Success Stories

We may not be able to meet the needs of all clients but we know the work we do, in residence and with families in the community does make a difference. Our clients tell us so….

A Community Housing Client’s Story: Alicia

Alicia and her nine-year-old child were referred to our program from a local women’s emergency shelter in April 2010. Alicia was pregnant and fleeing her abusive partner of two years. Her oldest child had also experienced extensive abuse from her partner. Alicia presented with complicating mental health and medical concerns. Alicia has had a long history of systems involvement, having previously experienced childhood sexual abuse, time in foster care and a teen pregnancy. Alicia’s medical and mental health complications included a surgery a few years ago which has left her with some physical impairments, as well as a currently diagnosed eating disorder and untreated bipolar disorder. All of these factors were compounded by the trauma of domestic violence and homelessness. Alicia was quickly housed and immediately engaged with both a case manager and a mental health specialist. The case manager worked to ensure Alicia’s safety from her ex-partner, initiate a stable source of income, and support her in setting up a new household.

In August, Alicia gave birth to a baby who was premature and had accompanying health complications. At this time Alicia also began manifesting concerning symptoms related to postpartum depression. Additionally, child welfare became involved because of concerns raised by the school regarding the emotional state of her nine-year-old child. Alicia’s mental health specialist worked with her to stabilize her mental health and worked with medical staff to ensure her baby’s health and growth. The mental health specialist connected Alicia with community postpartum support services. Both the mental health specialist and case manager collaborated closely with child welfare and her older child was placed temporarily with a relative while Alicia focused on herself and her new baby.

Alicia’s mental health has stabilized and she has been able to return to school and complete her college degree. Her newborn is doing well and her older child will return to her care full-time in July. Child and Family Services closed their involvement and Alicia is well connected with both personal and professional support systems. We graduated Alicia from the program in March 2011, after a year of successful program participation.

A Child’s Story: Dino

Dino was 2 years and 4 months when his family came to Discovery House.

The family had a lengthy history of extremely violent physical abuse as well as emotional, financial, sexual and spiritual abuse by their mother’s abusive partner of several years. It became apparent early in the process that Dino was severely impacted by domestic violence. He presented with multiple issues including: mental health, behavioral, psychosomatic, physiological and developmental delays. Dino’s gross and fine motor skills were particularly impacted. He could not run, jump or control the direction of his movement. He could not respond to rhythm and he refused to engage in play which impacted our ability to assess his fine motor skills. Language and cognitive development was severely delayed.

Dino’s mother disclosed that when Dino was eight months of age her partner repeatedly held him under water in the bathtub for a period of twenty minutes. When she was able to stop the abuse Dino was unconscious. He regained consciousness but was never assessed for neurological damage or brain injury.

On arrival at Discovery House Dino did not speak at all. He did not understand the concept of one and two nor did he understand basic colors and shapes. Dino’s emotional and social development was significantly impaired. He could not separate from his mother. He could not tolerate any other children in his immediate proximity. When another child passed too close to his physical comfort zone he physically attacked the child by spitting, biting, hitting and throwing objects at the child and his mother if she were present. He refused to make eye contact with anyone and did not smile.

Dino suffered from asthma, gum and teeth infection, did not have his four upper or lower front teeth and his physical growth was stunted with his height and weight being more typical of a one year old child. Dino could not hold or digest food properly. His sleep patterns were irregular. He was also not potty trained.

The service goal for the first three months was to create a safe space to permit healing to occur. One of the methodologies was child-centered attachment play therapy. Positive attachment and trust development was modeled for Dino and his mother by scheduling 5-15 minute daily group sessions with Dino’s child and youth counsellor in the play centre.

During these sessions Dino was encouraged to explore the play centre and the toys. These attempts to explore were celebrated. His feelings were validated and his aggression redirected. Neurologically this work resulted in the normalization of his brain chemistry allowing the growth of new neurological pathways to replace old pathways. His new learning and experiences were supported and reinforced by his mother who acquired capacity to assist her son in his healing while acquiring much needed parenting skills.

By the fourth month Dino was able to separate from his mother and work with a children’s counsellor. He no longer attacked other children and began to smile and interact with other children. Counsellor’s were able to use Dino’s new found curiosity and ability and interest in play to formulate play therapy interventions that allowed Dino to master gross/fine motor and cognitive developments previously impaired. Dino’s mother was taught all of these games and activities so that she could reinforce these skills in the home.

Dino’s physiological and psychosomatic illnesses were addressed. He gained weight, grew taller, started sleeping regularly and was able to hold and digest his food.

By the end of the forth month Dino could separate from his mother for 35 minutes and join a play therapy group with 5 other child clients. His love of dinosaurs was used in group to provide him with the opportunity to master emotional and social developmental milestones. Dino demonstrated an ability to wait his turn, share, sort food and toys, count, show empathy and for the first time made a sound that was the beginning of his speech and language development.

At the end of Dino’s fifth month of residency we saw a resilient playful child eager to learn and with most of the identified developmental gaps closed. Creating a pathway for ongoing development and healing. Language gaps due to domestic violence and physical trauma would take longer to close. The family remained at Discovery house for 13 months.

Today, Dino presents with normal speech development and has completed kindergarten on par with his peers.

We may not be able to meet the needs of all clients but we know the work we do, in residence and with families in the community does make a difference. Our clients tell us so...

“When I came to Discovery house I had no sense of who I was, but

• I found myself and my child safe and protected and I started to sleep better.
• I found people who were willing to listen so I felt I had a voice.
• I found support and I knew I wasn’t alone.
• I found training and I felt motivated to become independent.
• I found counselling and I felt confident and stronger, now I can identify the emotional and the psychological abuse.
• I’ve found tools to improve myself and I can see now that I’ve found a new beginning.”

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“Discovery House is the perfect name for my past residence because it is the place I discovered several amazing things about myself, my life, and my future. It was the foundation for my recovery.”
- Sandra, 2007

“Before I arrived at Discovery House I had lost all sense of the potential I had to achieve the goals and dreams that I wanted to achieve. Since…I feel I had a new sense of who I am and I have learned I am capable of being a very strong individual.”
- T.L.H, Past resident, 2007

“I have been supported emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually. The staff is teaching me valuable life skills that will always be beneficial for my higher being, as well as for my children.”
- Client, 2008

“After two weeks in an emergency shelter, I moved into Discovery House. I started gaining hope. I felt at peace. I knew I was safe. I gained my confidence back and I found my voice again. I was getting all the help and support I could get. My husband used to call me a “nobody”: now I know that I am a “somebody”. I am in control of my life again. I am worthy.”
- Sadia, 2008

“Coming to Discovery House was the beginning of a scary but healing journey. Each day was a challenge. There were times when I wanted to give up. However I stayed and fought hard because I wanted to give my children a better life. And now we have a better life. Discovery House supported us and kept us safe. It gave us the tools to move on to an independent, healthier life, and to break the cycle of violence.”
- Georgina, 2007

“Before I had my child, I didn’t care about myself. After having my child, I realized that I didn’t want him to see the abuse. I was scared of being independent, and to have to deal with everything on my own. But, I found myself at Discovery House. I discovered who I am and what I need to do. I earned inner confidence and learned that I can do it.”
- Ashley, 2009

“I received so much help from the workers at Discovery House. They were very supportive to me and my son. They gave me exactly what I needed… time, support, no judgment.”
- Client, 2008