As a child, Anna bore witness to unimaginable violence. Her father’s outbursts were frightening and for ten long years the physical and emotional abuse toward her mother never stopped. Unlike her friends, home was a place she felt most afraid.
We first met Anna as a withdrawn 16-year-old who understood her life experience was different to many others. At that stage, she had missed nearly two years of school, lost friends and developed chronic anxiety. Her zest for life had faded, and with it any shred of motivation for her future.
But that all changed in 2022 when, thanks to your support, Anna met Chris – a Therapeutic Practitioner from our Children Ahead program. Slowly, and with great care and understanding, Chris helped Anna talk through her anxieties and fears. Such intensive, individualised therapeutic support made Anna feel safe enough to express her feelings, build trust and develop a sense of belonging.
Together, Chris and Anna built a ‘coping toolbox’ filled with easy things she could do such as deep breathing, journaling, mindfulness activities and walks. Chris also fostered communication between Anna’s mother, her school and her father to help them understand how to best support her. It’s been 15 months, and Anna is making wonderful progress.
She went to school almost every day during her final year of VCE and got an incredible ATAR score of 86. She caught the tram, played basketball with her brother, visited friends in Cairns and felt more confident in her own skin. These small but significant steps have changed Anna’s life for the better.
Chris explains: “I don’t think Anna would recognise the kid I met 15 months earlier. The ATAR results was great, but what I was most proud of was Anna just always showing up. On the good days and the bad. Every class, every exam, every therapeutic session. She always attended and tried her best and that’s all that mattered.”
Anna has a long road ahead. But with your ongoing support, we can build a future where she can thrive.
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