It's just so fulfilling...to stay with that client as long as it takes – that doesn't happen in the real world. That they can really, really make a difference.
Chrissy had the pleasure of interviewing Joan Bruno, AMFT, who joined us in our 30th anniversary year as a volunteer clinician. Thank you for being a part of our goal of welcoming 300 new volunteers to celebrate 30 years of A Home Within, Joan!
You can read the conversation below, or watch the interview video here:
Well, you're doing the work!
Well, I decided to join you even though it was very unexpected. I was looking on Facebook for something else, and your ad popped up. But I joined for two reasons. One is that I was wanting to find a volunteer job anyway. The other one is that I was actually raised in foster care, and I've always wanted to give back in some way and to be able to support people that have been in foster care, or that are in foster care at the moment.
Well, I know that people are busy, especially in the field that we're in – and that can be very busy. But, you know, I would like them to consider that these are people that have gaps in their support, in their upbringing, and they really need support. And it's just so fulfilling, and also to be able to stay with that client as long as it takes – that doesn't happen in the real world. That they can really, really make a difference.
That it's done all for free, and that people all across the nation have put their work or their hearts behind this, and that it's really a nationwide effort.
You know, it's exciting!
I've enjoyed your emails, all the celebration. I've enjoyed meeting Candice, I've enjoyed interacting with her. I've done a few texts with her, and she's so open to support it seems like anybody to me! So yeah, she brings hope. You guys actually bring hope to me, cause I'm still job hunting. But most recently I've decided to encourage myself and realize what all I've learned, and becoming a therapist you know, the possibilities are actually endless. So that's exciting for me. That's exciting for clients, you know, to realize that really the possibilities are endless. Stay open!
Well, I've done a lot I'm proud of: when I worked for the Bureau of Child Welfare, the work I was able to do there, and the education I came away with. The same thing working in an inpatient mother and child substance abuse. I really enjoyed that, and I saw it's just so rewarding to see people, you know, progress in their lives and go forward. Let me see… Really everything I've done, I feel that it's, you know, only improved my ability to be able to relate to others and to have wisdom.
I even thought about something yesterday that popped into my mind, I don't know why – oh, I know! I was thinking about being humble. I have had a job as a maid in a hotel, cleaning rooms. That was a really long time ago. But yeah, I did that for 3 weeks.
They told me that after 3 weeks your feet would stop hurting. It was exactly 3 weeks, my feet stopped hurting, but that's when another job came through.
I didn't mind it at all, because, first of all, I don't mind cleaning. And the other thing is, it was so peaceful.
Well, it's still serving.
I guess I could just say that I'm very impressed by the program, by A Home Within. I’m really impressed by the organization, the professionalism, the enthusiasm. I'm really, really impressed, and proud to be a small part.
Thank you.
