2 minute read
Josie’s Story
“The Healing Circle has given these clients an opportunity for healthy connection, new routine, and a space where they feel heard and valued.
Most importantly they are discovering that recovery is possible.”
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More broadly, the Healing Circles Day Centre creates a collaborative framework linking clients, General Practitioners, Drug and Alcohol Services South Australia (DASSA), Country SA Mental Health Services, Community Support Groups, Headspace Port Lincoln, and other organisations in the provision of its wrap-around care. These may also include connecting with other services such as housing, employment, and education.
The Healing Circles Day Centre has been embraced by the local community. Since it’s opening in September 2021 it has had more than 100 individual participants. The service originally ran two to three circles a week. The hours of the centre have now been extended to meet community need. Forty-five-year-old Josie was referred to our service by her GP following a crisis hospital admission, on the background of alcohol misuse and family relationship breakdown. Josie had been residing in her car prior to her hospital admission after “going on a bender while my father was away”. Despite being well travelled and educated Josie had experienced long term alcohol dependence and reported “it is destroying my life”. Josie lives in a small nearby country town, had recently lost her part time job in hospitality and had very few healthy social connections or interests.
Initially Josie presented for individual Alcohol and Other Drug counselling, her mental state was poor at this time however she appeared determined to engage and was open to a family member attending one of these sessions to best minimise her risk. After several sessions it became apparent that the connection and group therapy offered at the Healing Circle Day Centre would complement and promote her recovery process. We decided to do a combination; Healing Circle three days a week with monthly face to face therapy.
Josie has done extremely well in her recovery journey despite two lapses. She is a regular participant at the Healing Circle Day Centre and demonstrates strengths of hospitality especially enjoying our cooking program. Josie is also actively engaged in our group therapeutic sessions and has made healthy connections with all. Josie has provided the following feedback: “I love being here, no one judges you and everyone wants you to do well, for the first time in a long time I am feeling more confident about my recovery”.
Josie’s family have also expressed their gratitude stating, “we had tried everything and for the first time she has admitted to us that she needs sobriety to live well, it is music to our ears.”
Participants of the Healing Circle
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