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Stories of the Human Spirit:
Case Studies

Facing Demons: A Journey through Unrelenting Guilt and Suppressed Anger

Introduction:

Gerome, a 32-year-old professional bodyguard, reached out for counseling after living with silenced guilt and anger for over 6 months. Gerome said that he had panic attacks, was losing motivation in life and at work, had trouble sleeping and had withdrawn from his family. Gerome said that something traumatic had happened to his 6 year old son despite his best efforts to protect his family, but he was unable to speak of it. His main outlet was exercise and he was punishing himself physically out of self-blame. He had never been to a counsellor or psychologist before.

The Journey:

During the first few sessions, we circled around the unfortunate event but Gerome never wanted to address it. After the third session, we explored Gerome's cultural history. We learnt that there was immense shame held, and it could be traced to a generational approach when dealing with shame, i.e. suppress and not to be spoken about. We were finally able to speak about the unspeakable event. We also used a combination of Schema approaches and Multiplicity/Parts Work in order to understand how his default state when dealing with emotions, to heal his younger self, and to re-establish his relationship with anger. We used visualisation techniques over the course of several weeks to integrate the different parts of him that held various difficult emotions.

Outcome:

Gerome reported ongoing improvements of symptoms but also an elevated sense of joy and ease. Needless to say he worked very hard to face his demons, and did his 'homework' regularly. He was someone who was motivated to get out of his painful existence, and he did plough through.
After six months of dedicated work, we noticed significant improvements. His relationships with his family improved. He was sleeping better. He could talk about the traumatic event without being triggered or suppressing emotion. He also made drastic changes with his professional life. He finally started a business he had always wanted to. And he was no longer exercising to breaking point, he was exercising for health, mental health and fitness.

Client Reflection:

Gerome said, "I could never have gotten through this without your guidance. You were with me in the pits of my existence. You went the extra mile for me. I feel that I can handle my life and my family better moving forward. I'm so grateful, thank you."

Conclusion:

It was a sobering kind of joy that filled the air during our last session. We exchanged letters of appreciation for each other to mark the end of therapy. My letter to him included how he had courageously battled his demons and succeeded. His success is a reflection of our therapeutic relationship, the trust he placed in me and the process, the eclectic humanistic approach taken, as well as his diligence to become a better version of himself.

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Healing from Trauma and Reconnecting with Her Identity

Introduction:

Medika, a middle-aged Indigenous woman, sought therapy through her uncle’s sponsorship. She was facing significant challenges, including PTSD symptoms, relationship issues with her adult children involved in gang violence, psychosomatic symptoms, and spiritual struggles. Medika had only received brief therapeutic support in the past (as a result of NDIS supports) but expressed a strong desire to heal from past sexual and physical abuse and improve her ability to navigate life. Throughout her journey, Medika demonstrated humility, forthcomingness, and openness in addressing her complex issues.

The Journey:

Medika's case was layered and rich in cultural context. From our first session, her tattoos—filled with spiritual and Indigenous symbols—revealed the importance of her cultural identity and spiritual affiliation. Rather than assuming, we explored these aspects together, allowing her to use her tattoos as a gateway into discussions about her beliefs. Through culturally informed trauma therapy, we uncovered her attachment wounds with God, which were deeply intertwined with her spiritual and Indigenous roots. This gentle exploration was combined with psychoeducation and culturally informed trauma work, helping Medika understand trauma while building self-compassion.

As therapy progressed, Medika reconnected with her faith group and Indigenous elders. We established boundaries for her safety and worked on practical and emotional safety plans. Psychoeducation on trauma helped her develop compassion for herself and her children, while Trauma-Informed yoga targeted her psychosomatic symptoms. Over time, Medika learned to regulate herself, applying concepts like the Window of Tolerance and practicing mindfulness to address emotional and physical manifestations of her trauma.

Outcome:

Medika emerged from therapy more connected to her cultural and spiritual practices, though she acknowledged that she didn’t need to make meaning from every trauma. She was finally able to forgive and be forgiven. She became adept at managing her emotional state and began teaching these skills to her family. Surprisingly, she also quit smoking and rediscovered her love for jogging (her teenage love as she called it), which were unexpected outcomes of her healing journey.

Client Reflection:

Medika expressed deep gratitude, saying, "I have learned to communicate with my body, my heart, my brain, and my spirit." This connection between her mind and body was a significant shift in her healing process.

Conclusion:

As a gesture of gratitude, she gifted me a perfume pen, a reminder of her healing journey. Medika’s story is one of vulnerability and openness. By embracing various therapeutic modalities and delving into her darkest experiences, she was able to transform her life in a span for 4 intensive months. As for the perfume pen, I still have a few spritzes left, a reminder of our work together.