“This has felt life changing” John’s story

Posted on 9th December 2025

At a glance:

• Support: Six counselling sessions with Kaleidoscope Plus Group (KPG)
• Background: Low mood, anxiety and Isolation after becoming a full-time carer.
• Impact: Improved mood and confidence, with community connections rebuilt.

Receiving emotional wellbeing support

When John* needed emotional wellbeing support, he was referred to our Circles of Support partner, KPG, he spoke about feeling low and overwhelmed. Life after lockdown had been hard and becoming a full-time carer for a family member meant he’d lost a lot of the freedom he once had. He felt isolated, with increasing anxiety and unsure how to make space for himself.

Building confidence and connections

Across six counselling sessions, his practitioner offered a calm and supportive space to talk openly. Using a person-centred approach, they encouraged him to explore his own feelings and rebuild a sense of control over his choices at his own pace. Through gentle reflection, John noticed how little attention he had been giving to his own wellbeing. This was an important turning point for him.

Together, they focused on small steps that felt manageable. They looked at ways he could reconnect with his community and where extra support might help. This led to finding a local men’s group and a carers’ support group. By the end of the sessions, John had contacted both and was preparing to attend his first meetings.

They also worked on building his confidence by breaking goals into simple actions such as researching a group, sending an email or phoning a group leader. Each completed step was acknowledged and celebrated, helping him see the progress he was making in real time.

Measuring impact on wellbeing

At the start of each session, John completed a short wellbeing questionnaire, known as CORE, which looks at how someone is feeling across areas like mood, day to day functioning and general wellbeing. At the end of the support, his scores had improved, showing positive shifts that matched how he described feeling.

John’s reflections

Looking back, he said:

• “This has felt life changing.”
• “I didn’t think talking would solve my problems.”
• “I feel like I have things to look forward to.”

John finished his sessions feeling more hopeful, more connected and better equipped to look after himself while continuing to care for his loved one.

If you are a Stonewater customer and have received support from Longleigh, either through an individual grant or our Circles of Support partners, we would love to hear your experience. Your story helps other people to feel confident to ask for help when they need it.

*Names are changed and stock images are used to protect identities.