Case Study 1

Samantha's Substance Misuse worker referred her to the Core Trust. She had previously attended numerous rehabilitation programmes, but so far had been unable to reach her aim of sustaining abstinence. She arrived stating “this will be my last try”. Samantha had been using alcohol since she was 12.  On arrival she was 37 years of age. She presented as defended and aggressive.

As part of her tailored care package at the Core Trust, Samantha received 17 groups per week ranging from psychotherapeutic support groups, to relapse prevention, to meditation. She also received weekly individual psychotherapy, body acupuncture, shiatsu and cranial osteopathy sessions. Samantha was initially sceptical as to the value of the CoreKids programme, but decided to “give it a go” after she had begun to engage with her own early life and parenting experiences. As part of the CoreKids programme Samantha received individual parenting support sessions including basic parenting skills, such as boundary setting, & the importance and appropriate use of consequences.

Her son Ben was 7 years of age. On arrival at CoreKids he immediately expressed hostility and aggression. On numerous occasions he flooded the therapy room with water, and dismantled the shelves holding the symbols for Sandtray work. Bens’ hostility continued for 5 sessions, at which point he buried his therapist under the cushions in the room and declared himself ready to talk. Using sand tray and art therapy he began to resolve some of the difficult issues between himself and his mother; the primary theme being one of trust. This was demonstrated at home by Ben’s inability to let his mother out of his sight, and his insistence that he sleep with her at night.

Ben’s stepfather, Mike was 35 years old and had sporadic contact with his son, he was a non-user. The primary focus of the family work became about reconnecting Ben with his stepfather (who had been present when he was aged 2-6yrs), though Mike was ambivalent about this relationship because it conflicted with his new familial commitment. Trust issues within the family dynamic were also explored and restored. This was done using solution-focused approaches, looking at the family’s strengths and building their resilience.

Samantha continues to remain abstinent, and her relationship with her son is now more trusting and emotionally coherent. Ben has been able to separate appropriately from Samantha; mother and son are now sleeping in separate rooms. Ben’s relationship to Mike was resolved in so far as it became clear that he did not want to engage fully with his stepson; contact arrangements were made for meetings once a fortnight. This clarified the relationship for Ben and enabled him to develop an appropriate relationship with his stepfather. He is now doing well at school, and has developed a rich social network. Ben and Samantha were referred on to a local family centre in their borough where they continue to attend weekly sessions.

Case Study 2

Rachael self referred to the Core Trust rehabilitation programme. By this time she had been using alcohol chaotically for 15yrs. She initially struggled to engage with the programme, and found group work particularly challenging.

Her assessment with CoreKids revealed a very complex family dynamic – she had sporadic contact with her eldest son Sean aged 9, who had been living with his paternal grandmother for the past 4 years. She was totally disconnected from her middle child, a daughter Gemma, aged 7, who had been adopted 5 years previous. Her youngest son Thomas, aged 3, had lived with Rachael for the 1st 18months of his life, and since then had been living with foster parents.

As well as her needs lead care package within the Core Trust rehab (a structured 5 day a week programme of therapeutic groups, individual psychotherapy, and complementary therapies), Rachael received fortnightly parent counselling sessions with CoreKids. In her initial care plan one of her express treatment goals was; “to get Thomas back”. Sessions also enabled her to explore her shame about how she had parented her children, and her increasing awareness of the sense of loss that she felt.

She soon felt more equipped to attempt to try and reconnect with Sean, and to deal with the difficult emotions this would ask her to face. Rachael wrote a series of letters, with the help of CoreKids, to both Sean and his carer. These were well received; with Rachael’s new attitude, and her sustained abstinence, her son’s carers permitted regular contact.

Rachael also worked through her issues around losing Gemma, and the grief and guilt she felt about this.

In addition to this, Rachael received support with legal proceedings - relating to the request for adoption by Thomas’s current foster parents. At first Rachael was adamant that she wanted full custody of her child, and was not prepared to let the adoption go through. However, Rachael’s attitude changed during her time with CoreKids; as she learnt more about child development and attachment issues, and worked through the difficult emotions surrounding her motivations for disallowing the request to go through - she resolved to allow Thomas to be adopted. Stating that she felt this was “truly in his best interests”. She arranged with the adopting parents to be allowed once yearly visitation rights, and the judge commended all parties on their compassionate behaviour towards this child.

Rachael has maintained her abstinence, set up a new home, and now attends full time education. She continues to visit Sean on a regular basis.