See how Sarah, 47, worked through extremely severe depression, anxiety, and PTSD, alongside chronic physical symptoms, through a five-week coordinated residential programme.
Sarah, a mother of two and former architect from overseas, came to Goodsky after years of depression, anxiety, and PTSD. She was separated from her parents at age four and grew up feeling unwanted, with thoughts of suicide beginning as early as childhood. As an adult, she lost two siblings and, later, her father. At intake she was taking antidepressant and anti-anxiety medication, alongside hormone therapy. Her goal, in her own words, was simply to live a normal life.
She also experienced chronic neck pain, dizziness, chronic nausea of several years' standing, sinus issues, disrupted sleep, and perimenopausal symptoms. Her ACE score was 4.
| Measure | Intake (February 2026) |
|---|---|
| PCL-5 (PTSD) | 56/80 — Likely (clinical threshold: 31) |
| Depression (DASS-21) | 18 — Extremely Severe |
| Anxiety (DASS-21) | 10 — Extremely Severe |
| Stress (DASS-21) | 18 — Extremely Severe |
Sarah undertook a five-week residential programme at the Sunshine Coast, with pre-residential preparation and post-programme telehealth support.
Individual psychotherapy alongside art, sandtray, and equine-assisted therapy for processing trauma through multiple pathways.
Nutrition, sleep, gut health, metabolic function, and stress resilience managed across an initial assessment and six follow-up appointments.
Eight sessions targeting the nervous system, chronic cervical pain, and autonomic regulation.
Addressing chronic cervical joint irritation and postural patterns, alongside traditional Chinese medicine for sleep, dizziness, and stress.
Over six follow-up appointments, Sarah's naturopath introduced continuous glucose monitoring, a structured eating pattern with protein at every meal, sleep hygiene strategies, and targeted supplementation. Across the programme, her bedtime shifted from the early hours of the morning to a consistent 9–10pm, her meal pattern moved from one meal a day to four to five smaller meals, and her reported energy rose from a low baseline to 7/10.
Comprehensive functional testing explored possible biological contributors to Sarah's fatigue, low mood, sleep disturbance, and chronic pain.
| Finding | Detail |
|---|---|
| Gut microbiome | Lower diversity than ideal, linked to inflammation and reduced mood-supporting neurotransmitters. |
| Hair mineral analysis | Significant stress load requiring adrenal support; elevated tissue iron. |
| Salivary cortisol | Elevated midday cortisol, interfering with sleep onset. |
| Blood pathology | Low vitamin D, elevated cholesterol markers, insulin slightly above optimal. |
These findings informed a targeted plan including practitioner-grade supplementation, structured protein-rich meals, morning sunlight exposure, and resistance training for stress resilience.
| Measure | Intake | Follow-up |
|---|---|---|
| PCL-5 (PTSD) | 56 — Likely | 27 — Unlikely |
| Depression | 18 — Extremely Severe | 6 — Mild |
| Anxiety | 10 — Extremely Severe | 4 — Mild |
| Stress | 18 — Extremely Severe | 7 — Normal |
| Area | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Neck pain | 8/10, disrupting sleep | Reduced to 3/10 |
| Nausea | Chronic, around 5 years | Resolved |
| Sinus | Chronic since adolescence | Resolved without antibiotics |
| Diet | One meal per day | 4–5 structured meals |
| Sleep | Up until 1–5am | Bed by 9–10pm, waking refreshed |
| Relationship | Disconnected, uncertain | Described as feeling stronger together |
In equine therapy, Sarah progressed from asking permission to touch the horses to moving freely among the herd, practising setting boundaries along the way. In art therapy, she explored how she saw herself compared with how others experienced her, working through that gap over the course of the programme. By its end, her psychotherapist noted a marked shift toward openness, energy, and optimism.
Sarah's husband joined for the final part of her residential stay and took part in sessions with her — a moment she and her care team described as a genuine turning point in her progress.
In a program involving several treatments at once, change can't be attributed to any single element. The care team identified three factors they believed were particularly important in Sarah's program.
Psychotherapy, naturopathy, and physical therapies were delivered together rather than addressing symptoms separately.
Functional testing uncovered contributors to fatigue, mood, and pain that talk therapy alone would not have addressed.
Her husband's participation in the final stage of the programme supported the transition back into daily life together.
Sarah returned home with ongoing naturopathic care, telehealth psychotherapy, a targeted supplement protocol, and structured dietary and lifestyle recommendations, including continuous glucose monitoring and a home exercise programme. At her post-programme follow-up she was maintaining her new routines, walking regularly with her husband, and reported feeling noticeably calmer overall. Repeat pathology testing is scheduled to monitor her progress.
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Get in TouchThis case study reflects one individual's experience. Names and identifying details have been changed to protect privacy. Individual results vary.
