When Tomas entered foster care, he carried the weight of his recently upturned world on his shoulders. Frustrated, guarded, and afraid, he made it very clear to everyone that he wasn’t interested in talking.
Rather than pushing and prying, Tomas’s FCNI therapist took a different approach. Focusing first on making him feel safe, Tomas’s therapist remained consistent, showing up for him with nothing but patience and space. Through her actions, she invited Tomas to communicate however he needed and in his own time.
At first, progress was minimal. Just mumbled greetings from Tomas followed by a little less resistance. But over time, these moments morphed into more. As Tomas’s trust grew, so did his engagement.
Tomas truly embraced therapy when he realized that by talking about his experiences, especially those that hurt, his mental load lightened. Having someone care enough about him to sit with him in his darkest memories and with his biggest fears, Tomas was able to take his first real steps toward healing.
For youth who have experienced trauma, trusting others does not come easily. Loss, instability, and unhealthy relationships make it difficult for them to believe that anyone, especially new people, will stay or care.
Healing begins when a young person feels safe enough to let someone in. Through patience, consistency, and compassion, adults can build trusting relationships that help youth move from survival to healing and growth.
Thanks to your generosity, young people like Tomas have access to caring professionals at FCNI who provide safety, validation, and care during some of their most challenging circumstances. The relationships you help make possible enable local youth to build life-changing resilience and make healthy connections, better equipping them to face life challenges with confidence and support.
