“I spent my early years on Pensacola bay. My childhood was centered around skiing, fishing, and crabbing. We moved to Mobile when I was eight.
I started working as a therapist at Lifelines Counseling in January of 2019. I was there 23 years but just retired to spend time with my grandchildren. I sold real estate for 12 years until interest rates climbed and it got harder to sell houses. It was time for a change. One day I was sitting in my den and realized almost all of the books in my bookcases were self-help books. Human behavior fascinates me. I love watching people and learning what makes them tick. I had been through a divorce and had a counselor who inspired me and became my mentor. I went to graduate school and became a counselor in the Mobile schools.
At Lifelines, I started a group called Rollercoasters for children who suffered the loss of a parent through divorce or death. We worked with children and parents for many years. I saw insecurities and fear rule lives. Negative attention can seem better than none, and we do what we have to do to get attention. The last few years we saw more anxiety and more depression during COVID. We had more calls with domestic violence. People were home more together and couldn’t get away.
I worked with children who went through serious heartbreak in their young lives. They don’t want to know how much you know until they know how much you care. Once they know you care about them, they are an open book. I tried to plant seeds and help them find a passion for something. Everyone wants to find a place where they feel welcomed and loved. I think counseling empowers people to realize they can stretch beyond what they think they are worth and to move forward with their lives. This work taught me about human resilience and what happens when people let go of their ‘cant’s.’
I’m going to miss Lifelines, but I am so happy to keep my three grandchildren. I’m going to paint more and take art classes. Maybe it’s time for me to travel a little more.”
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