Precious' Story
Precious was concerned about her safety, but kept this from her family and friends, who she felt neglected her.
As a model student at school, Precious had been selected as head girl, and was preparing to take her GCSE’s. Covid-19 lockdowns exacerbated Precious’s struggles, as she suffered from extreme fatigue and debilitating anxiety. She was regularly cutting and depriving herself of food and feared that she may return to the suicidal ideation of her past.
During the initial therapy sessions, we began to make sense of her symptoms. Together we soon realised that Precious needed to feel contained by the external situation and agreed to have sessions in school until the end of the academic year, which helped her to feel safer when exploring her internal world. The exams arrived and Precious used the sessions to voice concerns and explore her insecurities, having accepted the therapeutic situation as a helpful form of support. Precious managed to work well through the exams and realised that she had the capacity to achieve the grades required.
Towards the final stage of the work, free from the pressure of exams, Precious focused on past traumatic experiences, and how those had determined her development. She began to challenge long-held beliefs, realising her capacity to manage her mental health in high-pressure situations. Precious continued to attend and use the therapy sessions while securing a job in retail and took the time to reconnect with her social group. In the final session, she talked about feeling held during the school year, which enabled her to learn that although she can feel overwhelmed by her fears, she can and does find a way forward.
We offer a range of talking therapies for young people, including one-to-one, group, and family/parent work.