Small Steps Helping to Overcome Anxiety in PLUS Project

by | Feb 9, 2023 | WCT Stories

Told by Sally, Project Worker for PLUS at Worcester Community Trust

My client is in her late forties and she lives alone in social housing, in an upstairs flat. She has a history of trauma and vulnerability, PTSD and grief at the past loss of her baby daughter. She has a history of drug abuse and has disclosed a history of sexual abuse in her home as a child.

Having relocated to Worcester following threats, she has no known peers or family in Worcester. When I first met her, she reported isolation and anxiety. She had a desire to overcome her anxiety so she could come out and engage with the community and join in with family outings.

Over time, I explained about the services available at one of the Trust’s community hubs only 10 minutes’ walk from her flat. I met with her at her flat and walked to the centre and back with her. I introduced her to our Snack & Chat lunch club staff.

I supported a referral for her into the HOW College “Cooking from scratch on a budget” group that runs from her local community hub on Mondays.

I also supported a referral into the JOY project at Worcester Community Trust where she can get some support to manage her low level PTSD symptoms. JOY can also make referrals for my client to enhance her safety in Worcester and help address her past sexual abuse and drug use if she wishes to.

I am also supporting her to try and obtain “assistance dog” status for her dog. He is a great comfort to my client out and about and really helps to ease her anxiety.

My client now sees her local community hub is a place of safety and she wishes to try and join in with services there. She has agreed to come the Snack & Chat lunch club supported by staff, to have a cup of tea at first to see how her anxiety is. If she copes well, she will then have lunch the following week. Small steps are important for this client to avoid overwhelm. She has also agreed to attend the cooking course.

Through the confidence building work we have done, she is beginning to believe that the local area is safe and that it’s ok to go outside. She is encouraged that her dog may be able to be her assistance dog to help with her anxiety.