We hold hope for them, when they can’t see it.

Cody’s mum was worried about Cody’s refusal to go to school.

When he did manage to attend, his anxiety was through the roof.

Cody’s school Guidance Officer was witnessing his behaviour escalating while he was there, and recommended private counselling.

But the counsellor struggled to connect with Cody, because of his heightened emotional state.

Cody needed support to build resilience and confidence.

Resilience to manage school without suffering from debilitating anxiety.

And confidence to maintain a level of attendance that would become normalised.

Additionally, Cody’s mother had diagnosed schizophrenia, along with a significant history of trauma. This had a direct effect on her son, in that sometimes, on ‘bad days’, she wasn’t emotionally available to him. He was missing out on the support he needed from a safe adult when he was experiencing his own mental health challenges.

Cody was also presenting behaviours consistent with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder).

Accoras developed a child / young person specific approach, drawing upon our 30 years experience working with this demographic. Our CPSP Practitioner started to spend time with Cody, at school, or at home, running 12 sessions over 6 months, with weekly contact for tracking progress.

A range of therapies were used, including

• Psychoeducation

• Motivational Interviewing

• Solution focussed

• Dialectical Behavioural Therapy

• Acceptance Commitment Therapy

• Narrative Therapy

• Creative Therapy

Cody showed strength in a number of areas, he was insightful, and able to recognise his actions and behaviours, and responded well to the therapy.

Together, Cody and the Accoras CPSP Practitioner formed a trusting and safe therapeutic relationship. The trust built between them during these structured sessions allowed Cody to understand his behaviours, his journey, his experience.

However, during the last 4 weeks of therapy, Cody’s mum had to attend court. She had taken out a DFV order on his biological father. This ordeal affected her ability to be there for Cody, to be emotionally available for him.

Fortunately, a contingency plan was available to them – they moved into Cody’s grandmother’s home, and together the grandparents provided the safe, reliable support that they both needed.

Now, school no longer presents a problem for Cody.

His attendance has gone from 25% to 95%, and his anxiety is significantly reduced.

He’s making more friends, because he’s there more often, and his self-esteem has improved markedly.

He’s decided to forgive his father, and not feel resentment towards him.

He’s able to control his temper, and manage his behaviour.

The Accoras CPSP Practitioner suggests that without the CPSP intervention, Cody may simply have continued to avoid school.

His aggressive behaviours may have increased.

His home life may have become destructive.

He may have continued down his path without the support of education or diagnosis, which would mean that he may not have been able to participate in society. Which means a lack of meaning, purpose.

And without meaning or purpose, he may have experienced escalated mental health issues, and an inability to cope with life’s stressors.