We only had two classes left in our counseling course at Lifeline. We start each class by everyone describing how they feel that morning. Today moral was down as most people said they felt upset, angry or sad. As we went around the room one person even broke down in tears when they spoke about their problem. We had a homework assignment to draw three different pictures on the front of a paper of our past, present and future. We also discussed three different theories of human development, Eric Erickson Model, Jean Piaget and Sigmund Freud. We discussed the differences in all three models and the stages of development which included his milestones that typically met at each age.
When our class discussed their past, present and future paper models I was hesitant to go because I knew we would not get through everyone and I knew these people have paid for the course and could get more out of it so I did not volunteer to go. One girl that did go had an interesting issue that was going on in her life. A few months ago she began reading a book (something Power) and she said she had an encounter with god. She said she couldn’t sleep, eat, and that she was writing a lot. This description gave me a flashback to my clinical pathology class winter quarter when we had a guest manic borderline personality speaker. He described the same feelings and actions and I couldn’t help but think the two situations were congruent. She then described how she was going through a change in her life and how she dropped out of school and wanted to be closer with god and practice religion. At that moment another group member raised his hand to state his opinion on the subject. He explained how he was once training to become a pastor when he decided to quit religion. He went in to detail by telling us religion is a man made belief, he didn’t believe that people should not believe in religions because it gives people faith and hope. There is no right religion, there are only differences in opinions on what humans believe may or may not happen. Religion itself was formed from a human brain. Everyone interprets the bible differently the only true belief we can believe in is life experience itself. The things that take place, the moments that happen right when you need them, the circumstances that turn into good experiences, faith that turns into reality.
I respect a lot of what Alfred was saying because he spoke truth from his heart. His experience has lead him to believe that God is one big question mark that people want to find the answer to. That is the grandest question and it’s the human drive to seek answers that leave people in confusion, its belief that gives us comfort in where we are. I would never want to seem as though I am mocking some ones belief but to encourage them to pursue it. Without belief and hope we are a dead soul, trust me I have seen it.
Sitting here right now my supervisor Vicki just finished a counseling session with a severely depressed client who has tried to commit suicide and was on the verge of another attempt. This client had lost hope, had nothing to live for even though he had a good job, family, girlfriend, yet he was still unsatisfied with life. He has no faith and his only hope was one last shot at counseling. The fist two sessions seemed hopeless and Vicki was concerned for his well being. This is the hardest part about counseling, not knowing if your client will show up to his next session or in the front page of the obituaries. He walked in today (Tuesday July 7th) with a smile on his face. He decided to change his life and with Vicki’s encouraging words he decided work was too much for him and he is changing careers. He felt like it was a new beginning and sky was the limit. In a way Vicki saved his life. Who knows what this man could go on to achieve from here and the impact he might have someone else’s life.
