Gadise (not her real name) arrived in the UK from Eritrea as an asylum seeker with experiences of human trafficking. The challenges she faced since arriving in the UK, including homelessness, were exacerbating and contributing to many of her existing emotional and psychological struggles:
“I faced many difficulties and I was struggling with many aspects of my life. I was stressed, hopeless and unhappy to get help.”
Gadise was referred to Waterloo Community Counselling by her local NHS Talking Therapies Service. At WCC, Gadise was matched with a “patient and understanding” counsellor at who spoke Amharic – Gadise’s first language – as part of the Multilingual Counselling Service. Gadise had twelve sessions of therapy over the telephone between June and September 2025.
“Therapy brought many self-understandings in my life, and I learned to control my emotions. I learned to live with difficult feelings I can’t change by applying all the strategies I learned in sessions.”
Gadise joined the Walking Group and the Gardening Club facilitated by WCC for Multilingual clients while receiving therapy. She finds that walking has helped her to “manage feelings and emotions better”, and “avoid sleeping with my problems”.
Gadise continues to attend group meetups, even after her time as a client at WCC has concluded. Highlights include creative endeavours such as poetry and drumming workshops, beekeeping, and the annual refugee social group Christmas Party.
Thanks to generous funding and partnership work, Gadise was eligible for a grant for a SIM card, keeping her connected with the new communities she has found since starting therapy. In January 2026, WCC referred Gadise to a charity clothing event where she could choose a winter coat for herself.
Gadise is extremely grateful for the life-changing support she was able to access through Waterloo Community Counselling:
“I was treated like a family member, and that makes me very thankful and happy for what you do for people like me.”
Gadise
Thanks to our fantastic volunteer, Lu Brookes, for writing this case study.
Your Support Makes Stories Like Gadise’s Possible
Gadise’s journey reminds us that with the right support, healing and hope are within reach — even when the first steps feel impossible. By giving, fundraising or spreading the word, you help create safe therapeutic spaces where people can rebuild their confidence, reconnect with life and rediscover their strength.
If Gadise’s story inspires you, we invite you to stand with us. Your support today could help someone take their very first step toward healing.