Will

Will was suffering from chronic liver disease due to continued and progressive alcohol use. Prior to his arrival at Acorn House, he had been living in a homeless shelter following a period of hospitalisation. Will had not been in treatment before and struggled at first in the group work sessions, as he had social anxiety and deeply held anger issues which manifested in conflicts with his peers.

He was diagnosed in his time at the hostel with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of an abusive and turbulent childhood. However, he thrived in the one-to-one sessions, which he used to talk through his issues and discuss ways in which he could improve his relationships with others. This allowed him to get on much better with the other residents, slowly letting them get to know the ‘real’ him.

By the time Will was ready to move on, he had accrued one year’s sobriety, was working voluntarily in the restoration station (one of the charity’s social enterprises), was attending Alcoholics Anonymous regularly and had built a strong support network.

He is now living in a move-on house and is going from strength to strength. He is currently training to be a chef and works a few days each week in a restaurant which he thoroughly enjoys. Will has also rebuilt and repaired fractured relationships with his siblings, and is overall very positive about his future, and what may come. He has said that he has never felt happier in his entire life.