Participant Snapshot
Lachlan is a university student in his early 20’s living independently while studying 2D
animation. He is highly intelligent, creative, and deeply passionate about storytelling,
animals, and paleontology. From the beginning, it was clear that Lachlan had a rich
imagination and a natural talent for writing, having already drafted multiple novels at a
young age.
The Challenge
When we first began working together, Lachlan was experiencing high levels of social
anxiety and often isolated himself in his room outside of attending university. Everyday
tasks were often overwhelming and he experienced high levels of frustration when things
felt too time-consuming.
His living environment needed structure, as clutter easily built up and routines around
cleaning and laundry were inconsistent. Physically, he experienced low energy, and often
found movement exhausting, which further impacted his confidence and motivation.
While Lachlan had strong creative abilities, his self-confidence and independence in daily
life were limited, making it difficult for him to fully engage in both his environment and social
opportunities.
The Goal
Lachlan wanted to build a life where he felt more confident, capable, and independent. His goals included:
- Improving his physical health and building strength
- Developing consistent routines around cooking, cleaning, and self-care
- Increasing his confidence in social situations
- Building meaningful friendships
- Continuing to grow his creative pursuits
The Approach
Support focused on building trust and working alongside Lachlan’s strengths and interests.
We began by engaging in regular conversations about his creative projects, providing a
comfortable space for him to express himself and build confidence in communication. His
interests became a key pathway for connection and growth.
Community outings were introduced in environments aligned with his interests, allowing him
to gradually build confidence in social settings. These experiences were paced carefully,
balancing encouragement with respect for his comfort levels.
At home, we worked together to create structure by reorganising his space and developing
simple, sustainable routines. Meal preparation became a key focus, supporting Lachlan to
build practical skills, improve nutrition, and reduce daily overwhelm through strategies like
bulk cooking.
To support his physical health, we introduced exercise sessions and we later
incorporated a structured physiotherapy program, ensuring his progress was safe and
tailored to his needs.
The Progress
Over time, Lachlan began to show steady and meaningful progress.
He became more engaged in conversations and increasingly confident expressing his
thoughts and ideas. Social environments became less overwhelming, and he began to
participate more actively during outings.
At home, Lachlan developed greater independence in maintaining his space. Cleaning,
laundry, and meal preparation became more consistent, with Lachlan increasingly able to
complete tasks independently—even outside of support sessions.
He also became more engaged in his physical health, building endurance and confidence
through consistent participation in his exercise program.
The Outcome
Today, Lachlan is in a significantly different place.
He is calmer, more confident, and more independent in his daily life. He maintains his
apartment in a clean and organised state most of the time and has established consistent
routines around meal preparation and self-care.
Socially, Lachlan has built meaningful connections at university and has taken the initiative
to start his own Dungeons & Dragons group with a close circle of friends—an important
milestone in his confidence and sense of belonging.
He is performing well in his university studies and continues to thrive creatively, with a
notable increase in the consistency and output of his writing.
While some impatience with tasks remains, it has reduced significantly, allowing him to
approach challenges with greater resilience.
Most importantly, Lachlan has developed a stronger, more positive sense of self and is now
actively building a life that reflects his abilities, interests, and goals.