"I can't believe he's the same boy."

Jack was 15 years old. He was very quiet and withdrawn, and barely spoke to his mum. He barely spoke to anyone in school either. Jack’s Dad had left the family a few years previously and had almost nothing to do with him. Jack's headteacher was concerned about him.

The headteacher asked LOHA to run sessions with young people, some of which included the parents. These sessions helped the young people explore different ways of managing their emotions and mental health. This included helping them develop and grow healthy relationships with parents, peers and teachers.

After the third session, the headteacher called us. “I know you can’t tell me what you discuss in those sessions, but the change in the young people is incredible, particularly Jack. I can’t believe he’s the same boy… he takes the lead to organise school activities, he talks to me, whereas previously he couldn’t even look me in the eye….. and he has plans for his future”. 

The headteacher went on to say those sessions also helped the parents. The parents wanted to get involved with the school, because they felt like the school had given them something through the sessions. “I’m so amazed what you have achieved with our students and their parents – one grandparent said of Systemic Therapy sessions ‘something very special happens here.’”