Clients’ self-description As a precursor to exploring wellbeing, the researchers asked clients to describe themselves. If they had difficulty in doing this the researchers suggested that the clients thought about how they thought a close friend or family member might describe them. Although the responses varied in the length and depth of description the question served as an introduction to the visualisation exercise and gave insights into perceived skills and attributes. This was a difficult part of the interviews as clients were sometimes unsure as to what was being required of them. How the clients saw themselves was strongly connected to the depth of, and opportunities for, relationships with friends and family members. Some clients had very little or no outside support apart from churches and other organisations. Where there was personal support this gave a different and more positive view of their For example, while one of the clients identified themselves as being ‘quiet’ and when pressed further as to whether they might be ‘sometimes nervous’, described as or by her sister the client responded as being - ‘sad happy’ ‘Happy talking a (Client L). lot ’ Some of the clients interviewed seemed well aware of how their circumstances were shaping their self-image. For example, one client described considerable variance in their self-description according to their immigration status. My personality? Umm I feel strong because I fight (laughs) I had many I’m problem, I had many but experience I just I try to be strong, problem… sometimes yes I feel stress, sometimes I feel I want to die I but cannot…I want… sometimes you know I say, no, I have to carry on, to do I am my…because strong Client M When asked what kind of experience made them feel strong the response from the client clarified this further: Experience? You know before I got my status I sometimes I sleep live like this… here sometimes there, with friends, sometimes on a bus yeah and this I of staff member) I feel in a warm place…that’s why like…,(name like I’m feel feel like these place…they look after us…you someone look…you this life...there is someone who look after you, who want to help you, people…in because you know many know when you experience…bad experience…you Client M remember some things
Clients’ self-description As a precursor to exploring wellbeing, the researchers asked clients to describe themselves. If they had difficulty in doing this the researchers suggested that the clients thought about how they thought a close friend or family member might describe them. Although the responses varied in the length and depth of description the question served as an introduction to the visualisation exercise and gave insights into perceived skills and attributes. This was a difficult part of the interviews as clients were sometimes unsure as to what was being required of them. How the clients saw themselves was strongly connected to the depth of, and opportunities for, relationships with friends and family members. Some clients had very little or no outside support apart from churches and other organisations. Where there was personal support this gave a different and more positive view of their For example, while one of the clients identified themselves as being ‘quiet’ and ‘sometimes nervous’, when pressed further as to whether they might be described as ‘sad or happy’ by her sister the client responded as being ‘Happy - talking a lot ’ (Client L). Some of the clients interviewed seemed well aware of how their circumstances were shaping their self-image. For example, one client described considerable variance in their self-description according to their immigration status. My personality? Umm I feel I’m strong because I fight (laughs) I had many problem, I had many problem… but experience I just I try to be strong, sometimes yes I feel stress, sometimes I cannot…I feel I want to die I want… but sometimes you know I say, no, I have to carry on, to do my…because I am strong Client M When asked what kind of experience made them feel strong the response from the client clarified this further: Experience? You know before I got my status I live like this… sometimes I sleep here sometimes there, with friends, sometimes on a bus yeah and this place…that’s why I like…,(name of staff member) I feel like I’m in a warm place…they look after us…you feel someone look…you feel like these people…in this life...there is someone who look after you, who want to help you, because you know many experience…bad experience…you know when you remember some things Client M