As I sit in a room full of girls ages 9 to 21 I love to just sit back and observe their behaviors, each trigger a memory of a child that I have worked with in the past. It seems to me that in a group of children, kids tend to fall into a role. There are the out going, pleasing children who are usually the first to introduce themselves and make you feel welcome. They are usually the one's people gravitate towards. Then you have the ones who crave attention so deeply that they are willing to do anything to receive it. This is usually the child who is constantly pushing everyone's buttons and hanging on the new comers. There is often a couple more shy but sweet ones who don't immediately talk to you but will be silent presence at your side always willing to lend you a hand. The shy standoffish ones usually watch you at a distance but will never approach you unless you initiate and then there is always your couple who are resistent in nearly every way pushing away anyone who attempts to come near. It always facinates me how children work and why they behave the way they do. Yesterday I arrived at Casa Shalom which is a childrens home with nearly 100 children. I arrived with Drew, the therapist in the morning and began with my first play therapy session. I worked with a young girl around 9 years old who has a history of abuse and often acts out. Desperate for help, her house parents asked Drew if he would be willing to meet with her. This young girl thrives off of one on one, positive attention. Drew explained to me that she has had remarkable growth in the past few weeks due to getting this. It made me wonder how many other children could heal so much faster if only someone took the time to understand them and what they needed. In play therapy you often put to words what the child is doing or their expressed feelings. This helps the child learn to put thoughts into their actions as well as affirms them that they are being attuned to. My assignment for this week as I am at Casa Shalom is to observe the children as well as the interactions between them and their care takers and ask myself: How do abused and abandon children heal? What does THIS child in front of me need, short and long term, to move forward in their healing journey? What got them stuck? What will get them unstuck? What is their belief system? How are they still participating in their own re-traumatization. I am so very excited to continue to learn how to work with these children and hope to continue to use this learning in order to help children find healing from the trauma of their pasts. Thank you to everyone who has supported me in this journey. Prayer Requests: Pray that I would be able to continually take in all that I am learning as well as that I could be a blessing while here. Please also pray for my financial situation I am really struggling to make ends meet. Thank you all for your prayers!! Sama