Case Study: Lumi Nova and Emi
How Lumi Nova gave Emi the courage to speak in front of a crowd.
“Before using Lumi Nova, Emi struggled with social anxiety. Not only did the game help her overcome her worries, but it has also helped me better understand what was fuelling her anxiety so I can better support her.”
Meet Emi, an 8-year girl from Hertfordshire.
Emi is an eight-year-old girl living in Hertfordshire. She sometimes struggles with social anxiety.
While she is comfortable around her friends, she often feels self-conscious when approaching new people. Emi’s ten-year-old brother is autistic, which also presents unique challenges.
Taking Steps to Help
Emi’s mum, Sarah, first learned about Lumi Nova through their school and a local SEND newsletter. Initially, Sarah thought Lumi Nova would be a good fit for Emi’s autistic brother who finds social situations challenging and struggles with change.
While it didn’t appeal to him (he prefers repetitive games), Emi was really keen and decided to give it a go. Sarah hadn’t necessarily noticed that Emi was experiencing difficulties up until this point. Lumi Nova was really important in helping Sarah understand what was worrying her daughter.
“The tools Emi has learned through Lumi Nova are already translating into the real world, where she’s more forthcoming when she’s worried about something and is better at communicating what she needs.”
The Journey
Emi chose to work on challenges to build up to speaking in front of a crowd. A member of the ‘With Youth’ team also reached out to offer additional support, which Sarah was really pleased with. Through this service - offered by Lumi Nova’s partners in Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire Mind Network - they accessed counselling in addition to using Lumi Nova. Emi found it to be a positive experience: her mum said she “felt really special and listened to”. She was able to open up about things she hadn't previously shared.
As for Lumi Nova itself, Emi found it really enjoyable. She was excited to share her progress with her mum, which has translated into the real world, where Emi is now better at being forthcoming when she’s experiencing challenges.
Noticing Changes
Sarah has noticed that Emi is much more open to sharing her worries, for example that she’s “nervous” or that her “tummy feels funny”. Since confronting these challenges with the help of Lumi Nova and her counsellor, Emi has been able to speak in front of the class as part of ‘Show and Tell’, participated in recitals and joined in activities in Cub Scouts. Meeting and approaching new people outside of school will be her next challenge.
“Since confronting some of her challenges with the help of Lumi Nova, Emi has spoken in front her class as part of ‘Show and Tell’, has participated in recitals and has joined in with activities in Cub Scouts. The service has made her feel really special and listened to. I couldn’t be prouder.”