Page 9 - Teach Tearmainn Flipbook 2023

Teach Tearmainn helping to Transform a Child’s Life
Teach Tearmainn has been delivering quality, evidenced based services, providing practical, therapeutic and emotional supports to children, parents and families across Kildare since 1999. We see first-hand the devastating and harmful impact domestic violence and abuse can have on all aspects of a child’s life and development. But, through the work and support provided to the children and families our aim is to empower and support children to keep safe and to heal from their experiences. We can see the positive outcomes that can be achieved. Teach Tearmainn’s policy to support children is founded on the council of Europe’s Istanbul convention, where children are seen as victims of domestic violence and abuse in their own right.
Here in Teach Tearmainn we offer children a variety of supports to nurture their development and recovery from their experiences of abuse and trauma. We offer one to one therapeutic support through our children’s outreach service. We work in tandem with mothers and children in a one-to-one setting and group setting, to support families and their recovery from domestic violence and from the traumatic effects of abuse on the family unit. We are hoping to expand our children’s support services in response to the growing need in our communities to the issue of domestic violence and abuse. Research and evidence emerging on the effects of domestic violence and abuse on children suggests that when it occurs in adult relationships, this is a lived and first-hand experience for children in the family.
As children have described in their own words:
‘It’s a really bad feeling in our heart, and it feels like it’s broken. We feel very very angry, afraid, frustrated, worried, scared, confused, nervous and sad. Sometimes we feel it in our bodies too, we might get weak, our eyes might go black, we get a pain in our belly, our bones start to hurt and sometimes we don’t feel like eating a lot. Sometimes we feel like hurting ourselves to make all our problems go away.’ (Barnardo’s, 2021).
Living in an environment with domestic violence and abuse hinders a child’s wellbeing. It can affect every aspect of a child’s life, including their social development, mental health, emotional health, physical health, and welfare. These affects can lead to a range of social, emotional, physical, and behavioural problems, now and later in life.
Adverse childhood experiences in early childhood, such as experiencing domestic abuse, can also have a negative impact on later mental health. Recently Luke was referred to Teach Tearmainns children’s support service.
Luke was ten years old when he came to Teach Tearmainn for therapeutic support. He had recently been suspended from school and his Mum Maggie had become overwhelmed by Luke’s behaviour, shouting, hitting his siblings, and becoming aggressive to her. Maggie had separated from her ex-husband the previous year after fifteen years, living with domestic violence and abuse. She had a safety order in place and Maggie and her children were striving to move on with their lives. Maggie’s ex-husband had left the family home and he was no longer in contact with Maggie or their children. The family were now living free from abuse, but Luke was struggling with his mental health. Following a number of one to one support sessions with the children’s support worker, Luke was provided with support and understanding. Luke felt comfortable enough to speak about his experiences and the effects of living with his Dad’s violent and aggressive behaviour. Luke was angry and he was struggling to express his feelings in an appropriate way. Over time and with the support from his Teach Tearmainn support worker Luke, was able to process his experiences and emotions. This enabled Luke to develop positive strategies to deal with his anger and anxiety. Luke identified the support he received from Teach Tearmainn as being positive impact on his mental health and overall emotional wellbeing. Luke and Maggie went on to participate in Teach Tearmainn’s parent and child support group supporting their recovery further.
Luke is now settled at school and is doing well. Maggie and Luke both reported the positive affect on their relationship in part to Teach Tearmainns therapeutic support provided to them both.
Early interventions can break the cycle of domestic abuse and are far more effective than dealing with the consequences later. It is essential all children and young people have the opportunity to access specialist, trauma informed domestic abuse support.
Company Registration No: 320273 | Charity Register No: 20046477 | Revenue Charity No: CHY14328 | www.teachtearmainn.ie