{"id":258,"date":"2012-03-28T14:11:16","date_gmt":"2012-03-28T14:11:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/elainefroese.primeconcepts.com\/blog\/?p=258"},"modified":"2012-03-28T14:11:16","modified_gmt":"2012-03-28T14:11:16","slug":"counseling-is-about-recovery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/elainefroese.com\/2012\/03\/28\/counseling-is-about-recovery\/","title":{"rendered":"Counseling is about recovery"},"content":{"rendered":"

I was depressed once\u2014with a capital \u201cD\u201d\u2014and I never want to be that sick again. I got professional help, and I\u2019m thankful I did.<\/p>\n

At Ag Days in Brandon last month I was privileged to hear my colleague Gerry Friesen share his depression story with a room full of farmers. Gerry is part of the group in Manitoba who, along with the Manitoba Farm Stress Line (1-877-367-3276 and www.ruralstress.ca), are promoting Farmer to Farmer workshops in Brandon on February 16 and 18. Gerry Friesen and I are mediators for the Farm Debt Mediation Service. We also both have experienced depression and aren\u2019t afraid to talk about it. As mediators, we witness the depressing effects of long-term financial strain.<\/p>\n

As a farm family coach this winter I have referred clients for counseling. Counseling is about recovery, and coaching is about discovery. My role as a coach is to facilitate tough conversations about new choices, options and scenarios for the farm family\u2019s future communication plan, succession plan, and lifestyle plan. I am not a therapist or psychologist.<\/p>\n

Just this morning I worked with a cattle producer who conceded that counseling is what he really needs to be able to cope with his business partner and the lack of courage to stand up for what he needs.<\/p>\n

\u201cCounseling is not what I am willing to do!\u201d you say. Fine. Stay stuck where you are. Quit blaming others for your anger, sleeplessness and lack of joy in your life.<\/p>\n

When Gerry Friesen was pouring out his insights he thanked his best friend for sticking with him and helping him see that he needed counseling for his depression.<\/p>\n

Some of you don\u2019t know who your doctor is because it has been a very long time since you have seen one. Why are you not taking better physical care of yourself? Doctors can diagnose depression quickly with a series of questions. My doctor friend also is a healing counselor, and she counsels patients while she also deals with their physical needs.<\/p>\n

Who can you trust for counseling?<\/strong>
\nProfessional counselors follow a code of ethics. As a certified coach, and a member of the Canadian Association of Farm Advisors (www.cafanet.com), I also follow a code of ethics. I would encourage you to talk to your friends and see if they have found success with counselors. You can also go to www.paccc.ca to search for a Christian counselor near you. One of the farmers at Ag Days confessed that he wasn\u2019t \u201creligious\u201d like me, but he felt I still had good things to say! Here\u2019s a list of possibilities to seek out counseling:<\/p>\n