Lost Princess

Did you have any worries before starting with Yada?

Yes, because it's someone new and I get very nervous and don't know what to expect, and all that.

What were your first impressions, was C the first person you met?

Yes, and I even remember where I met her. I liked her straight away and got on with her very well, which is very unusual for me because of all the bad experiences I've had so I always have that barrier up.

When you've met with lots of professionals, how that appointment goes is totally dependent on the person and what they're like. And so I think it makes a massive difference, doesn't it? If you meet with someone that's kind of warm and friendly and understanding, or if you meet with someone that's cold and dismissive.

Yeah. So I'm not always right, but a lot of the time it's just like, yeah, something's not right. But with C, I straight away had a good gut feeling about her.

Good vibes.

Definitely, good vibes.

I think you're right there, you have to trust your gut. What you're doing is sharing something that is sensitive, and you are precious and your story is valuable, and so, yeah, I think it's good to have those gut instincts about things and know actually if something doesn't feel right, or does.

Can you describe your journey with Yada?

Amazing, lovely, all of you have been very helpful, I always feel safe with all of you. I find after I have seen one of you I am able to do little things I wouldn't normally be able to do. For example, I needed a coat, and because I had seen her (C) and been with her, I was able to go and get myself a coat. She gives me confidence. Not many people do that. It gives me happiness when I see her as it gives me something to look forward to.

Sometimes you don’t know what you don’t know.

Some of the things I would’ve never have even thought of! Like the carers and cleaning service.

And like you say, sometimes when people believe in you, and they spend the time sitting and chatting with you, that gives you that boost of energy to think, ‘oh yeah, I am going to do that, that hard thing’, and even if it's kind of something that may feel like a small thing, but it feels like a win and it gives you the confidence to think I can do this hard thing, and it's going to be okay, and I think that's what happens when people believe in you, and see the best in you, and want to cheer you on and champion you.

Yeah, it does.

And what would you say to someone that was thinking about reaching out for support?

I would definitely say go for it, yeah.

What do you think has been like the biggest kind of breakthrough, or the most helpful thing that's kind of come out of working with C?

Making me feel safe and that I am worthwhile. A lot of people don't make me feel like that but she makes me feel that I am worth something.

You're absolutely worth it and that's unconditional, it's a non-negotiate. You're so worthy of being valued and having support.

She makes me feel like I'm special and she is special to me, and I trust her.

And you're saying that she makes you feel special, like everyone that we work with is unique. They've got things that they like, they've got things they don't like. There's things that work when it comes to their support and things that don’t, and I think making someone feel special is about recognizing that everyone's unique and everyone has different gifts and it's tailored to them, and that support is going to look specific to you.

Yes - she knows certain places I like, drinks I like to have and certain things that are triggers and she has helped keep myself safer.

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