I just wanted to let you know my husband called me Monday from work to tell me he had very intentionally used the Needs-Connection model to evaluate a student and was so excited about it. During their conversation, he was able to help them process through their lack of nurturing experiences and connect some of their current actions and attitudes to this break in relationship with their now-absent mom. This led to a discussion about Jesus and how He nurtures us, and we can rest in Him even when others don't fulfill those roles in our lives, along with the encouragement that we were available to them as much as we could be as well. It was one of the deeper faith discussions we've been able to have with this student. I also had the opportunity to use it yesterday to help a student sort through some deep-rooted trauma that affects her ability to trust people and causes her so much insomnia that her basic need for sleep, along with her unstable, chaotic home environment, has surfaced in a fight response with conflicts at school. In talking through those aspects, she was able to identify some triggers at school, and we are talking through ways to recognize the triggers quickly and respond differently.

We are intentionally trying to filter our conversations and mindset through the model. It has been so helpful, and we just wanted you to know we are thankful and excited about how God is already using it in our ministry.

Laura