As a group of children was working, exploring the properties of clay medium in their hands, one of them wondered aloud what their parents speak about during their group meetings. A young girl, who in past sessions was very selective about what she revealed, began sharing her thoughts on why the parents met.
For the first time, she began sharing her own experience with domestic violence. She described how her father would be physically abusive to her mother and how he tells lies. The counselor acknowledged her bravery for sharing this with the group.
When the session was over, the counselor talked privately with the girl. It was then that the girl allowed herself to unload the emotions that had been weighing heavily on her, verbalizing through her tears that she has done poorly in school because she thinks about these things so much and keeps them inside.
For the next 10 minutes, she gave herself permission to trust another human being with her emotions. Her body relaxed as she released the stress inside. Together, the counselor and child inhaled deeply and exhaled out the stress. She let herself sit, take it in and let the emotions run their course…she even stated with a smile that she felt “lighter.”
She soon rejoined the other children who were playing in the adjoining area. “It was not the darkness of what she lives with that affected me so,” explained the children’s counselor. “It was witnessing the awesome strength of a child; the amount of emotional pain they can hold and still be able to function as if nothing is wrong. It is a reminder of what these kids carry with them and how easy it can be to take their perceived resilience for granted.”
If you are in an unhealthy relationship, JBWS can help. Call our 24-Hour Helpline at 1.877.782.2873
