It’s estimated that 1,700 individuals in Tillamook County stay with opioid use dysfunction. That individual may be our neighbor, our coworker, or our household. Every of us deserve the prospect to stay a satisfying life which is why the Tillamook Household Counseling Heart gives a chief + peer help program freed from service for any neighborhood members who may have help with substance use. AmeriCorps VISTA, Brett Buesnel, just lately met with peer help specialist, Jennifer Barksdale, about her expertise as a peer help specialist right here in Tillamook County:
What’s a peer help specialist?
As a peer help specialist, I work with the IPS mannequin (intentional peer help). The IPS strategy is about constructing a relationship with the person and dealing to show concern into hope.
The 4 ideas of the IPS mannequin are Connection (construct partnership), World View (perceive their world view and share your individual), Mutuality (viewing ourselves within the context of mutually accountable relationships and communities), Transferring In direction of (transfer in the direction of what the individual needs for his or her life and the most secure scenario they’re open to)
What drew you to this work?
My life has had its peaks and valleys. I had my very own enterprise in San Francisco for 15 years and was additionally hooked on heroin at the moment. I wasn’t in a position to think about earlier than getting clear that my life might be what it’s as we speak. Dependancy may be lethal and staying alive lengthy sufficient to get to see restoration and the optimistic potential life has to supply will not be assured. I need to assist different individuals stay lengthy sufficient to see that potential for themselves.
What’s your favourite a part of being a peer help specialist?
It has given perspective that has helped make me much less judgmental of my very own restoration. I’ve been via numerous arduous instances, as a peer help specialist these experiences may be shared to create an actual reference to people who find themselves going via arduous instances themselves. I can present individuals how one can make it via arduous instances and never get excessive.
What’s the most difficult side of what you do?
As addicts, individuals solely have moments of readability once they have the capability to get assist. Sadly, it may be a problem to attach individuals with the assistance they’re searching for in these typically small home windows of time. The size of a weekend may be too lengthy in some instances to attach individuals with the providers they want.
What do you want individuals knew about substance use dysfunction?
There’s a widespread false impression which you could love somebody out of habit, or their love for a kid or accomplice will probably be sufficient to get them into restoration. It’s a tragic to say, however for many individuals it isn’t one thing that works. To ensure that somebody to get clear, they should need it for themselves.
How can individuals entry this help on the Tillamook Household Counseling Heart?
The work I do at TFCC is Prime Plus Peer Challenge. To get entry to Prime Plus all they should do is make a name, they don’t have to be a shopper of TFCC. Prime Plus is a direct service for help, no referrals obligatory. The opposite path at TFCC is to come back in for an evaluation with a clinician.
What different neighborhood assets exist?
The OurTillamook.org web site has plenty of habit help info. There are additionally AA/NA conferences on the Serenity Membership that folks can take a look at.
Is there something that we didn’t cowl that you simply wish to share?
Probably the most essential issues about peer help is that it exists exterior of a standard scientific strategy. The peer-peer connection meets people the place they’re, extra as a supportive pal function to pay attention and supply help via a lot of life’s challenges that may get in the best way of restoration. The Intentional Peer Assist mannequin is a good way to fulfill people the place they’re of their restoration.
For extra native well being and wellness info, go to www.tillamookcountywellness.org or observe Tillamook County Wellness on Fb, Instagram and Twitter.
