This is my story

After years of physical and emotional abuse, Jenny thinks it’s her fault.

At the age of two, Jenny’s mother decided that she was no longer willing to care for her. She left Jenny with a neighbour, but did not return. Eventually, Jenny was placed in the care of her natural father. He physically abused her over a period of three years.

After telling a school teacher about the abuse, she was removed from her father's care by child protection services. She was placed in foster care, with a caring and attentive family. However, she found it difficult to accept their love. She would often steal small items from other family members and make up lies to cover up. She also described regular nightmares about her father.

At times, she would become explosively angry for no apparent reason.

The counsellors from Australian Childhood Foundation have helped Jenny to focus on her feelings about her dad and his violence towards her. She decided that she needed to "get dad out of her system".

After 12 months of counselling, Jenny has started to trust adults a little more. It has taken that long for her to begin to believe that the abuse she suffered might not be her fault.

Her stealing has stopped and she has been able to develop a close bond with her foster-parents. She now attends school regularly.

Counselling continues to help Jenny deal with her experience of being rejected by her mother with whom she has had no contact for over six years.