"Excellent service"

The following relates to Sheffield's Specialist Psychotherapy Service at Fitzwilliams (formerly St.Georges).

# Excellent service. Wish all mental health providers were like this! Treated with dignity. Felt staff always happy to see me, interested in what I had to say, and cared about me.

# Really supportive and able to talk about taboo subjects without therapist being shocked or uncomfortable. Sensitive questioning to help me talk about traumatic events that I have never managed to talk about in the past. Given time and space to do this and no pressure to if not ready. Such a refreshing change from the more interrogative style of other mental health providers.

# Worked with me to create an effective and evolving safety plan rather than just leaving me with a template.

# Encouraged me to be curious, be compassionate with myself, explore nuance.

# Validating in calling out abuse (things that other institutions in my past have let me down with).

# Saw me as a person rather than a tragic victim. Able to express my full self including my humourous side.

# Felt therapist made effort to research helpful topics that related to my experience to help them understand my past situation.

# Helped me understand why my body and mind have been affected in the way they have. To learn to be more accepting of myself whilst knowing change also possible. Learned that this work is lifelong and not to beat myself up for asking for help when I need it.

# Gave me the language to explore and talk, and introduced me to skills I could learn. Believed in me.

# Recognised systemic issues rather than completely individualising my problems. 

# Helped make grounding and mindfulness practices acceptable to me.

# Please allow them to train up other mental health services!

# Please fund more services like this!