Have you ever watched someone come into therapy, a self-help group, or a 12 step meeting looking like they’re defeated, their spirits broken? Their suffering is obvious, and their desire for help even more apparent. After their first session, they leave and go back to their lives, shaken by their effort. We see them again; they seem a little more comfortable. They have found a sponsor, or program that they attend regularly. They still won't meet our glance, but they nod their heads in recognition as others share, staring at their feet or counting the tiles on the floor. We notice a spark of hope in their eyes, and they smile uncertainly, when we encourage them to keep coming back. A few months later, they are standing straight, they’ve learned
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The passion that I have for this line of work comes from years of abuse and neglect, not only from the hands of myself, but also from the hands of people who were supposed to guide me in this thing called life. The need that I have, the desire, comes from knowing that one person can make a difference in this world, but it all starts with self. I have not only been in their shoes, but I can relate to them as a result. I love seeing someone who has never gotten a year clean finally make it to that milestone in his or her life. Watching that miracle take place, which is recovery. The change that occurs from the time they walk through that door for help, until they celebrate that year clean as a result of hard work, determination, and therapy. To me, that is what makes my pain and sad experiences tolerable, because I know that it wasn't in vain, that the things I went through could help others to heal, with the help of my knowledge and wisdom. My recovery process has given me the ability to feel true empathy for others who suffer from the same disease, which fuels my desire to help. On my journey, I have learned first hand that the therapeutic value of one person helping another is without
The passion that I have for this line of work comes from years of abuse and neglect, not only from the hands of myself, but also from the hands of people who were supposed to guide me in this thing called life. The need that I have, the desire, comes from knowing that one person can make a difference in this world, but it all starts with self. I have not only been in their shoes, but I can relate to them as a result. I love seeing someone who has never gotten a year clean finally make it to that milestone in his or her life. Watching that miracle take place, which is recovery. The change that occurs from the time they walk through that door for help, until they celebrate that year clean as a result of hard work, determination, and therapy. To me, that is what makes my pain and sad experiences tolerable, because I know that it wasn't in vain, that the things I went through could help others to heal, with the help of my knowledge and wisdom. My recovery process has given me the ability to feel true empathy for others who suffer from the same disease, which fuels my desire to help. On my journey, I have learned first hand that the therapeutic value of one person helping another is without