Leanne Jayne Taylor
October 2023
Leanne Jayne
Taylor
,
RNMH
Department of Mental Health
Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust.
Leicester
United Kingdom
At no point during my therapy did I feel judged or dismissed by her as I had done with previous therapies; she always made me feel comfortable and at ease, even through the nitty gritty parts. Most importantly, I never felt alone, and I always felt completely supported throughout.
Leanne Taylor was my Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapist for 2 years and 3 months and as cheesy as it sounds I truly believe that she has not only changed my life but saved my life.
I was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Moderate Depressive Disorder aged 24 and after many different therapies and medications that were not working I truly felt that I had no future and that I would never escape the thoughts and emotions running through my head. I had no self-esteem, no self-worth, and no hope. I was having flashbacks and nightmares almost every day that were making my life a misery because it was like I would never escape my past.
Then aged 26 my psychiatrist decided that I should try Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to see if that would improve my symptoms and help improve my quality of life. By this time, it was my 4th type of therapy I was trying, so I was not expecting much, but this could not be further from the truth. If I am being honest, before starting CBT, I was in an extremely dark place, a suicidal mess of a person who just no longer cared about life or themselves.
I met Leanne Taylor, my new CBT Therapist and from the very first session, she set about creating goals for what I wanted from therapy and what we could work on during our sessions together. Leanne took her time fully exploring and understanding my past and going through every detail with a fine tooth comb so we could get to the very core as to why I was thinking and feeling the things I was. Talking about my past was extremely distressing, but Leanne constantly made me feel safe and cared for throughout. For the first time in my life, I finally felt that I was understood and made to feel that everything that I was feeling was valid.
After going over everything that had happened to me, we went onto the Trauma therapy side of CBT, which was one of the most difficult things I have ever had to do. It was like poking a wound over and over, but Leanne was there for me every step of the way. Leanne always made me feel in control of the really difficult parts of trauma therapy, which made all the difference in helping me to open up the immensely hard parts of my flashbacks. Leanne never made me feel pressured or hurried, but she did always keep me motivated and determined to push through the hard parts of the therapy. At no point during my therapy did I feel judged or dismissed by her as I had done with previous therapies; she always made me feel comfortable and at ease, even through the nitty gritty parts. Most importantly, I never felt alone, and I always felt completely supported throughout.
Throughout my time with Leanne, she used a wide range of therapy styles and treatments to slowly but surely get through all of my PTSD symptoms, issues, and anxieties. Whilst always treating me with kindness, extraordinary compassion, and patience. Leanne also helped me to find myself as I was always too scared to admit to anyone, including myself, that I am Non-binary.
As a Non-binary adult, I have often found within most areas of the NHS, that there is a lack of understanding or consideration towards my needs, but Leanne always delivered queer-friendly, patient-centered care throughout my therapy. She has renewed my faith in healthcare that I can be treated as an individual.
Leanne took the time to teach me many different techniques I can use to help combat negative thoughts and emotions so that even after therapy, I can still continue the self-esteem-improving work that she started with me. She would always explain things about me and about my treatments in ways that I could fully understand.
Now that I have finished therapy, I feel like a completely different person. I have gone from being an overly anxious, traumatized person with no self-worth to now being a proud Non-binary person who has finally moved in with their fiancé and with renewed hope for the future. Everyone close to me has said how much of an improvement they have seen in my self-esteem and appearance. They said it’s like getting the old me back again. I don’t think I can begin to describe how thankful I am to Leanne, she has quite literally saved my life and has now given me so much hope and excitement for my future with my family.
I was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Moderate Depressive Disorder aged 24 and after many different therapies and medications that were not working I truly felt that I had no future and that I would never escape the thoughts and emotions running through my head. I had no self-esteem, no self-worth, and no hope. I was having flashbacks and nightmares almost every day that were making my life a misery because it was like I would never escape my past.
Then aged 26 my psychiatrist decided that I should try Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to see if that would improve my symptoms and help improve my quality of life. By this time, it was my 4th type of therapy I was trying, so I was not expecting much, but this could not be further from the truth. If I am being honest, before starting CBT, I was in an extremely dark place, a suicidal mess of a person who just no longer cared about life or themselves.
I met Leanne Taylor, my new CBT Therapist and from the very first session, she set about creating goals for what I wanted from therapy and what we could work on during our sessions together. Leanne took her time fully exploring and understanding my past and going through every detail with a fine tooth comb so we could get to the very core as to why I was thinking and feeling the things I was. Talking about my past was extremely distressing, but Leanne constantly made me feel safe and cared for throughout. For the first time in my life, I finally felt that I was understood and made to feel that everything that I was feeling was valid.
After going over everything that had happened to me, we went onto the Trauma therapy side of CBT, which was one of the most difficult things I have ever had to do. It was like poking a wound over and over, but Leanne was there for me every step of the way. Leanne always made me feel in control of the really difficult parts of trauma therapy, which made all the difference in helping me to open up the immensely hard parts of my flashbacks. Leanne never made me feel pressured or hurried, but she did always keep me motivated and determined to push through the hard parts of the therapy. At no point during my therapy did I feel judged or dismissed by her as I had done with previous therapies; she always made me feel comfortable and at ease, even through the nitty gritty parts. Most importantly, I never felt alone, and I always felt completely supported throughout.
Throughout my time with Leanne, she used a wide range of therapy styles and treatments to slowly but surely get through all of my PTSD symptoms, issues, and anxieties. Whilst always treating me with kindness, extraordinary compassion, and patience. Leanne also helped me to find myself as I was always too scared to admit to anyone, including myself, that I am Non-binary.
As a Non-binary adult, I have often found within most areas of the NHS, that there is a lack of understanding or consideration towards my needs, but Leanne always delivered queer-friendly, patient-centered care throughout my therapy. She has renewed my faith in healthcare that I can be treated as an individual.
Leanne took the time to teach me many different techniques I can use to help combat negative thoughts and emotions so that even after therapy, I can still continue the self-esteem-improving work that she started with me. She would always explain things about me and about my treatments in ways that I could fully understand.
Now that I have finished therapy, I feel like a completely different person. I have gone from being an overly anxious, traumatized person with no self-worth to now being a proud Non-binary person who has finally moved in with their fiancé and with renewed hope for the future. Everyone close to me has said how much of an improvement they have seen in my self-esteem and appearance. They said it’s like getting the old me back again. I don’t think I can begin to describe how thankful I am to Leanne, she has quite literally saved my life and has now given me so much hope and excitement for my future with my family.