A Final Goodbye...

COMING FULL CIRCLE

I remember my first day at Valley Mental Health, walking in the doors of North Valley not as an employee but as a patient with a serious mental illness.  From there I ventured into Alliance House, a place where lives are saved one task at a time.  Having been a practicing attorney, because of the mental illness I was now facing joblessness, homelessness and a lack of self-esteem that would place all else in jeopardy.  I entered Valley’s housing and participated in Alliance House to begin the building of a life.  Soon after, I was hired as a Peer Counselor at North.  When a job opened up as a Contracts Coordinator in Admin I jumped at the chance having built self-esteem, friendships at North and a knowing that I had found friends, colleagues, and a deep level of support.  That job eventually turned into a Contracts Attorney position where I was able to use the skills I had once thought were gone forever.  Now I am venturing again to a full time attorney position outside of Valley – having come full circle.

I could not have ventured down this road if it were not for the Valley community who believed in me and knew on a deeper level that one’s life need not be shattered by mental illness.  Valley staff knows this because they work with our clients every day in one form or another from Administration to therapists and case managers.  As I move full circle I move in the knowing that Valley believes in the healing and restorative power that lies in all its clients.  I will always hold a place in my heart for everything Valley has given me over the years and the wonderful and supportive friendship within this healing place.  You will be missed.  Tineke van Dijk.