The Princess of Wales has praised a Bradford trauma therapy centre as a 'lifeline' for children and families recovering from complex trauma. During a visit to Family Action's Children's Trauma Therapy Service on Thursday, Kate joined creative therapy sessions and spoke with staff about the importance of continued support.
Kate, a patron of Family Action, observed a session where a mother and her 12-year-old son were colouring leaves for a collage tree, designed to help children express their feelings. The boy told Kate that music helped him process difficult emotions and that he now plays drums in a band. She replied, 'That's a fantastic way to sort of express yourself and also manage really difficult and hard feelings.'
The princess also met a five-year-old girl and her mother, who were decorating a 'box of wishes'. The girl showed Kate a 'potion' of glitter and water meant to 'keep away the bad dreams', and a feather to keep her 'busy head' calm. Kate told the mother, 'Lots of people need more of these.'
Speaking to staff, Kate said the service was 'probably been a lifeline for them in so many ways and being able to extend that umbilical cord support'. The visit was part of a series of engagements in northern England focusing on the healing power of creativity, community, and nature for those affected by trauma, isolation, and poor mental health.
