So many of us struggle to value our own self-worth, but 16-year-old P is already harnessing this powerful sense of being. When she first came to us, she was incredibly receptive to the therapy process, which focused quite a lot on developing a positive self-concept. And after just five sessions, P was developing a more positive outlook on life – she was determined to no longer validate her worth within relationships, but to rather cultivate it within herself.

Instead of trying to lose herself in wild parties, she now prefers to spend time with her family at home. There are no more outbursts of anger, and her mother is happy to report the positive changes she sees in her daughter.

P’s mother was worried. P was starting to hang out with the wrong crowd. She drank excessively and went in and out of multiple romantic relationships within a short period of time. She was angry, both at home and at school, and nothing P’s mother did got through to her.

Eventually P disclosed to her mother that her ex-stepfather had sexually abused her, and because P was worried that the stepfather would become even more physically abusive towards her mother, she kept quiet. Later, as there was no evidence against the ex-stepfather, and neither mother nor daughter wanted to face him in a court process, they decided not to open a case. But they did come to the Teddy Bear Foundation for psychological support, and today, P is more open to sharing her feelings with her mother.