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"Not feeling listened to"

About: Falkirk Community Hospital / Woodlands Resource Centre

(as a service user),

After attending my assessment which I found the very bare minimum in terms of assessment considering the issues myself & my GP put forward, I received a phone call a week later to be told I suffer from "complex trauma" to then be told I was referred to group counselling sessions for anxiety. I told the staff member that I was highly uncomfortable with this & the response was that everyone in the group has anxiety.

They kept talking over me & I felt they were dismissive of me clearly saying I am not comfortable with that, so I apologised through my floods of tears and hung up.  The call did and still is affecting my mental health, so my mood was lower than before. They tried to call back once and that was straight after & left a voicemail which I found had a very condescending tone,  like I was a child, not a triggered adult. If I had been given the chance I would have explained that I will happily work towards this but feel I require 1 to 1 anxiety coaching/counselling first.

I also found them very dismissive about my childhood behaviour/experiences which they barely asked about during the session. I also advised I remember glimpses so to assess a developmental disorder without going further in to why I felt like that may be something I additionally need support with. I was told because I didn't present signs before I was 12 that I am not on any spectrum.

I do not want to continue working with Woodlands Resource if this member of staff remains on my team as I feel they do not possess the active listening skills required for myself & my conditions for me to feel supported.  I have had enough people talk over me & ignore me which is why I have been so messed up to begin with! It's really made me question why bother trying to better myself or how I feel if the people who are supposed to support you don't listen.

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Responses

Response from Julia Ferrari, NHS Forth Valley 10 months ago
Julia Ferrari
NHS Forth Valley
Submitted on 07/06/2023 at 11:12
Published on Care Opinion at 11:22


Good Morning, Thankyou for your care opinion submission. I am sorry that your experience in Woodlands Resource Centre has left you feeling low and unheard. I would encourage you to get in touch with one of our Team Leaders in Woodlands Resource Centre and we can have a more in depth discussion about your concerns and explore what other ways we might be able to support you.

Amy Whyte, Team, Leader Woodlands on 01324 624111 or

Duncan Westall, Team Leader Woodlands 01324 624111

Many thanks

Julia Ferrari

Integrated Mental Health Manager, Falkirk HSCP

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