Employee Spotlight

Q. How long have you been working for SSCHS?

A. Since November 2020, so about 7 months.

Q. Can you describe what a typical work day is like for you?

A. We have about four counselling sessions per day. Each session is an hour. We offer mental health and addictions services, providing counselling and therapy. People may be struggling with addiction or mental health or both. Then there is paperwork that has to be filled out. Every once in a while we'll get a call for a crisis at the hospital. I'll perform crisis intervention and sometimes do intake. That's pretty much a typical day. We also do home visits, as well as presentations from time to time.

Q. Who do you interact with the most at work?

A. Clients and also my co-workers.

Q. How would your co-workers describe you?

A. Chantal (co-worker) says that I'm funny but I'm not sure that's a unanimous perspective! *Laughs. They would probably describe me as fairly laid back but also energetic. I think they would say I'm caring as well.

Q. What's the best part about your job and working for SSCHS?

A. The best part about my job itself is being able to see the impact that it has on our clients. I feel in this line of work we're privileged to be able to participate in someone's healing and wellness journey. It's an honour. It's a good feeling to see someone go from being ill to even having one good day.

As for working for SSCHS. I've never worked in an environment where they are as accommodating as they have been for me. Even when I first joined the team, before I moved to Chapleau, everyone was checking in on me, making sure I had everything I needed. Everyone here has been really welcoming. It's a blessing, and it makes me feel great.

Q. What made you decide to get into this field of work?

A. Originally what I really wanted to be was a physician. I was super into the idea of med school but I was talking to med students and doctors, and they made me realize that my idea of what it would mean to be a doctor didn't quite match what I had originally thought. I had a partner at the time who was a social worker. While seeing the work he was doing, I started to notice that he was engaging in the type of work and interactions with people that I was associating with being a doctor. He mentioned to me that I don't need to have a Bachelors in social work to become a social worker, rather I could attain my Masters (2 years instead of 4 years phew!), and then get my accreditation so that's when I decided to apply and thankfully got introduced to the field! In addition to this, however, I was really involved in volunteering for community services around Ottawa at the time, and I got to see the diversity of the social work field through my volunteering which demonstrated even more to me that I felt I belonged in the field.

Q. What are some of your interests outside of work?

A. I would be lying if sleep wasn't a big one, but I'm also a really avid reader. I love reading, it allows me to see different perspectives and immerse myself in different worlds and worldviews. I also love spending time with my partner, catching up with my friends, and spending lots of time with my two dogs (Loup my Husky/German Shepherd mix and Mr. PeanutButter my Bernese Mountain Dog).