Pravina felt completely isolated and unable to communicate with others. She had become estranged from her family after reporting her father and uncles who regularly used to abuse her. After years of unhappiness, Pravina tried to break away. But having tried only to protect herself from ongoing physical, sexual and mental abuse, Pravina was then subsequently rejected by her mother who blamed her for splitting the family up. Unsurprisingly, any talk of family life can trigger a re-occurane of self-harm.

By the time Pravina came to us, she only knew how to deal with her frustrations and emotions in a destructive fashion. She was diagnosed with emotionally unstable personality disorder, depression and obesity alongside her learning disability. What Pravina really needed above all else was a place where she felt secure. We were able to provide that. Gradually Pravina could see that she was among friends - a place where she would be listened to and not judged in any way. It was the best possible place for her to begin to confront her past. Under our care, Pravina embraced a tailored programme of therapy and behavioural interventions. Over time she began to gradually increase her self esteem, so much so that she was able to move to a community step down hospital.

Pravina needed to understand why she reacted in certain ways. Together we worked through a number of painful episodes, to identify the triggers. Along with activities specifically focused on building her self-esteem, Pravina was also shown relaxation techniques as well as safe ways to deal with her feelings. She began to re-appraise her reactions to difficult situations and confront them in a different way. It is a slow, but life-changing process.

And sure enough, Pravina's life is changing. Now, whenever she feels unable to handle her emotions (and there will continue to be times where that happens) she is much more likely to turn staff for help. She continues to work closely with us and is taking steps toward a more independent life. Today she is learning to manage her budget; indeed she's saved up the money to purchase her own computer which she uses to keep in touch with her friends and to download music. It's also an excellent creative outlet as Pravina uses it to make beautifully personalised birthday cards.

More good news is that Pravina's section has now been rescinded. Once again, Pravina is taking part in her local community; she is also attending college, where she studies horticulture and English. Most importantly, Pravina's life is increasingly defined by what is in her future, not in the past. And with help, she is starting to believe in her abilities as a very strong and capable young woman.