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Therapy saved me

Posted By BetterME

"Therapy saved me"

About: Inclusion Thurrock (Talking Therapies)

(as the patient),

Like most people, I've spent my life running away from past trauma, ignoring its effects when they crept up in present situations and just trying to get on with life as best I could without having to deal with things. At the end of 2020, I was suffocating, tired of pretending and found myself having to face my trauma and address patterns to get out of the loop I found myself in.

A few of my friends were in therapy and although I'd never considered it for myself, it was clear that I NEEDED help and this was the only option that made sense for me. I don't like sharing my problems with others, so the idea of doing this with a stranger who can help me unpack, process and understand things just made sense.

I was assigned Barry and he did just that and so much more. I acknowledge that he was just doing his job but I think his nature went a long way in making a person like me feel SAFE enough to open up. For the first time, I shared without fear of judgment or someone downplaying my story/pain and I appreciated BEING HEARD most of all.

Barry helped me understand the 'why's'. He taught me how to be more curious and ask more of the right questions to help gain understanding. I would come away from sessions in awe of revelations about myself that he helped me realise - they weren't his opinions, they were facts that he helped clear the fog for me to see. He emphasised on simple things like taking care of ME, allowing myself to feel and accept my emotions and working on the things I can control to change my perspective on external things and people.. to make better choices and build/maintain healthy relationships.

Barry, thank you for giving me the tools to use on my journey ahead. You've sown a seed that will continually grow; the impact of your service will be with me forever and for that I am eternally grateful. I am glad that I accessed the service and even more happy to have had you as my therapist. 

Words aren't enough but thank you for doing what you do - you save lives in more ways than you can imagine. :)
(Grays Inclusion)
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Responses

Response from Isabel Saunders, Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner, Inclusion Thurrock NHS Talking Therapies, Inclusion Thurrock IAPT 2 years ago
Isabel Saunders
Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner, Inclusion Thurrock NHS Talking Therapies,
Inclusion Thurrock IAPT

Submitted on 24/11/2021 at 18:18
Published on Care Opinion on 25/11/2021 at 10:12

Dear BetterME,

Thank you for your feedback.

As you described, it is very common after experiencing trauma to try to ignore the effects and try to get on with life as we can, and hope we are able to deal with things. Sometimes it is not as easy as it sounds, and I am sorry to read you needed to feel worst, for then to realise you needed to address your patterns to be able to get better.

I am sure a lot of people can relate to you when you say you knew you needed treatment, but were things as sharing your problems with others, that stopped you to do it; and then for some people the idea of sharing those problems with someone that doesn’t know us, that is impartial and that won’t judge us, would encourage us to at least think about that option.

I am glad you took that option, you reached for us, and then you found in Barry what you needed the most, to feel safe to be able to open up, to trust that you were not going to be judged and to feel heard. Those are very important points for someone that is in treatment. You mentioned Barry helped you to understand the “whys”, being curious and asking more questions. It sounds that with the guide of Barry, you trusting in him and working hard, you had the results that you were looking for.

It is wonderful to read how much you learnt through your sessions, to take care of yourself, to allow yourself to feel, accept your emotions and to work on things you can control to change your perspective on external situations/people, to make better choices and build and maintain healthy relationships. BetterME, be proud of yourself, as you worked hard, you saw results, that seed that you mention was sown in you, will grow and will be stronger day by day with the practice on the coping mechanisms you have learnt during sessions.

Thank you for your words regarding the work we do at Inclusion Thurrock, and we are grateful that people like you, that gives a chance to therapy, puts on the work, then can see positive results in their lives.

I am sure Barry is too very proud and happy to be able to be part of your journey.

All the best in the future,

J. Isabel Saunders

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