Building resilient regional and remote Queensland communities.
Our Stories
Finding Her Voice: Sidney’s Story of Healing and Hope
‘Lonely’ and ‘sad’ were the words Sidney* used to describe how she felt when she was first referred to the Re-ACT CQ program. At her initial session, she was unwilling to speak with her therapist and instead communicated by writing her feelings down on paper. Sidney had stopped attending school after experiencing bullying both online and in the school yard.
Her home life was also unstable and stressful. Early childhood experiences of violence, abuse and neglect had left her traumatised, and ongoing exposure to hardship made it difficult for her to regulate her emotions, particularly when she felt overwhelmed.
Sidney also struggled to recognise how her own behaviours contributed to conflict with her peers. When things didn’t go her way at school, she would lash out at those around her. Some of these outbursts were filmed and shared online, further contributing to the cyberbullying she faced.
Through regular sessions, Sidney began to build insight into her behaviours and how they impacted her relationships. She learned about healthy social interactions and was supported to explore and process her past trauma. Over time, she also developed the ability to recognise her body’s warning signs and trust her instincts around people who made her feel unsafe.
At her final session with Re-ACT CQ, Sidney shared how excited she was to be back at school and spoke proudly about a new circle of close friends she had made.
“I love catching up with my friends at school, and the bullies don’t upset me anymore,” she said.
Providing trauma-informed therapy services children in regional and remote areas is made possible by the partnership between QCoal Foundation and Act For Kids. You can learn more about the Re-ACT CQ Program and our partnership here.
*Names & some details in this story have been changed to protect the privacy of the child.
