Highly commended: Katie Greathead
Finalist Katie Greathead was nominated by a client, Gerry, who has experienced mental health difficulties for a number of years.
Before meeting Katie, Gerry had frequently been admitted into acute psychiatric wards, had no self-belief, was harming himself and had taken a massive overdose. Together he and Katie worked to negotiate goals, small attainable targets that gradually restored Gerry's self-confidence and enabled him to recognise his personal ambitions.
Gerry began to channel his energy into creative projects including a creative writing workshop, run by Katie, and pottery, glasswork and art. On his discharge, Gerry continued to develop his interest in the arts, and has had poetry and prose published, as well as art displayed in an exhibition.
Today he lives in a small Welsh village where he is learning to speak the language, attending advanced creative writing classes and writer's groups, helping at a youth club for disadvantaged youngsters, painting and learning to carve. He hasn't seen a psychiatrist in six months!
Katie, who works at Peter Hodgkinson Centre, Lincoln says:
"I was touched that Gerry took the time to nominate me. Working with him and seeing what he has achieved has been so rewarding. Nothing gives me more pleasure than knowing that I have helped a patient to work through their most difficult times."
