 Cara (not her real name) was 33. She ate a variety of whole foods, was active and seldom drank alcohol. She had a history of anxiety and depression and very stressful life events, including childhood trauma and abusive relationships.
When I saw Cara for her first appointment, she was in many ways in a very good place in her life. She had in the past year come out of an abusive relationship and knew she would never be in one again. She had begun seeing “a really good therapist” who was helping her unpack her childhood traumas. And she had a small group of true friends she could rely on. Cara also had a good set of tools she had learned over the years for looking after her mental health. She enjoyed running her small business, though it could be stressful at times. She was “mostly happy being single” and was active in outdoor groups to grow her social circle. However. |