Pontypridd Therapist Volunteers at Food Bank After 26-Year Journey From Trauma to Recovery
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 2
Pontypridd Therapist Volunteers at Food Bank After 26-Year Journey From Trauma to Recovery
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 2
Summary
Steven Crichton, a Pontypridd therapist, now volunteers with Taff Ely food bank after relying on it for a few weeks when he finished university and struggled to feed his family.
26 years after losing his father to suicide at age 6, Crichton said counselling helped him overcome mental health problems and heroin addiction, qualify as a therapist and reframe asking for help as strength.
His lived-experience group has already pushed practical changes at the food bank, including unmarked carrier bags and letting visitors choose some items themselves to preserve dignity and cut waste.
Taff Ely says reducing shame around food bank use is a priority, and Crichton now uses his first-class psychology and counselling degree and his own business to support charities that helped him.