Published on: 5th January 2026
A local woman has praised NHS Bury Talking Therapies for helping transform her life, after living with severe anxiety and depression for over a decade.
Jaime Leigh Williams, 22, from Bury, was 11 years old when her mental health challenges began following her parents’ separation. Despite years of counselling and medication, Jaime’s mental health did not improve. As a teenager, she faced some of her darkest moments, including three suicide attempts, and believed that she would never find happiness.
Jaime said: “I thought that happiness and a normal life was simply out of reach. I’d seen the impact my suicide attempts had on my family, and I told myself that I would never do that to them again. I thought I’d just have to find a way to live with it.”
Following a traumatic sexual assault, as well as the sudden loss of a close friend, Jaime’s mental health deteriorated further. She developed symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, which heavily impacted her daily life and relationships. Feeling she had nothing left to lose, Jaime reached out to her GP, who made a referral to NHS Bury Talking 
Therapies.
She had sessions of cognitive behavioural therapy over the phone and online. Jaime explained: “I found it so much easier to be open and honest over the phone rather than face-to-face. There’s less pressure and it made me feel a lot more comfortable.”
Jaime worked with cognitive behavioural therapist Noreen Iqbal (pictured right), who helped Jaime unpack and understand her trauma.
She felt an instant connection and bond to Noreen: “Noreen made me feel truly seen for the first time. She didn’t treat it like a job or like I was just the next patient on her list – I was a person. She found ways to help me that were specific to my own personal needs and at a pace that I could cope and engage with.”
Jaime was able to confide in Noreen about how the assault had left her feeling dirty and how she would shower numerous times a day. She said: “I would wash my body over and over again, sometimes scrubbing so hard it would hurt my skin. I would spend so much time under the water feeling overwhelmed and believing I still wasn’t clean enough to get out.”
“At first, I didn’t tell anyone about it as I felt embarrassed and ashamed. Eventually my partner noticed how long I would take in there and asked how he could help. For a while he would sit in the room with me, so I knew I was safe and not alone.”
Noreen worked with Jaime to overcome these fears and compulsive behaviours. She explained: “It’s all about small challenges – one day she would wash herself one less time, the next day she would have the water temperature lower, and then her partner would wait outside rather than sitting with her.”
“With gentle encouragement and practical tasks like this, Jaime gradually regained confidence and normality in her routine. She could spend time with friends and feel safe again. Most importantly, she was able to stop blaming herself and began to see her own strength.”
Jaime added: “Noreen has taught me to look at things from a new perspective. She’s made me realise that I’m a lot stronger than I think I am, and there’s nothing wrong with being sad from time to time. I’m allowed to feel negative emotions and be true to myself. It’s a realisation that’s been life changing for me.”
Jaime wants to encourage others who are struggling to reach out for help: “If you’re worried about coming for help, just remember that you’re already going through the scariest bit - nothing can harm you more than trying to deal with it on your own. Get it off your chest. I owe Noreen my life. I couldn’t even imagine being where I am today - it’s fantastic.”
Inspired by her own journey, Jaime is now looking ahead and hopes to be able to support others facing similar challenges in the future.
NHS Bury Talking Therapies Service is available for anyone 16+ registered with a GP in Bury. People can easily and quickly self-refer or ask their GP or another health professional to refer them. More information is available at www.penninecare.nhs.uk/burytalk, by phoning 0161 716 2222 or emailing pcn-tr.burytalkingtherapies@nhs.net