On this page you can read the latest testimonials of staff who have used the Keeping Well NWL service.
If you would like to share your feedback or experience, please complete our feedback form (you can complete the form anonymously).
NHS staff manager supported in therapy by Keeping Well NWL service says: “It was a really positive experience for my partner and I"
Over the past year, we have been working closely with Tavistock Relationships to offer free couples therapy sessions to health and social care staff.
After spotting the information in a Trust communications newsletter, an NHS staff member decided to reach out.
“My partner and I had some areas we needed to discuss and some areas in our relationship we needed to work on. I suggested to my partner we needed to do this. We had five sessions and found it really helpful, it was a really positive experience for both of us, it has been helpful to keeping our relationship healthy.”
NHS staff manager supported in therapy by Keeping Well NWL service says: “It was a really positive experience for my partner and I"
Over the past year, we have been working closely with Tavistock Relationships to offer free couples therapy sessions to health and social care staff.
After spotting the information in a Trust communications newsletter, an NHS staff member decided to reach out.
“My partner and I had some areas we needed to discuss and some areas in our relationship we needed to work on. I suggested to my partner we needed to do this. We had five sessions and found it really helpful, it was a really positive experience for both of us, it has been helpful to keeping our relationship healthy.”
“The Keeping Well Service can help people with what they are going through” - says NHS worker
In his role as an NHS support and recovery worker, it involves working with people who are experiencing mental health difficulties, specifically children and young people struggling in school. Marcus started to experience feelings of low self-esteem and confidence, which brought about feelings of his own childhood.
"I didn’t know such services existed but my first contact with [a Keeping Well practitioner] really helped me understand that they can help me. The service can really help people with what they are going through."
When Ron began feeling isolated, low and suffering from tiredness, he reached out to the Keeping Well Service.
Ron works as an Employment Specialist for the Community Mental Health Team in Hillingdon in CNWL.
In this role, he uses his lived experience as a recovering alcoholic and drug addict to help others to return to work and get support but during the pandemic he felt ‘very frightened and anxious of a relapse’ during lockdown. He was told about the Keeping Well Service by his manager.
How Neil overcame his needle phobia
Neil Martin, Rehabilitation Therapy Services Supervisor at Broadmoor Hospital at West London NHS Trust, talks about his needle phobia and how he overcame it.
"From an early age, I’ve always had a massive phobia of needles. My fear has often prevented me from going to the dentist, giving blood and having the flu jab. It has also made parts of my role difficult. I was also apprehensive about having the vaccination because of my doubts about its safety and efficacy, including how quickly it was made available and unknown side effects."
"Take each day as it comes and it’s always okay to talk to others"
In 2018, Issachar sadly lost her mother and found out about this tragic news while at work and her mum abroad. Returning to work shortly after this news, she thought going back to normal was the best way forward. However, being around people became too emotional for her and she felt detached.
After speaking to her GP and Matron, and doing a bit of research herself, Issachar found Keeping Well. She was referred to a therapist very quickly and straight away, she noticed how her outlook had changed.
“We spoke about my past, and I was allowed to reminisce the good memories I had with my mum, focusing on the positives. I was thankful for my therapist who helped me find the right mind-set that while my mum has gone, she hasn’t gone too,” Issachar explains.
Occupational therapist Lina Grohbiel says she was close to burning out
“In health care we focus so much on everybody else, we need to learn to think about us,” says London occupational therapist Lina Grohbiel.
Whilst working her job as an occupational therapist at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, the 31-year-old started noticing she was getting a short fuse and not coping well with emotional situations. She didn't so much cry, but felt like it a lot. Sound familiar?
But before it got too out of hand, she sought help from specialist NHS support and now she's urging others to do the same to avoid Covid burnout.
"Keeping Well Service is quick and seamless when you need support"
Jo Green, CNWL Specialist Speech and Language Therapist reached out to the north west London Keeping Well Service, when she was feeling overwhelmed and anxious due to upcoming workplace changes.
During the summer, Jo contacted one the service’s therapists after attending a wellbeing webinar. Within 24 hours she was registered and offered an appointment.
Jo said: “Once I made contact with the team and spoke with someone, it was so quick and seamless, I was very impressed with how fast someone came back to me, they really cared.”
"I found it difficult to juggle work commitments and his personal life"
Massimo Pamitsch, Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist for the Ealing Talking Therapies Service shared his experience using the Keeping Well Service.
He said: “Lockdown added a different level of stress to my life. I felt my life had become just work and I felt trapped. All my hobbies were taken away I didn't have any possibility of seeing the people I love other than remotely.
I was starting to get a sense, of what was coming, you know, the signs start to be familiar not really feeling like getting up in the morning, feeling overwhelmed by the workload.”