UNDERSTANDING AND RESPONDING TO PAIN AND PAIN-BASED BEHAVIOUR WITH YOUTH IN AND FROM CARE: PERSPECTIVES FROM THE INSIDE-OUT AND OUTSIDE-IN

Abstract

This article presents the findings from a dialogical research project involving a young adult student with lived experiences in care (inside-out perspective) and a seasoned child and youth care professional (outside-in perspective), exploring the pain of complex trauma and formulating healing responses to pain-based behaviour. The co-authors identify elements and dynamics related to the healing journey and present their findings largely in conversational format congruent with the process of discovery. Notions of family privilege, shattered assumptions, double distortion, pain and pain-based behaviour, the language of pain, evolution of self, moments of choice, following the yellow brick road, eight stages of healing, and self-compassion are discussed with an emphasis on understanding and responding supportively to the lived experiences of young people in and from care.