ABSTRACT
What is it like to be a victim of a hate crime at six years old? It’s a grim reality when a young child realizes that the adults he depends upon aren’t able to keep him safe. How can a child comprehend that someone wants to murder him because of his ethnicity? How is this ugliness integrated into his identity? Despite this, Josh Stepakoff and his family were brave. When he was physically able, he returned to the attack scene, which now had added layers of security. Returning to the scene helped him realize that it was still essentially the same place he knew and loved. Returning to the trauma scene under safe circumstances can be a corrective emotional experience that helps some survivors integrate the knowledge psychologically. Ironically, avoidance of reminders of the trauma often intensifies PTSD. With sincere emotional support, exposure can be part of recovery.
