Claire

Counselling with Beverley has been extremely positive for me, and I feel like I’ve come away having worked through some things well and with tools to use henceforth. Due to having extensive therapy and counselling throughout my life, I first started these sessions expecting to experience what I had previously with other counselling – which wasn’t personally the most helpful for me – but I wanted somewhere to talk and to give it a try. I’m happy to say I was very pleasantly surprised to not only feel comfortable with Beverley very quickly but also to realise that her style of counselling was very different to what I had had in the past. I’ve felt that Beverley gives a personal/personalised approach in her sessions – really tailoring the tools to you and your experiences. She also realised my faith in spirituality early on and tailored her help further with this in mind. I’m so grateful for this experience as I’ve never had someone combine the two [counselling and spirituality] and it has had a profoundly positive impact on me and my personal healing journey. I truly feel like Beverley is a very gifted, one-of-a-kind counsellor and someone whose sessions and words will stay with me throughout my life. 

Mick

Dear Beverley                                                                                  

Firstly, I’d like to thank (and there are not enough words to express) Beverley Beckett. Being allocated to Bev has been one of the most important things that ever happened to me, Bev helped me no ends, for the first time ever I gained perspective as to why I am the way I am. As someone who is not very good at communicating with people, I will try briefly to explain myself. 

I was a regular drug user from around 13 years old but started getting high, way before then, I have lived a life of crime and excessive violence, I never had a good family life and never had real friends, I couldn’t have any kind of relationship even with my kids. I coped by using drugs including heroin, cocaine and various prescription drugs, I used violence as way to express myself and feel better about the pain I was in. I should explain I was born with a progressive condition in my right hip that caused tremendous pain 24/7 from my earliest memories. Up until nearly 6 years ago this was every day of my life, until I got clean and separated myself from the lifestyle. As I got clean by myself it took around a year to feel clean and then I started searching for help cos I couldn’t cope in this new world I found myself in. I received zero help. Every day was spent trying to manage simple things like leaving the house and not going through with my plans to end my life, I’m simplifying everything as it would be a million-page letter but in a nutshell I had no life and was barely existing. I made the choice to move to Exeter from Dawlish because I’d heard there would be more help available to me; at first this was so wrong, my GP offered nothing. I truly believe I would have ended my life very soon after not receiving any help.  There didn’t seem any point in dragging out the hell. 

I truly can’t express the impact Bev has had on my life. Bev was very honest with me, something I’d never had as people always said what they thought I wanted to hear out of fright. Bev made me feel safe and eventually I gained trust in her, something I’ve never had in anyone ever, she listened, again something I’d never had before, I never felt judged, it was like the first time in 50 years I felt a kinda of safety. Before Bev I was in the darkest place I’ve ever been in and considering how dark a life I’ve led that was really bad. Thanks to Bev and the extended sessions I actually feel!  Also, I feel like I can cope in this new world and feel like I actually can have a future. These were two things I didn’t even consider because I would have been happy just being able to manage each day. Bev has led me to a place in my life I didn’t know existed, I understand so much about my life now and for the first time ever I have HOPE. I said I can’t put into words the impact Bev has had on me but whoever sees this feel free to contact me for a better idea of the help I've received. I can’t emphasise this enough, but Beverley has saved my life and I will repay her by showing her I was worth the time and effort. 

From the bottom of my heart thank you Beverley. 

M B

 Update to my journey with Beverley....12/02/2022

 Its been approx 13 months since my first session with Bev.

 It's impossible to put into words how much and what has changed for me in the last year.  So much has changed in the way I think and perceive myself, and this is on   going and will be ongoing for a long time to come.  So in brief this part of my life (yes life, not existence) is growing for the first time and in the right direction.  My head was   always a dark and noisy place; the noise is still there, but I'm starting to hear through the noise and there's a crack of dawn light pushing back the darkness.  It's   definitely a work in progress but, for me, the fact there is progress was unimaginable a year ago.  Apart from my internal progress the most noticeable progress is the   outward progress.

 Bev has given me the tools and confidence to improve my life no end.  From being unable to leave the house and impossible to be around people,  I have just recently   started a part time job and regularly walk and cycle.  A year ago these didn't even qualify as pipe dreams, but here I am doing them.  Being in the company of people is   probably one of the hardest obstacles I've had to deal with.  I'm a very visual person so I literally see and feel Bev on my shoulder helping me deal with the minefield of   social interaction.  Whenever the old me sits on the other shoulder trying to bring back old ways, Bev's voice gives me the strength to stamp out the old me.  Every day is   still a struggle and a fight, but for the first time I have someone in my corner, even when I haven't spoken with Bev, her words and voice are there to help me get up after I   fall.  There is no doubt if it wasn't for Bev I would not be alive to write this.  I've lived a life without love or hope  I now have hope so who knows what else I can have, all   thanks to Beverley.

 I cant say it enough, Beverley.  From the soul, thank you.

M B