Emily

When Emily first began working with YouCan practitioner Leanne, life at home felt overwhelming.

For years, Emily had been living with the impact of her dad’s alcoholism. As a young person with AuDHD, relationships and trusting others did not come easily to her, and the challenges at home often left her feeling anxious, isolated, and emotionally exhausted.

Although support was available, opening up felt impossible at first.

Leanne understood this.

She never pushed Emily to talk before she was ready. Instead, she created a safe, calm space where Emily could simply be herself. In the beginning, sessions were often spent chatting about everyday things, hobbies, interests, school, or whatever was on Emily’s mind that day. Slowly, over time, trust began to grow.

Eventually, Emily found the courage to talk about the reality of life with her dad and the impact his drinking was having on her wellbeing.

For Emily’s mum, seeing her daughter begin to open up was incredibly emotional.

She shared:

“The support has been a lifeline to Emily. It took a while for her to open up with Leanne, but it became an invaluable service that I would recommend to anyone going through the same.”

As things at home became more difficult, Leanne remained a constant source of support. Emily’s sessions became a safe place where she could speak freely, without judgement, pressure, or fear.

At times when life felt darkest, seeing Leanne became one of the highlights of Emily’s week.

In September, Emily’s dad sadly passed away from alcoholic liver disease. The grief and trauma surrounding his illness and death had a huge impact on the entire family, but having consistent support in place made an enormous difference.

Emily’s mum explained:

“Leanne was an integral support to Emily, which meant we knew that if she couldn’t talk to us, she had someone she could talk to and share some of the awful things she had experienced. It took the load off us knowing there was someone supporting her emotional and mental wellbeing, who truly understood.”

Leanne supported Emily through many difficult stages of her childhood, from periods of contact and no contact with her dad, to moments when Emily struggled deeply with her mental health and feelings of hopelessness. Throughout everything, Leanne remained patient, compassionate, and present.

Reflecting on the journey, Emily’s mum said:

“I can’t thank Leanne enough. She has been a constant in Emily’s life when things have been horrific. She gave Emily a space just for her, free to talk when she was ready with no judgement.”

Today, although the family continues to navigate grief, Emily is in a stronger place emotionally because she never had to carry those experiences alone.

For Emily and her family, YouCan was far more than a service. It was a lifeline during the most difficult chapter of their lives, offering safety, trust, understanding, and hope when they needed it most.

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