Following some serious health issues last December, I became angry, disappointed with life, my health, and my body. For years I had invested my time to maintain a healthy & positive lifestyle through a healthy diet, yoga, meditation, going to the gym, and doing things I enjoyed.
This impact on my physical and mental health was the reason I developed anxiety, low mood, loss of confidence and no motivation. I was signed off work long term. This brought to the surface many past emotional stresses and pain. I felt stuck, lost in my own bubble, and I didn’t know how to move forward.
After my initial phone call following my referral to Inclusion Thurrock, I was referred for cognitive behaviour therapy. After my first session, it was decided this wasn’t the correct therapy for me at that time and I was referred for counselling therapy.
My counselling journey started in February with James.
It took me a lot of courage to reach out for help, feeling very unsure if this is what I needed. Looking back, I am so grateful to those who encouraged me to seek help.
My therapy with James was face to face, he was kind, patient, professional and respectful, giving me the personal safe space, I needed to speak openly about my emotions, thoughts, fears, and grief. I was amazed how easily I was able to speak openly about these emotions to someone I didn’t know.
James listened patiently, respected me throughout the whole process, understood and encouraged me to work with my emotions from within and giving me tools to help me explore to find a method I could work with.
After six months of counselling, I am grateful for every session which allowed me to offload fifty years of past trapped emotions and fears, including recent events. I feel I am now in place of peace, acceptance, and trust from within. There is still a journey ahead for my healing; my health, working with my emotions, not letting people use me or take me for granted and my aim now is to get back into the things I love to do and not to be afraid to try new things too.
I have confidence and strength to know I can do this and respect that ups and downs are part of the journey.
A big heartfelt thank you James for all his support in my journey to find my inner peace and confidence.
Seeing the whole me
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