Therapy
How to read the stories

Therapy

Some families and individuals have long-standing deep problems but would never go for help, and some people go for help quickly. It is their own feelings that tell them whether they can untangle the worry by themselves.

How to get therapy

First, the person has to feel that there is a problem they need help with. Second, they have to be able to tell someone that they would like help in understanding a problem. Depending on somebody’s age, the people to tell could include their parents, teachers, a supporter, a social worker, psychiatrist, a GP or someone from their place of worship if they are religious.

Once a letter is sent to the person’s local psychotherapy service from their GP they will then wait for an appointment letter. Once this arrives the person will have from one to three meetings to explore their problem and see if they and the therapist think it would be a good idea to start psychotherapy. It may not be with the person who they first meet.

What happens in therapy?

For all talking therapies, people see the same person in the same room at the same time each week. Sometimes the person might not be able to go because they are not well or have to go somewhere else. Very occasionally the therapist may have to miss a session. Every few months there is another holiday – Christmas, Easter or Summer – and people miss therapy. However, because it is the same place and time almost every week, people build up a sense of safety and security in which it is possible to discuss their problems. In a talking therapy the therapist will only speak about subjects the person raises. It may be that the person does not want to talk about their particular problem and has other things on their mind. That is fine. Everything the person says or does is valued and will be thought about.

Usually, children and adults find it helpful to talk about their worries a little bit, once they feel safe with the therapist. While our research shows that children and adults with learning disabilities, like everyone else, feel better as a result of therapy, therapy is not always easy. It can be painful remembering and talking about difficult things that have happened in your life. People will need time and they may have ups and downs. However, there are important emotional rewards for people entering this treatment, including managing their life and feelings more easily. They may need help to go to their therapy sessions. Their supporters will need to understand that the person’s sessions are private even if the person is upset before or after the sessions. Supporters will also need to remember that therapy cannot be the sole source of support.

How to read the stories

There is no right or wrong way to read the stories.

Some people are not used to reading stories. Start at the beginning and read the story in each picture. Encourage the reader to move through the pages at their own pace.
Encourage the person to tell the story in their own words. You will discover what they think is happening, what they already know, and how they feel. If you are using the pictures to help explain a procedure to someone, you may need to describe or clarify the actions being shown in each picture to help them understand. Try not to challenge the reader(s) or suggest their ideas are wrong.
Some pictures may be more difficult to understand. It can help to prompt the people you are supporting, for example:
• Who do you think that is?
• What is happening?
• How is he or she feeling?
• Do you feel like that? Has it happened to you/ your friend/ your family?
Allow people enough time to follow the pictures at their own pace. Allow time for discussion of each picture.
Some people may benefit from reading the larger story from which the extract has been taken. This will allow them to explore their feelings and experiences in more depth. To buy the complete book, follow the link to the bookshop that appears at the end of the story.