I booked a wellbeing appointment through the University of Southampton's Health Services. My aims for this meeting were to ask about CBT and general therapy advice for people who suffer from anxiety and panic disorders.
Here are the notes from the meeting:
She also directed me to some online sources:
Get help with anxiety, fear or panic
Overview - Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
I didn't realise that there were University of Southampton self help guides so it was really useful and reassuring to know that there's support available close by. Additionally, the staff were very accommodating and my appointment was organised quickly. I was able to talk to an advisor within a few days of booking. I also chose the date and time which suited me best. It is great knowing that mental health is taken seriously, and pushes my desire further to create a game within this topic to help others.
I found it helpful to put myself in a vulnerable position that was likely to resemble that of someone who is thinking of (or seeking) therapy. It helped me to understand more about the process and steps taken when meeting a professional. I was able to experience a real-life situation which put me in the shoes of those that I am targeting my potential game to, ultimately increasing my empathy towards them. I also got some direct information about CBT as primary research. Overall, this was an eye-opening experience that encouraged me to take a more meaningful approach to my future game design ideas.