When Samuel, age 3, first entered Casa de Esperanza’s Behavioral Health Program, the effect of the trauma he had faced before arriving at our Foster Care Neighborhood was evident. On his very first day of play therapy, he cried and refused to enter the room. His rejection was so intense that we had to adapt his therapy entirely, beginning his sessions in a different room to help give him a sense of safety. At the time, Samuel spoke very little and struggled deeply with trust, making it difficult for him to communicate or make connections.
With patience, consistency, and compassionate care, Samuel began to feel safe and grow in confidence. Over time, he accepted the original play therapy room, first with the door open, then eventually closed. His caregivers and therapists earned his trust, and this made it easier for him to start using his voice. What began as a few words developed into full sentences and confident communication. In his play therapy sessions, Samuel moved from quietly scanning the room to leading exploratory play, narrating stories with happy endings. At first, his play often reflected his past experiences, but eventually it shifted to stories that mirrored the safety and stability he was experiencing in his foster home.
Samuel didn’t only succeed in learning how to adapt to his environment; he mastered all the skills that the therapist tasked him with. Samuel is very mature, follows directions, and has a great ability to listen and comprehend. Because of this, our team found it best to arrange a “graduation” for him to create a special moment that would stay with him forever. In December, after Samuel left his last Play Therapy session, he picked out a rock from the garden and painted it. His therapists put his name on top and explained that this rock was a symbol of his hard work and accomplishments.
Samuel’s story is a testament to the fact that with the right trauma-informed care, a child can truly thrive. Samuel not only has his rock to remind him of his achievement, he also believes in himself. One of his caregivers shared that throughout the day she hears him say to himself, “I’m the best!” Thanks to your support and generosity, and an amazing partnership with Family Houston, children like Samuel are receiving the resources they need to heal from their past and rewrite their futures. Your kindness ensures that they can step into the world with the tools, trust, and confidence to succeed for a lifetime.
