Inverness trauma therapist offers up expert help to walking charity
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An Inverness charity is benefitting from support from a leading psychological trauma consultant.
Fiona MacAulay, of Highland Trauma Services, has been offering her services and raising much-needed funds for the team at Clarity Walk as it continues to try and tackle mental ill health through active outdoor therapy.
Matt Wallace, founder of Clarity Walk, said: “We are now being supported by leading psychological trauma consultant Fiona MacAulay to help transform lives across the Highlands.
“She is highly regarded in the NHS.
“Fiona was the lead psychological therapist at NHS Highland occupational health service where she developed a triage approach to reduce the long waiting list to match demands with needs.
“During the lockdown, Fiona helped a stranger – an extremely vulnerable man – to access benefits and housing. While this helped the man significantly, he was extremely isolated, having no social support.
“Realising that NHS mental health services were overwhelmed during lockdown and that he needed urgent social support, Fiona reached out to Clarity Walk.
“As the man had social anxiety, he was not at all interested but she encouraged him, and he eventually agreed to meet with us.
“This has provided the support network he desperately needed.”
Mrs MacAulay has helped raise more than £1000 for the organisation.
“She believes in the positive impact Clarity Walk can create and wants to see healthier connections between teenagers, those suffering from neurodiversity, those who are disadvantaged and the community,” Mr Wallace added.
Mrs MacAulay said: “Matt and the team at Clarity Walk are providing a service that will offer people the opportunity to change their lives.
“I am pleased to be able to offer them support.
“I have been offering part of my fee from the life enhancement course (LEC) to Clarity Walk.”
Mrs MacAulay explained that she developed the LEC over a number of years, mostly in her own time, to deliver to NHS employees to reduce waiting lists and improve access to information and help.
Many attendees did not require any further psychological help after participating in this course as the understanding of the biological, psychological and social factors impacting on their health and wellbeing provided the tools for attendees to become their own therapist by learning about compassionate mind training.
She added: “Our next course is now signing up new members.”
To book, visit www.claritywalk.co.uk/life-enhancement-course/
Read more about Clarity Walk by clicking here.
