Bridge over troubled water

You might be familiar with the term PACE, and you may have varying levels of understanding and experience with it. It can be helpful to break down each of its components, but today, after a long day of training, I’ve been thinking about the "E"—Empathy. 

When we're deeply involved in the lives of children with developmental trauma, it's easy to become desensitised to the overwhelming and often terrifying beginnings they've had. We face daily challenges—their trauma languages, the rejection, the exhaustion, and the constant demands—which can sometimes leave us with very little emotional space to extend empathy. 

These feelings are very real and often reflect a degree of secondary trauma—something that anyone working closely with traumatised children can relate to. But today, much of my learning focused on supporting children who have experienced sexual abuse. This is something that can be so difficult to discuss, let alone imagine. 

So, I just want to take a moment to step back from the external behaviors we often see and offer deep empathy for these young lives. Lives that have been impacted so profoundly that their very survival mechanisms shape how they move through the world and interact with others. 

There’s not much more to say, other than to pause, reflect, and be present with this understanding. 

Bridge over troubled waters