We all know that to do well, or even excel in life, we need a variety of skills; from simply learning to communicate with ours peers, to being able to read and write. Or at the other extreme – an in depth knowledge of quantum physics – a skill I most certainly don’t have!
We all need skills for life
But for addicts whose ‘using’ and addictive behavioural patterns began before these skills developed – their long-term recovery is threatened, despite their abstinence. It’s well documented that teen drug/alcohol use arrests development. There’s even research that suggests that alcohol use prior to the full development of the frontal lobe (approx. 19yrs) can seriously affect the brain’s ability to work to maximum effect.
We regularly admit clients to Western Counselling who have very limited social functioning. They have no comprehension of how to socialise without the use of drugs and/or alcohol and hold a belief that they need the drugs and/or alcohol to be likeable. They often have zero work experience because their ‘using’ was funded through the misguided generosity of their family or DWP Benefits.
We believe the purpose and mission of our centre is not only to get clients ‘clean’, but also to give them the tools and skills they will need to become functioning members of the community when they leave us. We aim to give each individual the best chance of success after treatment.
Developing life skills through workshops and study groups
We do this by treating addiction through our 12Step programme and by treating individuals holistically, exploring every aspect of their life, beliefs, and family. We believe this is crucial to a recovery that is all encompassing and long lasting. Through our programme of Life Skills workshops in Primary and Secondary treatment clients have an opportunity to improve literacy, numeracy, learn cookery, basic home economics and money management. And through volunteering opportunities they learn transferable life skills and build their self-esteem.
To give our clients even more opportunity to develop life skills Western Counselling is now working in partnership with Lighthouse, a social action charity in Weston-super-Mare. Their Make a Difference Project gives our clients the opportunity to volunteer in the community to train and learn vital skills. Look out for more about this project in my next blog.
Copyright © 2011 Western Counselling
This is the way forward. Everyone needs goals to achieve in order to develop thmselves. They don’t have to be massive initially. Just to start living and enjoying life is a first.
Hi Amanda,
Working with Western Counselling on the lighthouse project has been fantastic. The Cafe has really benefitted from the openness and eagerness of the guys we have worked with. In just one small snapshot of the benefit – one of your clients came in reluctant to work anywhere but the kitchen, quite shy and unsure of himself. Last time I worked in the Cafe with this chap, he was out front serving customers and engaging them in conversation. A real transformation in just a few weeks.
I will admit, when I first moved to Weston over 8 years ago, my understanding and perception of the “Addict in Recovery” was awfully Daily Mail. A fear-based response combining a lack of understanding, a lack of tolerance and lack of empathy.
Working with you and your clients, has given me a seismic shift in my attitude – seeing the work that goes on through the Church and the Lighthouse Project gives me enormous hope. The volunteering aspect of the project enables the wider community to engage and equally adjust their attitudes – the overwhelming response to the Cafe project from practically all our customers has been of admiration and gratitude.
As a country we need MORE of what you are doing, not less. Your approach should be the first course of action, not a last resort. Let’s invest the pitiful amount of money available where sustained recovery can be achieved and not in managing the symptoms.
I look forward to the ongoing projects with great anticipation and await your next blog post eagerly.
Jo
Thanks for the comment Jo, it is wonderful to hear such fantastic feedback and I am of course, very proud of what our clients have achieved both for the cafe and for themselves. To be part of this project, enabling them to engage in meaningful work in the community, is the first step in breaking down the stigmas of addiction and recovery, and our clients also learn such valuable skills in the process. A win win scenario surely?
Really great article with very interesting information. You might want to follow up to this topic!?! 2012
Really interesting blog, keep up the good work!
Great post I must say. Simple but yet interesting and engaging. Keep up a good work!
Great post I must say. Simple but yet interesting. Wonderful work!
That’s a smart way of thikning about it.