“I feel less angry at everything now.”
Billie
Billie’s negative behaviours at school and home were escalating after her father’s arrest. Arguments at home, increased unhealthy behaviours and spiralling anxiety were just some of the side effects of her trauma.
After her referral to Breaking Barriers, our practitioners provided Billie with weekly support sessions in school and at home. Working with them, she set goals and developed coping strategies for managing stress, including creating a ‘self-soothe’ pack to improve her resilience.
Billie also participated in the development of our Dylan’s Story book, a tool which helps children understand what it’s like to have a parent in prison.
This experience allowed her to explore her feelings about her father’s arrest and its impact on her emotional wellbeing. Over time, Billie was able to better understand her father’s situation in prison and quell any misconceptions she had.
Breaking Barriers’ support made a big difference to Billie’s life. She soon felt less angry and more open to understanding the emotions of others. A mediation-style session held at her home also addressed the challenges in Billie’s relationship with her mother and helped them to find common ground.
Both Billie and her mother validated each other’s feelings and the work of the Breaking Barriers team helped them develop a happier family environment.
Her behaviour at school also improved and she has been able to better manage her temper and anxiety.
“I feel less angry at everything now and I’m more open to understanding other people’s emotions. I’m grateful for the support I received.”
