“I believe in you”. That sentence is where addiction counseling begins. When someone else has faith that you will not only make it, but prosper and prosper along the journey, the magic starts to happen. That magic can be summed up in one word, “sobriety”. As an addiction counselor, I have discovered things that help keep people sober. Through my revolutionary approach to addiction treatment called “Woodworking Therapy”, people develop a skill that few people acquire, as well as a positive experience that they will have for the rest of their lives.
When I was 7 years old, I helped my dad create the living room floor out of solid oak. This took place in 1988 in the suburban city of Dover in Boston, Massachusetts. I was drawn to the chop saw, the smell of freshly cut oak wood, and the whole project in general. Little did he know that nearly 3 decades later, he would be helping people get their lives back on track. My passion for woodworking and my ability to teach it to others has a fulfilling factor in my life. It’s not enough to go through the motions of treatment with me. I am a firm believer in having fun while in rehab. I make sure that people suffering from addiction get a general set of tools in their “recovery toolbox” that they can use to stay clean.
I realize that people’s lives are in danger, and whether they live or die from this disease depends on the counselor’s ability to truly inspire, educate, and believe in each and every one of them. I have to create a “sobriety blueprint” for each client, follow it carefully, and modify it as necessary in order to successfully perform my job as a counselor. If I trust their ability to get clean and sober for the rest of their lives, they become confident. One tactic that I always execute when I do a psychoeducation group is to be myself. Allow them to have a “question and answer” time, as well as a “burning desire” time. I have to be real with the group and keep the conference lively using visual aids, handouts and interactive exercises.
When I introduce clients to woodworking, usually during their recreation time, I have a prototype of a project to show them as an example. I also keep all hand tools neat and tidy, set up a finishing area for painting and staining, and designate a separate workbench for demos. First I show the prototype to the group of 10 to 20 customers. I open them to the possibility that they too can create this project. They usually only show a glimmer of self-confidence, but I take each client from where they are and go from there. My favorite 2-session woodworking project is a “keepsake” box. It is simple, creative and serves as a symbol of the beginning of your journey towards sobriety.
I participated in a self-improvement seminar called “Enlightened Warriors Boot Camp” where I spent five days in upstate New York discovering my passions, skills, and life purpose. I’ve climbed mountains, experienced a sweat lodge, and even walked over 15 feet of red-hot coals (fire walk). Then I realized that if I could walk on fire, I could also do anything I set my mind to. I learned to wholeheartedly trust both my peers and myself. At that point, after the fifth day, I decided to combine my two passions, carpentry and substance abuse counseling. And now, five years later, I have performed “Woodworking Therapy” at not just one treatment center, but two treatment centers.
The creativity and freedom to make a personalized keepsake box just the way you want it is a key factor in the success of this program. Clients learn basic concepts such as sawing, hammering, painting, screwing, gluing, etc. But they can also use a wood stove to write a message on their projects. They choose the color, the stain and whether to keep it natural or shine it with a polyurethane. Most customers make their woodworking masterpieces for a loved one. That shows me that they care about others and are starting to believe in themselves like they did before alcohol or drugs took over.
One of the joys I get from running this program is when I call the role and get a count of who will be in the joiner pool. The roles call sets the stage for clients in the next 2 hours. Many times customers clap with excitement when they see me approach the front with my clipboard. The energy is high and clients even forget they are in rehab.
“Woodworking Therapy” is just the beginning of where I want to go professionally. I see myself training other instructors in workshops around the world, how to teach carpentry to clients. Who’s going to stop me? In conclusion, and through this revolutionary approach to addiction treatment, I have discovered that all you have to do is “believe” in your success. When you do that, you set the stage for them to believe too. That is where your journey begins.
