Rebuilding Self-Esteem:
"Dear Phil,
thanks for the sessions we've had together
Before: I would always not say what I thought for fear of upsetting anyone or standing out from the crowd. I felt I had to say "yes" to everything and everyone. This meant I spent a lot of time doing things I didn't really want to and that I let more vocal friends decide where we went and what we did. This pattern had been part of my life for 40 years.
During: I learnt how to stop putting my self down all the time, and how to start to make choices based on what I wanted rather than what I thought other people might want me to do
Since then: It's been amazing. I really felt you couldn't 'teach an old dog new tricks' and it was just the way I was; but I 've seen such a dramatic and positive change in my self over the last few months that I wish I'd know about this earlier.
Thanks"
2001
Susan:
Susan is ten and had been suffering from low self esteem, failing confidence at school, poor school work and a diagnosis of borderline dyspraxia.
Her story is quite typical of the feedback we get when working with these kinds of problems.
After just a few sessions at the clinic both Susan and her mum sent us this report.
"My ten year old daughter had been suffering from worry and anxiety for two years. Her confidence and self esteem were low , and small things would set off the cycle of worry. This affected everyday life and she would have 3-4 'worry's' a day. An example would be being worried that the cat might run away or that I might crash the car.
Nothing I said or did made any difference. School work suffered and life was very strained for both of us. She was constantly worked up into hysterical frenzies.
Someone recommended Phil Parker to us, saying what a difference it had made in their life- naturally I was apprehensive at first, it sounded too good to be true, and even a tad 'wacky'.- but on meeting Phil I was pleasantly surprised. He was laid back and brilliant with Susan. He knew how to put her at her ease and in the three sessions he had taught her how to stop anxieties and worrying.
She seems happier now and puts things in perspective. The change in my daughter is unbelievable and her recent school grade card was the best ever. Straight A's and 1's.
I'd recommend Phil to anyone having difficulties in their life."
October 2003
Susan wrote;
"I'd heard about Phil through a friend, who'd told me he was very good, so my mum decided to take me up to see him. When I first got there I felt very nervous and was worried about what was going to happen. When we were sat in the chairs waiting I began to get sweaty palms and was shaking.
But when I got in the room and we had the first session it was really good.
At the end of the week I sat down and talked with my mum about what I had worried about over the week. We realised that I only had worried twice the whole week, which was a big difference. So we went to see Phil another two times. I now only worry about things I really need to."
by Susan aged 10
May:
May is eight and had been suffering from anxiety attacks for some years. Her story is quite typical of the feedback we get when working with these kinds of problems.
"To Phil, THANK YOU for making me feel better and I APPRECIATE it very, very , very, very, very, very much. From May.
Before I went to Phil I felt very nervous about going to school , going to parties ,staying at family and friend , learning the flute and anything else I could worry about. This made me feel sad and miserable, and I thought these feelings would never end. I was very worried about seeing Phil and I was shaking, but he wasn't scary and he treated me nicely. Since I've seen Phil I know how to deal with myself when I get nervous and worried. Also I have felt very happy and jolly.
Thank you Phil."
Her mum adds,
"I decided to take my daughter May to see Phil because her confidence and happiness was deteriorating, and nothing I did or said helped anymore. As a caring mother I felt helpless and so wanted May to be her happy self again. May would cry a lot, didn't want to leave me, didn't want to go to school, friends parties, stay at friends or families homes, the list was endless. We couldn't see any problems at school or home, you know bullying etc.
Then a friend recommended Phil, so I made an appointment, and he was so good with May, so reassuring.
She only had three sessions with Phil and the difference has been fantastic. Much happier, more confidence, enjoying life again and being a child. Even her teacher came to tell me how happy she is in class.
My husband and I wish to say many thanks to you , Phil."
2001