The Employment Hunt Is Over....I Bagged One.

I mentioned in a recent article that my absence here on Gather was, in part, due to my search for employment.  I can now announce that the search is over.  It will now be my job that will pull my Gather time away.

I was blessed to be offered a position in NOLA (Actually in the Harahan Area) at The Lighthouse Christian Counseling Center.  From my interviews there and subsequent telephone conversations with the owners, this is the position that I have been training for since I departed from the Westbank Addictive Disorders Clinic.

This most recent job search began on a completely different path.  I was looking for anything with flexible hours that paid a decent buck.  I need to earn an extra few dollars to pay the SBA Hurricane Loan notes, since repayment began in May. We were forced to take out the loan after Hurricane Katrina rearranged our home and lives.  In spite of having adequate home-owners and flood insurance, the adjusters, even though we appealled their decisions, did not come close to the amount needed for repair and replacement.  

Though I plan to go full-time in the fall, I wanted a part-time position because my son is living with me for most of the summer.  As it turns out, the folks at The Lighthouse are going to be flexible about my hours this summer.  That is great because we certainly want more fishing, crabbing, hiking, photography, canoing and camping time.

For those of you who do not know, I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (as are other distinguished members of our Gather Community.)  While I will be handling all the cases that come my way, including mental health, family, and social issues, my new employers have asked me to specialize and put together some programs in the area of chemical addictions. 

While attending school graduate school, I never even considered counseling those with addiction and substance abuse issues.  At the time, I focused on my interests of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, Critical Incident Stress Debriefing, as well as counseling those dealing with depression and anxiety/panic attacks.  However, following graduation, the job market was saturated.  After a couple of months of searching, I began shipping out resumes "shotgun" style, scattering in any direction that said "counseling"  or "social work."

As it turneed out, without an ounce of background in addictions, I was hired at WBADC, an outpatient clinic that is part of the state's addiction treatment systmem.  That is where I received my OTJT.  My clients taught me most of what I now know about addictions.

When counseling in this field, especially in group settings, there is one question that is often directed to the counselor: "Are you in recovery?"  That is a valid question, because it seems that someone who has struggled with the same types of issues as the client would have a better understanding of those struggles and thus, be a better "addictions counselor."  My answer was an always-truthful, "No, but I have been affected by someone else's struggle with addiction." 

 As far as the client's perception, it is certainly possible (and I know many) for an individual to break free from their addictions, seek training, and become wonderful addictions counselors.  However, the reality is that someone who has struggled with this issue and has trained in counseling does not, by the virtue of those two facts alone, become "wonderful counselor" of any type.  Conversely, I believe one does not have to be a recovering addict to be an able and helpful counselor in that field.

 I believe an understanding of the "struggles, pains, and fears" of the human condition, and empathy for those who are "there" along with training, can cross the lines of specific causes like addiction, family issues, chemical imbalances, etc., and are most important.  However, I have worked with some who have years of counseling experience that seem to still not "get it."  I compare them with doctors who lack empathy, social skills, or bedside manners."  Thus, I think there is an unkown intangible added to the above factors, that we can call the "ability to put it all together," that makes a "good" counselor.

I am looking forward to getting started, but it will takes some time.  Because The Lighthouse is a privately owned business, income is received through the private payments of clients and/or their health insurance providers.  Some of you may know the mountain of paperwork and time required to qualify for payment with one insurance company.  Then there is usually a significant length of time before approval is received.  I will have to complete this application process for several insurance providers before I can really get up and running.  Nonetheless, my son and I have plans for filling the time gap!

Please remember, even though I know have gainful employment and can add a few letters at the end of my signature, I am a good ole "Redneck" boy at heart.  This reminds me: Anybody around my area know of any place to go Whitetail hunting this fall?????

Thanks for reading,

Robb