly therapy sessions with Carl and his mother, Carl has greatly improved. He now understands that he was referred to The NYSPCC because of the abuse he endured and not because he is a bad person. With his newfound coping skills, he is no longer at risk of hurting himself. And Gina, who is now seeing a therapist of her own, is offering more help and support to her son. Carl is sleeping more peacefully, and as noted by his guidance counselor, doing better in school. The therapist is proud of Carl’s progress and will continue to work with him as he continues to grow stronger and more resilient. NYSPCC.ORG | 3
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