"My experience of CBT therapy!"

I hope to share my story to inspire others to seek the help they need to improve their mental wellbeing and to reach out to available services to help them feel better ! Also to show my sincere gratitude…

I have recently finished attending CBT therapy in Trasna House SHSCT Northern Ireland . I was referred by my GP last year , which was a straight forward process following one consultation,  and was seen in a matter of short weeks to my surprise. After my initial assessment , I was invited to commence my therapy extremely quickly. The speed of this process was extremely beneficial .

For as long as I can remember I have suffered with crippling health anxiety. This has for most of my life impacted every single aspect of it for me. For years I talked myself out of seeking professional help, however during my most recent pregnancy , I found that my condition had worsened , was no longer manageable and that self help techniques were no longer enough. I therefore took the first step to improve my condition and learn to manage my symptoms . This has turned out to be the best decision I have ever made .

My experience of the CBT service has been truly wonderful and for myself life transforming. This is due to both a great service provision and the care which I received throughout which won’t be forgotten. 

I had no idea what to expect initially with CBT, however my therapist, Sarah, instantly put me at ease from the outset. Throughout the many months that I attended appointments with Sarah - she was kind, professional , punctual , approachable and put me at ease at all times when I had a concern or was uncertain about the next step.

Following each appointment it was always clear to me what my plan was going ahead and what we would work on next. I felt confident with Sarah’s care at all times and believe that her passion and for her profession and desire to help her clients was extremely apparent at each point of contact.

I found each appointment to be beneficial and despite elements of CBT being personally challenging, following each appointment I had I could feel improvement. For a majority of my sessions I had in attendance with me my baby following their birth. Sarah was more than accommodating and helpful and made this a stress free process. This allowed me to make the most of each appointment . In between my sessions I felt extremely supported and confident knowing that I could contact Sarah or other relevant services if needed. 

I have now finally completed my CBT . Attending this has been the single most beneficial thing I have done to improve my mental wellbeing and manage symptoms and I would highly recommend it. My experience has been entirely positive. This is a wonderful service and I would encourage anyone considering seeking help to do so. I will forever be thankful for the support I received here. Thank you !