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Mary Jo McVeigh, Emmanuel Kassiotis and Amanda Boyd represented CaraCare at the 3rdBiennial International Childhood Trauma Conference in Melbourne July-August 2018.  The theme of the conference was trust, love and betrayal - therapeutic interventions that work in the face of relational and complex trauma.

At CaraCare we view success through the eyes of the children. What that looks like to us is that they are having fun, sharing their pain in a safe way and connecting with each other, their families and friends.

During Terms 2 and 3, we offered 5 programs – Having a Go, Faery Garden, Rising Up Singing Out, Writing and Wrapped in Angels for boys. This is what some of the kids had to say about their CaraCare experience.

As we know, certain smells can tie us strongly to a memory, whether it be good or bad. This process in the brain is called somatosensory flashback and is recalled long before a narrative memory is formed. Young children in particular often associate certain smells with their traumatic experiences.  Equally, to create new positive memories, it is important to incorporate smell as part of the healing process.

Rising Up, Singing Out is a new program piloted in Term 2. As well as the direct personal harm suffered, abuse silences children and young people. Children are forced to be silent to protect themselves or others and convinced that no-one will believe them if they disclose abuse. Rising Up, Singing Out was developed to create a space for children and young people’s voices in the form of a song.

Wrapped in Angels is a journey of resilience that explores what has sustained and nourished children and families when facing abuse, violence and trauma.

Having a bank of experts contributing to the programmes, Mary Jo also saw the need for a sensory experience to help the children through smell. As we all know, certain smells can tie us strongly to a memory, whether it be good or bad. This process in the brain is called somatosensory flashback and is recalled long before a narrative memory is formed. Young children in particular often associate certain smells with their traumatic experiences. Equally, to create new positive memories, it is important to incorporate smell as part of the healing process.

She grew up in the bomb-scarred streets of Belfast, saw off cancer and dealt with divorce. But MARY JO McVEIGH has come through stronger than ever, writes Sue Williams.