NHS Talking Therapies

I will be taking away an entire toolbox of knowledge, understanding and ways to manage and boost my self-esteem. I have grown and made many positive changes over the weeks as a result of this group and I now understand myself much better and view life through a completely different lens. My outlook on past situations has changed and I have developed the skills of self compassion and the importance of self-care. Going forward I feel totally free from the fear and constraints of low self-esteem.

I can’t thank the team enough they are amazing kind and compassionate humans and it has been a pleasure to be part of their group.

My name is Richard, and I was referred to Healthy Minds by my GP, following years of suffering Complex PTSD, anxiety and depression.

I had hit a real low and didn’t see any way out of it all. I’d been through numerous counselling, group sessions and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy over the years, but always felt slightly misunderstood and as if an endless supply of medication was the only solution.

If I’m honest, I had my doubts and I was sceptical about approaching the service after what I can only describe as previous negative experiences with therapy, counselling, etc. I felt like I was taking the wrong turn, again. The fact that we couldn’t meet face to face and that sessions were to be on the phone because of Covid restrictions added to the thoughts of, “How can this possibly work?”

I was proven wrong. Since accessing Healthy Minds I have felt relieved, positive, motivated, and I have a new-found energy.

When I first accessed the service, I hadn’t been out of the house for months. My therapist tried to arrange to meet up one day at my home to go for a short walk. I cancelled the appointment the day before; I just felt I couldn’t face leaving the safety of my home. She then suggested that whilst on the phone, I went to stand outside my front door. I couldn’t even manage that. This got me thinking, “If I don’t begin to make a change, how will I ever make that step forward?”

So, a few days later, I hesitantly took my first steps outside the house. I was able to go for a short walk near my home for about half an hour.  We even did one session on the phone while I walked.

I received a phone call a few days later informing me of a charity who were holding a walk/run challenge for the whole month of April to complete 150 miles. I jumped at the chance to do it; it seemed like the perfect opportunity to do something positive, not just for myself, but for others, too. I completed the 150 miles within 18 days (the first person to reach that target), and continue to go for daily walks (about 8 miles a day). I also raised over £1450 for the charity. The support of family and friends was the catalyst to really motivate me to take on the challenge.

However, without the support, encouragement and help from my Healthy Minds therapist, I would never have been able to achieve what I have. If I can do it, anyone can! To access the Healthy Minds services, you can make a self-referral on their website. It will be the start of a new you, a new future, and I have no hesitation in recommending their services. 

My message to anyone struggling and thinking of accessing the service would be, ‘Do it!’ It’s been the most positive experience for me, even from the very first phone call. Immediately on contact with Healthy Minds I felt that here was someone who understood me, was empathic, non-judgemental, understood my symptoms, and how they affected me, and who would encourage me and made me feel that there was, after all this time, light at the end of the tunnel.

My therapist has a very positive energy and approach, and a personality that I instantly connected with. Whilst I am still early on in the process of recovery, without her help, support and advice, I wouldn’t be on this journey to finally getting my life back on track and taking back control. She has made sense of what, more often than not, felt like the senseless.