Simon writes:
“When I first started working with my client, she was extremely unwell, living with schizoaffective disorder, depression, and physical illness, she was struggling to find stability in her day-to-day life.
She was isolated, unemployed, and—perhaps most painfully—estranged from her family. At that time, they wanted little to do with her, and she was carrying that loss alongside the challenges of her illness. During an episode, she had said some very hurtful things to her sister and her family which is why they wanted nothing more to do with her. They did not understand her illness.
It was clear to me early on that beneath everything she was facing, there was strength and a desire for something better. My role was to support her to reconnect—with herself, with others, and with the life she wanted.
We started small. Building trust, creating a safe space, and taking each step at her pace. There were setbacks, but she kept going. Over time, I saw her confidence begin to grow. She started engaging more, opening up, and believing that change might actually be possible. Instead of meeting at her home, we began to meet at a local coffee shop which was a great step forward as she was out and about in the community. I listened to her and gave guidance and support and encouragement when necessary.
One of the biggest achievements has been her return to work. Today, she has a job—something that once felt completely out of reach. It has given her structure, independence, and a renewed sense of purpose. It took a long time to secure employment and there were many setbacks, but she had the determination to carry on.
What has been most powerful to witness is the transformation in her family relationships.
She is now closer than ever to her mother.
I helped her compose an e-mail to her sister about mending fences. Her sister, who once would not speak to her, is now in regular contact, and they spend time together socially. She has been welcomed back into the family in a way that once seemed unimaginable.
Her wider family have also played an incredible role in this journey. Her niece, nephew, and brother-in-law all attended therapy sessions to better understand her illness and learn how to support her. That willingness to listen and learn has helped rebuild trust, compassion, and connection across the whole family.
Watching this change has been so rewarding. This is her achievement—her resilience, her effort, her courage. I have simply supported and guided her.
Her journey is a reminder that recovery is not just about managing symptoms. It is about rebuilding identity, restoring relationships, and finding a sense of belonging again. And in her case, it shows that even when relationships feel broken, with understanding and support, they can be rebuilt stronger than before.”
What is Recovery & Connect?
Recovery & Connect is secondary care service, delivered by Mary Frances Trust, that supports people identified by the HOMEFirst service as having complex mental health needs to enable them to live well at home and prevent any future deterioration in their mental health or the need for hospital admission.
People are eligible for HOMEFirst if they have complex and long-standing mental health needs and a history of repeat admission to an acute/specialist inpatient unit locally, or in another area.
If you have been referred to Recovery & Connect by the HOMEFirst team, our Recovery & Connect Workers will support you to identify your personal goals. Together we will create a wellbeing plan focussed on your needs, with the ultimate goal of improving overall quality of life and to make a meaningful, lasting difference to your wellbeing.
The frequency of your appointments with your Recovery & Connect Worker may vary depending on what’s going on in your life at the time. Our flexible approach means you can meet with us when and where suits you best. We’re here when you need us.
We also offer access to Lived Experience Workers who use their own lived experience of mental health in a peer support role to contribute to your care and recovery if you need more practical support such as attending face-to-face appointments, filling out forms, etc. If you would like to find out more about how Lived Experience Workers can help, talk to your Recovery & Connect Worker.
To find out more, please visit our Recovery & Connect webpage.
“This input is really different, you’ve encouraged me to do so much since you’ve been coming. Because of your encouragement I feel like you’ve woken my brain up.”