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"What you did at that moment, that human kindness, that touch, was the best you could do. I learned you couldn't bleed for them, but I never felt hardened...I have a gift."
Alcohol and drug counselors help people with addiction problems. They
provide one-on-one counseling, family education, group counseling, and
case management.
Nita Link is working on her bachelor's degree right now, but no other honor
will ever mean as much as her degree from the community college. It took
her six years to earn it, one class at a time, while she worked full time
and took care of her injured husband. (He's fine, now!) She also earned
her state certification at the same time.
Nita runs a group for older adult alcoholics, located on the Providence Hospital campus. Technically, she counsels them on both alcohol and drug addiction, but the drug addicts will come with the next generation. Her program won't kick anyone out. The only rule is that you can't attend the group if you are drinking.
Alcoholism is a disease of isolation, so healing together offers the best results. Nita works one-on-one with her clients, too. Older alcoholics have many years of drinking and denial behind them; the denial is difficult to break. Her group work begins with education, working on common problems. The pace is slow for many, and relapses are frequent. Nita's challenge is to cut through the denial and work steadily toward sobriety, even if it takes years.
She has worked at the center for seven years. She spent the first three years as a DUI diversion instructor teaching convicted drunk drivers, and the last four years in her current position. She understands that punishment and deadlines don't work. Teaching, leading and listening do.
One of the challenges of working intensely with people is avoiding burnout. Nita takes good care of herself. She uses a 12-step program for her spiritual health, leaves her work behind at the day's end, and tries not to work late.
She began working with alcoholics when she needed a job and her son-in-law, an emergency medical technician, told her of a desk job open at the Hooper Detox Center. Her gift for counseling led to working with the people brought in from the streets.
"It was a hopeless job. I saw stuff that I hated, but you can't be punitive. Late stage chronic alcoholics are out of control. What you did at the moment, that human kindness, that touch, was the best you could do. I learned you couldn't bleed for them, but I never felt hardened. That was eleven years ago. I have a gift. I've always cared about people, but this is more than that. We take as long as it takes."
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