What maltreated and traumatised [people] need most is a healthy community to buffer the pain, distress, and loss caused by their earlier trauma. What works to heal them is anything that increases the number and quality of a [person’s] relationships. What helps is consistent, patient, repetitive loving care. … For years mental health professionals taught people that they could be psychologically healthy without social support, that ‘unless you love yourself, no one will love you.” … The truth is you cannot love yourself unless you have been loved or are loved. the capacity to love cannot be built in isolation. … Before they can make any kind of lasting change at all in their behaviour, they need to feel safe and loved.” — Bruce Perry in The Boy Who Was Raised As A Dog