Making the commitment to begin your therapeutic journey can be a bold and daunting step, so over the next few blog entries, I will be sharing some case studies of young people I have worked with and the journey they’ve made in the room with me. For purposes of confidentiality, all identifying criteria has been changed to ensure the client’s anonymity throughout.

Liz, 24, contacted me about needing supporting when she was facing some huge challenges at the end of her university studies - these included a breakdown in relationship with a parent; a breakdown in relationship with partner; a sense of fear over her future; and a sense that something from her past was holding her back. These problems sat alongside feelings of rejection, not being good enough, hopelessness and helplessness and presented as low mood, lack of energy, anxiety and a lack of desire to engage in her world.

Over the proceeding sessions we built trust and rapport to create safety in the room that slowly enabled Liz to open up about her world. To build trust, we engaged in a range of therapeutic play-based activities as well as providing a space that was accepting and curious about her journey. Liz responded to this really well and over the sessions we have been able to peel back the layers of her inner world to get to the root of her problems.

The roots, which I see so often, were centred on parent-child deficiencies where Liz hadn’t been met in the way she needed and desired within her emotional responses to situations and experiences as they arose throughout childhood. This left her with the sense that there was something fundamentally wrong with her and each time something went ‘wrong’ as she grew up it was because of this. What she started to learn throughout our sessions was that this inner narrative that is neither helpful for her or her relationships and has been something she has worked hard on to rewrite.

To do this rewriting, we have done lots of inner child work where we have helped her to heal the wounded parts of her childhood without attributing blame or shame onto her parents - blaming another is not helpful and often hinders healing so we work hard to ensure this doesn’t happen, providing a space for empathy, compassion and forgiveness instead. Working with Liz’s inner child, we have been able to pinpoint moments in her past that were significant and change the meaning she has taken from these times. The growth and change has been profound and inspirational.

At present, Liz is coming to the end of her therapeutic journey with me. She is redefining and rebuilding her relationship with her parents and recognising what she can and cannot control within these interactions. She is in stable employment and feeling a sense of belonging in the role she’s in. She has a core group of friends who provide her with the warmth, compassion and love she needs. She is also off medication for depression and anxiety and feels less panicky, less fearful and more able than she ever has. She is living independently and no longer worries for her future. She now knows her value and worth to both herself and the world around her.

This journey has been a privilege to be a part of and to share time with Liz is a joy. If you can relate to this story and feel you’d like to speak with me about the possibility of working together, please get in touch and we can speak through your needs and desires for your therapeutic journey. Contact me on 01822 661316 or via the form on the contact page. 

Go well and be kind to yourself.