A student nurse has held one charity night and organised another for therapists who provided her with free mental health care which she believes helped save her life.
Caitlin Currie, from Airdrie, received treatment from Lanarkshire Counselling and CBT Centre in Coatbridge over four years.
Caitlin shared that during her toughest times she wouldn't even be able to walk along the street without support, and the counsellors from the centre were there for her every step of the way.
The therapy was truly life-changing as Caitlin doesn't know if she'd be here today if it wasn't for the centre. It has inspired the 24-year-old to help others in need.
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Caitlin told Glasgow Live: "I suffered a traumatic event when I was 16.
"I had been to a lot of NHS therapists and a lot of them are time limited, so you maybe only get six sessions or a certain period of months.
"It never really felt like it was enough. I think I walked past the centre one day and spotted it.
"They cared from the start. They helped walk me up the main street because I was really anxious about going out on my own.
"My counsellor would walk with me, then I'd walk a bit myself, it was like gradual exposure. It was personalised to what I needed at the time.
"It has led to me studying to be a mental health nurse, which I would never have been able to do if it wasn't for the counselling."
The student has credited the counsellors for saving her life as without them she doesn't know how she would have overcome her fears.
She said: "Things were really difficult. Learning a lot of coping strategies and about the way I think about different situations has empowered me to deal with life.
"Before I went to counselling I really struggled. I don't know if I'd be here without that counselling service."
At the beginning of summer this year she raised £2600 during a charity night and she has booked a venue for an event next December.
Caitlin is hoping the money raised can help the Coatbridge therapists provide more care to people who may need it but can't afford it.
The 24-year-old explained: "They offer a lot of donation based appointment. The whole time I was there I didn't really pay for any sessions at all and without it I would've really struggled.
"I organised a fundraising night in May and I'm having another one next year which will be a similar set up but it'll be a Christmas night. People will be able to get a meal, raffle and take part in different fundraising things."
In the aspiring mental health nurse's eyes the ability to speak through problems with a therapist should be a right given to everyone, especially during the cost of living crisis.
Caitlin said: "I think it's something everyone should have access to.
"Given the way things are at the minute sometimes talking to somebody, even if it is just once a week, can make a massive difference. It's not accessible to everyone with long waiting lists for the NHS and the cost of private counselling.
"I know from the last charity night quite a few who used the service agreed said the centre really do go out their way to make sure the service is available to people who need it, regardless of their financial situation."
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