Repairing the Mother-Child Bond: A Journey of Healing

Supporting Families Impacted by Violence

The Vu*family, with boys aged 6 and 8, were referred to Jannawi Family Centre by another support service. All three family members had experienced severe assaults, leaving deep emotional wounds. When Amy and her children fled the violence and settled in Sydney, they had little community or family support.

The referring service recognised that Amy would benefit from specialist support to strengthen her bond with her children — a bond that had been deliberately harmed as part of coercive control and abuse.

Individual Support as the First Step

Initially, Jannawi provided specialist counselling individually for Amy and for each of her children. These sessions helped them process their fears, understand the impact of the violence, and make sense of the hurt they had endured.

Home visits allowed staff to role model positive interactions, respond to highly challenging behaviours, and support the boys in regulating emotions — behaviours which were often expressed as targeting their mother.

Bringing the Family Together

Over time, Jannawi gently facilitated family meetings where Amy and her sons could share their feelings, listen to one another, and talk openly about the trauma they experienced. These meetings allowed them to better understand each other and start rebuilding trust.

Amy has been deeply honest in her healing journey. She has acknowledged her grief for not being able to protect her children from harm, while understanding that the violence was not her fault. Through this process, she has been able to sit with her sons, hear their stories, and share her own experiences of loss and fear.

A Bond Restored

Today, Amy and her boys share a strong, healthy relationship built on love, trust, and open communication. The children are no longer impacted by the coercive influence of their father, and the family now enjoys warmth, joy, and shared experiences — from everyday moments to special activities like fishing together.

It has been an honour for Jannawi to walk alongside the Vu family as they navigate healing, recovery, and reconnection. Their journey is a testament to the resilience of children and caregivers, and to the power of trauma-informed, consistent support.

*Names have been deidentified to protect the family