Sophie’s Story

Sophie was referred for targeted support from Early Help due to wanting to “not hurt and accept what happened in the past”. Her family were attending TAF meetings and were rurally isolated. She suffered with anxiety due to childhood trauma. She was reluctant to go out or take control of her life. She wanted: “a better attitude towards things, being nicer to Mum and not lashing out”.

She worked 1:1 with a Youth Worker, for 10 sessions over 4 months.  After building a trusted relationship, Sophie set some personal goals: – to skydive, pass her driving test, and get a care assistant job.

They worked on aspirations, exploring barriers and fears. Small steps to overcome her anxiety included; going for walks, using mindfulness and initiating chats with people in coffee shops. Paul helped Sophie build a CV, apply for a job, and learn how to communicate her feelings and thoughts. She now works in a Care home, doing NVQ 3 in social care, and has made new friends at work.

They celebrated each achievement: “I have so much more confidence and I’m the happiest I’ve ever been.” Sophie completed her skydive, raising £440 for Mind, saying it’s the “best thing I ever did”