Darren from Highgate Hill had been troubled with anxiety for many years:

I used to stress a about a lot of things. Sometimes I’d feel out of control; overwhelmed with worries and fear about the future. Counselling has been wonderful. I’ve not only learnt how to manage my negative emotions, but I understand them and can distinguish between different emotions. I no longer take it out on my family, and road rage is a thing of the past! I used to say “I can’t cope”, now I hear myself saying “It doesn’t matter”. I feel stronger.

Peter, Chermside had been on anti-depressants for several years but had almost come to believe that sadness was a fact of life;

I used to have this negative voice in my head, always criticising me, telling me I was a failure, that I’d never be any good. Counselling allowed me to work out that it was my father’s voice that was still there, after 30 years, still making me feel I was no good, despite all the good things that I actually do. I am now free of his voice and I feel really confident and happy. When I make mistakes it isn’t the end of the world anymore and that feels pretty damned good!