A Childhood Hidden in Pain

Alice grew up surrounded by love, faith, and family. But behind her bright smile, she carried a deep secret — a pain too heavy for a little girl to carry. That hidden trauma shaped much of her early life. She became a thrill-seeker, chasing adrenaline and burying pain she didn’t yet understand.

Searching for Meaning

At 14, Alice became a Christian, but her faith was shaped by rules and fear of failure.
Despite her struggles, she longed to help others — eventually becoming a School Chaplain.

When Life Fell Apart

By her thirties, the cracks began to show. The buried trauma resurfaced, and alcohol became her escape.

“At first, I thought it helped,” Alice recalls. “But before long, I was drinking most nights, hiding from the pain, hiding from myself.”

Alice was exhausted, broken, and barely holding on.

“I was a mum of three, a chaplain, a worship leader. I’d drop my kids at school, drink wine on the beach, and then pick them up pretending everything was fine. I yelled at them and then felt crushed by guilt. I hated myself. Outwardly, it looked like a normal family, but inwardly I was falling apart.”

One day, Alice collapsed at work under the weight of it all. That moment became her turning point.

The Road to Healing

When her psychologist mentioned Teen Challenge QLD, Alice resisted — she couldn’t imagine leaving her children. But deep down, she knew something had to change.

“Walking through those doors was both terrifying and lifesaving,” she says.

The early days were tough. She cried every day, missing her children and facing years of buried pain. But surrounded by people who believed in her, Alice began to heal.

“For months, I’d shut down spiritually. I was angry at God. But slowly, He met me there. The staff saw me, believed in me, and never gave up.”

Hope Restored

As Alice worked through her trauma, something beautiful happened.

“I started to dream again,” she says. “Teen Challenge didn’t just take me out of addiction — they gave me the tools and courage to build a new life.”

Today, Alice is sober. She has rebuilt her family relationships and now works as a social worker helping children in care.

“Sometimes I have to pinch myself that I’m really here. I never believed I was good enough. But now I know I am capable, and my story gives me empathy for the children and carers I work with. What Teen Challenge QLD gave me; I now get to give others — hope.”

A Message of Transformation

“Without Teen Challenge QLD, I wouldn’t be here to tell my story. I am living proof that healing and transformation are possible.”

*Name and image changed to protect identity.