Karley

Karley is five years old.  Born to a mother and father who were addicted to drugs, Karley found herself passed around from one extended family member to another.  When, at age 4 Karley was adopted by an aunt and uncle, some thought things were looking up.  But things went terribly wrong and one day Karley found herself life-flighted to Primary Children’s with a hematoma caused by such a blow to the head that the paramedics thought she would never make it.  But Karley did make it, and after a period of time in foster care is being adopted by another aunt who is caring and loving.  Her hair has grown back over the large scar that goes from the back of her ear to above her right eye.  Karley came to therapy at The Green House Center uncertain whether or not to believe in another adult.  As she attended play therapy and received EMDR therapy for her trauma, Karley gained an understanding that she is a precious little girl who deserves to be safe and loved and that she can belong to a family who cares about her.  Her new adoptive family attended a Parenting Towards Attachment class and learned how Karley’s life experience had altered her brain function and how they could reverse the process and care for her in specific and tender ways to promote a new and lasting attachment to them.  Today Karley would tell you that she has many people who love her and that she is happy.  She knows that some people are mean and hurtful but that there are others who can be trusted to be there for you always.  She wants to dance, and thanks to a caseworker, a police woman, a foster family, and a new kinship adoptive family as well as a team of therapists at The Green House Center, she will.