Justin was just six years old when his grandmother died. Abandoned by his parents, the child was left to a cruel man who locked him in a cage with five dogs. Eventually, Justin was rescued, but his insensitive and ill-informed doctors weren’t able to treat his behavioral issues.
Developmental psychologist Bruce D. Perry was the first doctor to whom Justin responded positively. Within a few weeks of treatment, Justin learned to walk, talk, and act like other kids. Children are remarkably resilient, but they can only access their inner resources when they feel secure and in control.
Perry’s groundbreaking methods helped many other traumatized children over the course of his remarkable career. He treated Sandy, a three-year-old who had watched her mother die violently. And Brian, a child whose parents were alleged Satanists. And Peter, a seven-year-old who had been neglected in a Russian orphanage.
Having served as an expert witness in the Columbine massacre and the Waco siege, Perry is uniquely positioned to offer insights into how children recover. Learn more in our Instaread on The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog.
