Cindy has called us on a semi-regular basis for many years. When she first called, she was

married and dealing with being arrested for shoplifting and using drugs. During these early

conversations, she would share her remorse for stealing and being banned from a favourite

store. She knew it was her fault that she had to shop elsewhere.

Cindy felt she would never be able to stop taking drugs, which contributed to her marriage

crumbling. We listened and allowed her a safe place to share freely. In the years that followed,

Cindy and her husband divorced despite her efforts to overcome drug addiction.

For a few years we did not hear from Cindy very often. She started calling again not too long

ago. She had heard that her ex-husband had suddenly passed away and this unsettled her, as

she remembered the good times and love they had shared in the beginning. Life has not been

easy for Cindy and financially she has struggled. Lately, she has moved in with a roommate on a

temporary basis while she tries to save money to rent her own place.

While appreciating our generous support, she is concerned about her drug habit of her

roommate. Cindy often says that she feels overwhelmed. We allow Cindy to express her

feelings and ask her open-ended questions to bring direction to her thoughts. Most times

Cindy will talk through her situation and come up with ways to deal with it and the best next steps.

She often ends by saying, “Thank you for listening.”