Acknowledging the Spiritual needs of the client

Thank you Wyn for inviting me to share something about my recovery while you are away on a well deserved holiday! It is a privilege to do so and I write in the hope that something I might say will help someone who is desperately trying to stop drinking - or using - or is on their recovery journey.

You spoke yesterday Wyn, about 'spiritual development' and 'co-operating with God' which fits nicely with what I would like to share with everyone who reads this blog today.

Yesterday I attended the APSCC (The Association for Pastoral and Spiritual Care and Counselling) Annual Conference at the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester. The Association is a Division of the BACP - British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.

A wonderful setting for the conference and a truly inspirational day!

"Acknowledging the spiritual client: an ethical essential?" was the question being debated.

The day started with with thirty minutes of silent reflection, for those who wished to participate. It was a moving and powerful experience to be part of that large group of people - a chance to focus and reflect in the silence and to calm the inner self in preparation for the day.

Today their is an increasing awareness of the importance of acknowledging a person's spiritual needs in the helping process of counselling and in the area of mental health.

There was much debate in the workshops about spirituality - how delegates defined spirituality and what it meant to them and how it related to their counselling work.

During the course of the day the 12 Steps and the Serenity Prayer were part of a presentation and I was reminded of the important part they played in releasing me from the black place of powerlessness my existence was during my drinking days - a lonely, unhappy, painful and desperate place - into the light of recovery. Yes, as I sat in the lecture room yesterday watching the presentation I must admit I did become a little tearful - but the tears were coming from a place of deep gratitude for the process which allowed me to change as a person and to have the wonderful life that I live today - and have been living for many years now - today I am happy, joyous and free!
I reflected on the day as I drove home - it had been so good to be with others who acknowledge the importance of spirituality and to be made more aware of the work that is being done in this area. The Conference continues today. Thank you APSCC for a wonderful day.

Over the next few days, while Wyn is on holiday, I look forward to sharing my recovery journey with you and I hope you feel you can respond by sharing your own recovery journey - through sharing we can all help each other to achieve and maintain a wonderful new life!

Love and prayers from Rosie

The kind of giving that has no price-tag on it: the giving of oneself to someone...

This is my first blog on this new site, and I begin with a plea....

The Welsh Council on Alcohol and Other Drugs has started on the work of establishing a day-care treatment centre in Cardiff that offers free, bilingual treatment for anyone experiencing difficulties relating to alcohol, drugs (prescribed or illicit), or any other dependency. Once the centre – The Living Room Cardiff/Yr Ystafell Fyw Caerdydd – is established in 2011, we will be extending the service to other towns all over Wales.

Would you like to support The Living Room/Yr Ystafell Fyw?

Is there a family anywhere in Wales today that hasn’t, in some way, been affected by the misuse of alcohol and/or other drugs?

As a matter of information, the year 2010 will be a year for raising awareness about the new centre as well as being a concerted fund-raising year for this new charity. Are you willing to help us establish this new centre in Cardiff and come up with creative ideas to help us raise money?

The Living Room Cardiff/Yr Ystafell Fyw Caerdydd will be a wonderful example of practical Christianity at work in modern Wales.

As Chief Executive of the Welsh Council on Alcohol and Other Drugs I am eager to come to your organization or church to speak about this new, exciting venture. Please contact the Welsh Council directly on 029 2049 3895 or by e-mail at info@welshcouncil.org.uk to arrange a suitable date and time.

The goal is RECOVERY.

Wynford X