Training Day Tomorrow

Today is readying for tomorrow

PowerPoint ready... check

Handout booklets printed.

Supplies for exercises...check

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Packed and ready

Good night's sleep

Going over today

Reviewing notes

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Small group of 25-30

Substance abuse counselors

licensed by UMICAD

Working with Native Americans

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Preparing for a day-long training is often a lot of work. Having done the work for many years now, it feels like it wouldn't take so much time. However, every time is different. The audience is different. Things we have introduced in the past, this group hasn't heard.

Where would they hear it? Unless they took a college class about working with Native Americans. Or that they were raised in the culture. Socialized with the culture. You don't learn most of what we will talk about in the classroom growing up.

We, a co-trainer and I, are ages 82 and 72. We have lived experience, and we both have master's degrees in counseling/therapy. Bachelor's degrees in Social Work and Counseling. We have both worked in the substance abuse and mental health fields for over 30 years, probably closer to over 40 years.

It should be fun! We discussed some past critics who have commented on some material shared. We laughed and talked about the culture cops in the world. The people who usually just learned something about the culture and feel like they have to share what they have learned by commenting on what they believe we get wrong.

So much fun. One thing that my co-trainer mentioned was the controversy about the medicine wheel that is going on right now. I said, we are not going to be the experts about that, just introduce how we have used it in our work with others.

Being a trainer is work

Having the background isn't a quirk

The pay is okay

What can I say

It could be better

That would fetter

my retirement

my requirement

to only do what pleases me

I enjoy being a busy bee

with what I want to do

this is so true

So for today

I will say

Wish us well

While we sell

What will we sell? Our experience, strength, and hope. Some will be there just for the CEUs needed to keep their license, while others will be genuinely interested in what these elders have to say.

We hope that they will use some of our wisdom when working with our people. That they will take what they like and leave the rest.

It does feel like selling sometimes.

We need to be entertaining at times

too. We have a humor book as a prize

Created for another training, it's wise

having most areas of humor covered and our

people's survival power!

Survival power has depended on humor, laughter and tears. On doing the trauma, grief and loss work over the years. I firmly believe that in order to work well with our Native American people that counselors and therapists have to do their own grief work.

It is so important to have empathy,

rather than sympathy

So good to know a bit about the culture

To know not to allow too much disclosure

on a first visit. The person doesn't know you

well enough. It is important for you to

share just enough to know you care

ethics make personal disclosure rare

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Oops, when staying in a hotel - a warning

be ready for a fire drill at 6:30 in the morning

Then the noise in my room helped to keep me awake

and I could go on but time to get ready for my breakfast steak

600 words, and time to go and take a break

before this day really gets started!

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