Talking Therapies ‘changed my life’

A Bessacarr man, who suffered a life-changing accident that left him in a wheelchair, is praising our Talking Therapy service for helping him come to terms with his injury, and is now tackling the stigma around getting support.

Sixty-one-year-old Paul Cooper thought he was “useless” when he damaged his back in a former job and struggled for months with low mood.

After speaking to his GP, he signed up for support with our Talking Therapies service in Doncaster. He was placed under the care of the specialist Long-term Conditions team, which helps people learn to live mentally well with a physical health condition.

Paul said:

“I felt absolutely useless. I was a very active person at my job and at my hobbies, but then suddenly had my wife having to do all the work and care for me. My independence had gone.

“I realised I needed support when I recognised that I couldn’t be bothered. I couldn’t be bothered to get out of bed, couldn’t be bothered to have a shave. Everything felt like hard graft.”

After months of treatment, Paul began to feel more like himself again and accept his injury. Paul said:

“I wouldn’t wish being in a wheelchair upon anyone. You see the world differently and how selfish people can be. However, Talking Therapies helped me come to terms with that.

“I now look at what I can do, rather than what I can’t do. I know not to beat myself up if I can’t do something that I could do in a previous life.

“Sometimes, you wake up and it’s a bad day, but I now have less of those bad days after my Talking Therapies treatment.”

Paul has thanked his therapist, Rachel Wood, who worked with him over several counselling sessions:

“She was superb, absolutely brilliant. Sometimes, after sessions, I would think ‘gosh I can’t believe I said that’ and opened up so much.

“Rachel became a person that I trusted. After a few weeks, I didn’t class her as a stranger anymore. I looked forward to speaking to her and could tell her anything.”

Paul, who had also previously served in the armed forces, had initially been apprehensive and judgemental about getting support. He is now urging others to drop the stigma and get the help they need:

“I used to think talking to make things better was a load of pants and that you should just be able to cope with things. Now, I think totally differently.

“Therapy, and my therapist, changed my life, without a shadow of a doubt. It has changed my approach to life. It has also helped my wife who had to deal with me on difficult days.

“As a former serviceman, I know it’s sometimes an all or nothing mentality. If you need help, ask. It’s most definitely worth doing it, 100%. Give it your all, and it will change your life.”

Rachel Sharp, Team Manager, said:

“We’re so thrilled that Paul is back to feeling more like himself again. Talking therapies are so effective at helping people to come to terms with, or better manage, a long-term physical health condition.

“We know that health conditions can be scary, overwhelming, and often difficult to manage at times, and, as a result, many people can struggle with their mental health.

“We support people with a wide range of conditions, including diabetes, functional neurological disorder, pain, musculoskeletal, cancer, respiratory and cardiac, if they are also feeling down or worried.

“We are open as usual over the festive season, so please get in touch and get the support you need.”

Our Talking Therapies, and Talking Therapies for Long-term Conditions, provide free, effective, confidential treatment for people over the age of 16, who are struggling with common signs and symptoms of depression and anxiety, such as low mood, feeling tearful or sad, worrying frequently or no longer doing things they used to enjoy.

The service, which also offers optional employment support to patients who are accessing treatment, can be accessed over the phone, via video call, text messaging or face to face at venues across Doncaster.

Doncaster residents can sign up for support by completing an online self-referral form at NHS Talking Therapies or by calling 03000 211 556.

Published: December 24, 2025