I lived in over 45 foster homes
19 year old female
I would have been around 13 when I first connected with a counsellor from Kids Helpline, I had just been placed under the care and protection of the department of communities and felt as though I had no one in my life who I could trust enough to talk to about things that happened to me or the way I felt.
I first started counselling through email and webchat, but after a couple of months the counsellor encouraged me to call her. I was so nervous about it, and put it off for several weeks, but eventually phoned. As soon as she said Hi, I didn't feel scared anymore, she sounded so kind. We started phone counselling weekly and she ended up working with me for over four years.
Throughout that time with her, I had lived in over 45 foster homes and had fallen into a dark space, I was engaging in self-harming and eating disorder behaviours, was suicidal and had attempted several times. My counsellor from Kids Helpline was the only people who believed in me, she always saw my strengths and focused on my achievements and supported my decisions around the direction I wanted my life to take.
Being 20 now, I look back and know in my heart that if it wasn't for the consistent support from my counsellor I definitley wouldn't be here today. My Kids Helpline counsellor is seriously my angel, I can't thank her enough for everything she did for me, when no one else wanted to listen, Kids Helpline were always there for me and I am so incredibly greatful.
