Breaking Free From Anxiety
The Impact of Chaplaincy
How a Chaplain and a Caring Community Transformed a Young Boy's Life
"At the start of the year, a young boy was referred to me who was suffering from anxiety. Every morning he would become so anxious he would be physically sick and vomit during class. His parents were extremely concerned for him and referred him to a psychologist. At the same time, they gave permission for him to engage with the chaplaincy team.
I began seeing him each week, and I was able to connect with him by engaging in activities he enjoyed, such as board games. Over time, we were able to build trust, and he felt like he could openly discuss his concerns with me. We practiced ways he could ground himself to help him reduce his anxiety. I regularly spoke with his parents and provided support and encouragement to them. I was also able to support his teacher and be a safe person she could speak to. As one of his concerns was focused on his friendship group, I also started up a small group with some of his close friends focusing on socializing skills, which was a really positive space where he could interact with his peers.
Recently, I discussed his progress with his teacher, and we both agreed we had seen huge improvements in his behavior and his ability to cope with stressful situations. He has improved so much that I am no longer seeing him on a regular basis. I am still enjoying catching up with him during lunchtime on the playground and seeing him happily engaging with his peers."
