I dropped my phone and it seemed that the world had ended or someone close to me had died...the tears started... the thoughts, ‘I can’t cope with life’ came flooding through. 

 

It led to my best friend telling me I needed to speak to someone. I’d had ‘a moment’ a couple of weeks before where I couldn’t stop crying. So, when my phone dropped out of my hand, smashed and broke that was the final straw. My best friend guided me to a website where I searched for a therapist. 

 

Finding Riz was easy and I sent off an email, accepting that I finally needed some professional help. She got in touch promptly with an initial meeting set up. She welcomed me in to a calm and safe space to offload my weekly news, the highs and the lows. 

 

Seeing Riz every week for 5 months was worth every penny. It sure helped me. The funny thing is we never spoke about the first reason I wanted to talk. It was deeper than that and went further back to places I didn’t even know existed.

 

Combined with talking, questioning, and EMDR, we unpacked unopened boxes trapped in my head and also unknowingly in my body. Making these connections made me realise so much and breaking those life cycles was so liberating.

 

I used to be ashamed of telling people I saw a therapist every week, but once I knew that talking was helping me, boy was I proud. I was proud that I was looking after myself, putting myself first, and striving to be a better version of myself every day. 

 

It was a long road, lots of tears, hidden memories surfacing. I wouldn’t say I am cured as mental health has peaks and troughs. But because of the work I put in during those sessions, I’ve become more able to understand myself, know helpful strategies and know I can always go back if needed.

 

Riz helped me so much and I am forever grateful, she not only healed me... but helped me grow and evolved and supported me to become someone I am now proud of. She gave the tools I need to continue on my journey with more strength and pride to look after myself.

 

My advice to others would be to talk to someone especially who has the expertise like Riz and you’ll be surprised how much you can grow just like a caterpillar transforming into a butterfly.