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Finding Confidence & Success Through Therapy: Albert’s Story
The following story was submitted by an LFCS behavioral health counselor
I met Albert when he was in 4th grade. His teacher referred him to our school counseling program for anger and social skill issues. At that time, he and his mother were living with his mother’s father, Albert’s grandfather. However, his mother was rarely home. Albert never saw his father. Albert was struggling in school.
Social interactions were hard for him, so he did not have many real friends. It did not help that he was often angry, and wasn’t able to control his temper very well. Albert had reasons to be angry – one of which was he had been physically abused by two of his mother’s boyfriends.
Albert loved coming to therapy, simply because there he felt safe and accepted for who he was. One week we talked about the solar system –
the next how cool ants are. Another time he’d bring in one of his favorite dragon books to read to me, then we would analyze the differences
between Dragons, Griffins, Wyverns, and which was the most awesome (Dragons, obviously). Another time he’d bring in cool looking rocks for us to look up and classify, and then we’d decorate the rocks.
These were not the only times, however, that Albert and I were meeting. Albert ended up in my office in tears on quite a few occasions. Sometimes on his own, sometimes brought by a teacher or the principal. Albert would be teased by a classmate, which might have ended there, just hurting Albert’s feelings. Or it might have ended with Albert lashing out, this time also physically hurting the classmate.
Albert’s mother left for good while he was in 5th grade, and his grandfather took custody of him. Then Albert’s birth father came back into his life, and started spending time with him. Albert was slowly making improvements with his anger management, self-esteem and social skills.
He found a small group of like-minded friends. At the end of his 5th grade year, he was encouraged by a few school staff to apply for membership on a school leadership council for his 6th grade year, and he was accepted.
Albert’s 6th grade year began with him as a member of this council, as well as 4 inches taller. It was quickly evident that his self-esteem and social skills were still improving. He was rarely getting in trouble. He could be seen moving through the school hallways in the middle of a pack of students, talking and laughing. On Track Day, he won several medals, including 1st Place in the 3-mile event. He was inducted into the National Junior Honor Society for his grades and his character. Albert transitioned out of counseling at the end of the school year.
I’m happy that I will still get to see Albert in the halls of the school next year, and see what his 7th grade year brings him. So I do think it might be time for me to consolidate my enormous display of Albert’s painted rocks in my office. I’ll just keep a few of my favorites. The Dragons, obviously.