Six-year-old Maxym* entered kinship care after experiencing several difficult foster placements while his family navigated a time of immigration and cultural transition. At such a young age, he had already endured profound instability—multiple changes in caregivers, unfamiliar environments, and the deep emotional impact of separation. 

When Maxym began working with a JFCS East Bay clinician, he carried that uncertainty with him into each session. Week after week, through the safety of play therapy, his clinician listened closely and supported him as he began to express what he could not yet put into words. In the sand tray, his early stories reflected what he was feeling inside—scattered pieces, islands drifting apart, a sense of separation and disorganization. 

But over time, something began to shift. 

With consistent care, patience, and trust, those same sand tray stories began to change. The islands started to move closer together. Through narrative interventions, play therapy, and caregiver coaching, Maxym was given the tools—and the safety—to begin healing from early trauma. His world, once fragmented, slowly began to feel more connected and secure. 

Today, Maxym is a different child. He attends school with fewer behavioral outbursts and is better able to regulate his emotions. He expresses himself more calmly and with growing confidence. Perhaps most meaningfully, he proudly shares that he now has two close friends—a reflection of his growing sense of connection, stability, and belonging. 

Because of your support, a child who once felt overwhelmed and disconnected is now finding his voice, building relationships, and stepping into a brighter, more hopeful future—one small moment of healing at a time.