When James came to the Crisis Center, he had a laundry list of traumas we were helping him to tackle. His mother had struggled with a substance use problem, and both James and his sister witnessed drug abuse, domestic violence, and neglect over the years in their home. His mother eventually succumbed to her drug use and James and his sister were separated and put into group homes.
Understandably so, James was having a difficult time coping with the trauma he had experienced. At just 10 years old, he was struggling with impulse control, inattention, depression, bouts of crying, and suicidal ideation. While he was initially hesitant to open up to his counselor, they quickly grew a close bond. He admitted that talking about his mother’s death was overwhelming for him.
Over several months, he continued counseling and began to heal. James showed excellent manners and was honest about his behavior, even when he knew he’d made poor choices at school or in his group home.
By the time he graduated from counseling, James was able to talk about his mom without getting sad or frustrated and was also making better behavioral choices. With so many positive improvements, James was able to move forward with being adopted, alongside his sister, by another relative so that he can start the new school year with a fresh start. Thanks to our donors, James has a second chance at leading a happy, healthy life.
