“In my shoes”: SIS Addiction Counsellor
Written by Anne Frewin from Forward Trust
“I’m Anne Frewin and I’m a relatively new addition to Forward Trusts Team. My role is as a SIS Addiction Counsellor, based in Colchester (North Essex). I studied for 4 years and qualified as a BACP Level 4 Counsellor and will additionally, shortly qualify with UKCP as a Trauma Specialist. This has all enabled me to undertake this exciting opportunity.
In my role, I feel very privileged to be part of Forward Trust and in making a difference to the individuals and their family affected by addiction in the community .
Since joining my team in May, I have received a warm welcome and an abundance of support and training. I have been impressed with how each of my managers have made the time to support and guide me into this new role, along with my team members who have supported me individually and coached me with their personal experiences.
There’s always the notion that sometimes working as a counsellor can be a lonely job. However, this hasn’t been my experience. On a weekly basis we have team meetings, connecting me to our team of counsellors. Here we share any concerns, or reservations we may be feeling, along with sharing the successes we’ve had that week. This is a vital aspect of ensuring the team runs smoothly by being well-informed, and to celebrate in the work we do. We also undertake clinical supervision along with multi-agency clinical meetings where we liaise and information share on mutual clients.
Our clients come from referrals and collaborating with Open Road & EYPDAS. Working with these teams has been a massive eye opener, as I can see the lengths they go to help and support the clients within their capacity, and signposting to partner agencies.
As a team we provide a menu of services that through negotiation with individuals, provides a service that best suits the clients’ needs, availability or limitations. Open Road facilitate my work by providing a safe environment to work from by offering a counselling room in the centre. We also offer face to face, telephone and online, with one to one counselling, group work, and preparation For SHARP.
Wherever I go the staff are welcoming and cheerful. But what stands out to me most…is we all have the same goal…to make a significant contribution to helping others.
The most fulfilling aspect of my role has been building the therapeutic bond with my clients. I understand, from personal experiences how difficult it can be to trust another person, especially if you’ve seen so many professionals over the years. I try to remove the expectation that trust is an automatic thing just because I have the title of a counsellor. I have learnt to understand that not one person is the same, and to listen with empathy & compassion to each of my clients. I feel honoured to be entrusted with this position and by doing so, I have witnessed incredible strength, courage, and growth in others.
We all need hope, and I truly believe that everyone has an opportunity to recover. Over the years I’ve observed people in active addiction change, get the ‘twinkle’ back in their eyes and live a life far beyond what they ever expected. And to be part of someone’s journey is gold dust in my opinion.
My overall reflection working within this role is how it aligns with my own personal ethics and ethos. Due to my own lived experienced of being in recovery myself, one of the biggest aspects I was drawn to is the part of our services - SHARP Community Rehab program. This is an entire abstinence-based program. It offers structure and a path for long term recovery, and I feel proud to be part of the onward process in enabling clients on that journey to SHARP and to be there to celebrate with them at their graduations.
There is often an erroneous belief that all the addict needs to do is to just stop the drugs or drink, and the problem is solved. However, a lot of the addiction is deeply embedded with learned beliefs about themselves, behaviours, and mental health. With counselling and a continuation into the program, effectively helps the client to “rewire their brain” with new healthy patterns of behaviours, positive ways of thinking, working towards recovery, which builds unity and a sense of shared support with one another. It’s not a quick fix, however, it does get them off the start line onto the road of recovery, one day at a time”