“Best day of my life” says patient, after surprise Katie Piper visit

A West London patient said she was left speechless, when she walked into her therapy room to find her role model Katie Piper OBE  waiting for her, in a surprise visit organised by her therapist.

Scheneza had walked into the therapy room at Ealing Talking Therapies Service, completely unaware that her cognitive behavioural therapist Michael Cobden, had secretly contacted the TV personality, actor, and writer, whose recovery journey had inspired Scheneza (pictured right).

“I was absolutely stunned to see Katie Piper when I arrived—it left me speechless. She is truly the inspiration I have always looked up to. Our conversation was amazing, and it gave me a huge boost of confidence. This experience completely made my day—it was the best day of my life!” said Scheneza, who has a hearing impairment, and spoke with Katie through a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter.

Scheneza has been receiving support from the Ealing Talking Therapies Service for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, depression, and body image issues, following a car accident in which she lost her mother and suffered permanent facial scarring.

During therapy, she spoke about how she was inspired by Piper’s recovery journey following a brutal acid attack.

Her therapist Michael immediately reached out to the Katie Piper Foundation to share her story.

Scheneza had been facing multiple challenges with her recovery, including isolation, and communication barriers. Sadly, her mother was one of the only family members who had been able to communicate with her using BSL. Thankfully, the NHS service provided a BSL interpreter to support Scheneza during every therapy session.

Although she had already made remarkable progress and grown more resilient with therapy, Michael felt that meeting Katie would give Scheneza the encouragement that she needed.

As a survivor herself, Katie knew the power of shared stories and empathy in one’s recovery.

Katie said: “Peer support is so important in recovery and something I am really passionate about, and I am really happy that we can offer it at the Katie Piper Foundation. I have a huge amount of admiration and respect for Scheneza for the resilience and courage she has shown; and as ever I am very grateful for the Trust and the team that she is surrounded by – especially her therapist, Michael.”

Over two hours, Katie and Scheneza connected and shared their stories with each other.

Michael said he is happy that his service has been able to support Scheneza on her road to recovery. Unfortunately, he said many patients in the deaf community face similar communication barriers.

"Scheneza’s experience highlights a critical issue faced by many in the Deaf community: attending medical appointments without the provision of a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter. These barriers can lead to significant disadvantages, particularly for people who may not feel confident advocating for their rights,” said Michael.

“At Talking Therapies, we are deeply committed to breaking down these barriers and ensuring that support is accessible to everyone. Providing professional interpreters for those who are Deaf or who speak other languages is a vital part of our service, enabling equal access to the care and therapy they deserve.

“I am incredibly proud to be part of an organisation that prioritises inclusivity and makes reasonable adjustments to meet the diverse needs of our community."

Once afraid to show her scars, Scheneza is now embracing them as part of her story, finding confidence in her own skin. She is excited about what lies ahead in her life, with ambitious plans for the year ahead, including launching her business and pursuing a career in modelling.

The Katie Piper Foundation is a leading charity in the UK providing specialist rehabilitation, dedicated to supporting people who have experienced life-altering burns and scarring. They aim to improve survivors' quality of life by supporting them physically, mentally, and emotionally through a personalised rehabilitation programme, whether the injury is recent or many years ago.

You can find out more about our Talking Therapies Service by visiting our website.