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Melissa: The Journey for Spouses

When it comes to addiction, sometimes it seems like the addict becomes the focus and the family gets left behind. One of the places that help support spouses of men who struggle with addiction is Journey. We would like to introduce you to Melissa Haas, as she shares about Journey.

Click Here to watch Melissa’s Video…

Melissa: “Journey is a safe place for spouses to come and grieve the losses associated with their guy’s sexual addiction, and a safe place to grow in just what God wants them and has for them regardless of what happens in their marriage.

We started Journey in 2001. I needed a group back then, and what I was looking for was a safe community of women who could walk alongside me as I worked through the consequences and the pain of my husband’s betrayal.

Part of Journey is walking through a curriculum that I wrote based on my own experiences. It’s 10 weeks in the first book, written in a format that gives both emotional help and a place for spiritual connection with God.

I also have another option for women who want to continue on a healing, growing journey. It’s called Continuing the Journey, it’s our Journey Two book. And it walks through our own stories, what we’ve come to believe about ourselves, about God, about others, and how those beliefs may keep us from living a fully-devoted relationship and lifestyle with God.

If you decide to come to Journey, one of the things that you will experience is a large group time, where there is either teaching or testimony from a fellow Journey-er. We use, all of our leaders, all our facilitators are peers. They all have experienced being married to a guy who struggles with sexual addiction. So everyone in the room is like you.

After large group time, we break up into small groups, where we process what we’re learning and experiencing through the curriculum. And those small groups are really the place where community happens: spiritual community happens on our journeys of healing.

All of our groups are facilitated by women who have taken their own journeys down this path. They have all experienced sexual betrayal, because of their husband’s sexual addiction, and they’ve all taken a healing journey, and they are all at a place where they want to give back to other women like you.

It’s really inspiring for me and encouraging to me that Father has continually redeemed the pain of my story, of our story, in a way that helps others heal, and it’s my privilege to walk alongside other women on their healing journeys.”

Meet Our Friends and Partners from Recent AACC Conference

Friends and Partners at AACC…  
Meet Undone Redone and Covenant Eyes…

Every two years, HopeQuest has the privilege of playing a part at the American Association of Christian Counselors World Conference in Nashville, TN. With over 7500 counselors and pastors in attendance, it is an incredible opportunity to share what we do as well as build relationships with our current partners as well as new ones.

This year we were reminded again that we live in a culture that aggressively pursues the hearts of people to distort what God created for good. Whether it is through sex trafficking, pornography, serial affairs, or widespread promiscuity to name a few, the attack on the body, hearts, and minds is relentless.

While there, our executive director, Troy Haas and his wife Melissa were able to have Facebook live posts with a couple of our partners who are fighting the same fight.

Undoneredone.com is the story of a couple that divorced over sexual addiction and was remarried six years later! Troy and Melissa caught up with them at AACC for a quick facebook live interview.

One of the premier and cutting-edge resources available to individuals and families today is Covenant Eyes. Troy and Melissa caught up with Sam Black, regional VP for Covenant Eyes, for another facebook live interview.
We are proud to be partners with American Association of Christian Counselors, and to be teaming up with them and others in our fight against substance and sexual addictions.

Upcoming Event: CityFest 2017!  

Saturday, September 30th Noon-10:00 pm –Woodstock City Park & Northside Hospital Cherokee Amphitheater, Downtown Woodstock, GA

Hello! We are reaching out to you as supporters of HopeQuest in hopes of gaining your support for this great event coming up in just under two weeks… CityFest 2017 in downtown Woodstock at the amphitheater!
This event is committed to improving the community through charity, and finding charity through community. It is a great idea, and as a first-year event needs all the help it can get to become a lasting event that can truly have an impact on our community. There are 10 charities that will benefit from this event this year, HopeQuest being one of them.
Attendees will pay $10 to come watch the performers on stage, and the charge for children to get an all-day bounce house pass will be $15 (only $5 for the 2-5 yr. old kids to bounce on the smaller bounce houses). There are 10 different inflatables, so it will be really great for the families. Food will be on site, and the bands are fantastic. These performers are local performers who play regularly in different worship bands.
Shelley Johnson, Chinua Hawk, The Hot Hearts (The Westbrookes), Tall Bear, Blonde River and last… The Northpoint InsideOut Band. The bands play from 2pm until 10pm and the bounce houses open at noon. The charities will all be present, sharing their stories, and working to raise volunteers up from the attendees.

Where we need your help…

  • Please plan on coming to this event and consider being an attendee and a volunteer.
  • Please post this event on your social media, link to this facebook event:
  • Please email this information out to your friends and network and ask them to volunteer if they can, here is the volunteer page:
  • If you can help take posters out to your network, please do, as it will help to establish this event. You can email info@healthsprout.com in order to plan to pick up posters in downtown Woodstock.
  • You can also go straight to this website www.cityfestwoodstock.com and then to this link on the site to download the poster and print it as a flyer to pass out –

https://cityfestwoodstock.files.wordpress.com/2017/09/cityfest_poster_27x19_final.pdf

Your help is so appreciated!! This is going to be a great annual event,
an encouragement to HopeQuest, and you can be a huge part of it! Thank you so much and blessings to you!!

National Recovery Month… Helping Raise Awareness of the Need for Effective Care…

Every September, SAMHSA sponsors Recovery Month to increase awareness and understanding of mental and substance use disorders and celebrate the people who recover. This year’s theme is Join the Voices for Recovery: Strengthen Families and Communities. The 2017 theme highlights the value of family and community support throughout recovery and invites individuals in recovery and their family members to share their personal stories and successes in order to encourage others.

Our mission is to help individuals and families impacted by addiction to experience freedom, hope, and life. What makes HopeQuest different? Through a clinically-effective and Christ-centered approach, many people like you are finding the hope and help they need – many for the very first time. With a peaceful, home-like setting, we offer affordable long-term treatment with a relationally-driven approach focusing on core issues. Whether you or someone you love is struggling with alcoholism, drug addiction, sex addiction or some other life-dominating behavior, we offer professional help in the context of safe spiritual community.

To learn more about HopeQuest and how we serve clients and their families, check out our website at www.hopequestgroup.org or call our main office at 678-391-5950 and ask to speak to our Director of Admissions, Emily Woodfin.

Thank you for being a part of Recovery Month!

Celebrating Life Changes!

About 3 weeks ago I was sitting in a balcony seat waiting for church service to begin. I am always a little anxious coming to my church, though I wouldn’t describe the anxiousness as a bad thing. It is more about the anticipation of how God will use this time to speak to me. I remember saying to myself, “I wonder if today is the day?”

On cue, a song ripples through the sanctuary engaging both young and old alike. Clearly, the Holy Spirit is touching the hearts and souls of the congregation as they raise their hands and their voices in unison. When the song comes to an end, the campus pastor walks out to welcome everyone and makes a few announcements. As I listen my stomach begins to roll up tight in knots.

After the announcements, the pastor declares, “Today we celebrate life change.” At that moment, I didn’t hear anything else. I knew today was indeed the day. The lights go dim and the video begins. The video features a young woman sharing her story of addiction with drugs, alcohol, and adultery. Her emotions were raw, and her words were authentic. Yet, through it all, she found unspeakable joy and confidence. It is clear she is forsaking those things to follow Jesus. The staff person speaks a few words, then lowers her into the water and out again. Horns blare, confetti cannons go off, and there is a lot of shouting as everyone applauded together. It is an exuberant but beautiful time.

Her story reminds me that what we do at HopeQuest is worth it. Working with people struggling with addiction is hard, draining, and sometimes frustrating. But in the end, new chapters are written, and individuals and families find hope.

If you are a financial or prayer partner, here are some things that you can join us in:

  • Pray for the prospective clients on a waiting list.
  • More financial partners are needed to come along side of us so we may continue to provide quality care to our clients.
  • Pray for the leadership at HopeQuest as we consider expanding the Trek program in the coming months and years.

Support HopeQuest While You Shop at Kroger!

Kroger Community Rewards Program

Support HopeQuest while you shop at Kroger…

WHAT

The Kroger Community Rewards (KCR) program is evaluated annually, and the time for Kroger Plus Card holders to re-enroll is now. The Atlanta Division launched the program in September 1, 2013, and Kroger Card holders must re-enroll to begin accumulating dollars for their schools, charities, and organizations annually.  This year, Kroger is proud to donate $500,000 to local schools and nonprofits through this Kroger Plus Card based fundraiser.

WHO

Everyone who shops at Kroger can sign up for a free Kroger Card and support HopeQuest today! Currently enrolled Kroger Card members and supporters DO have to re-enroll every August.  You will not have to set up a new Kroger.com account, only link your card again to The HopeQuest Ministry Groups, Inc NPO #39575.

WHEN

Now through August 26, 2017, current rewards customers may re-enroll.  Your current selection will not be affected and continue to earn rewards through the end of this program year (August 26, 2017).  Your re-enrollment of HopeQuest will start earning for the new program year starting August 27, 2017.

WHERE

WHY

At HopeQuest, we are FOR the person held captive in addiction.
We believe that by saving the life of one individual, we impact past and future generations by helping individuals experience freedom, hope, and life. Our clients return to their communities and families equipped, healthy, and hopeful.
If you are already a financial partner with us, THANK YOU on behalf of our current clients and families. If you aren’t, would you prayerfully consider becoming a HopeQuest financial partner today through the Kroger Community Rewards Program? It’s an easy way to be a part of investing in changing addiction’s stories through simply registering your Kroger shopping card with HopeQuest and “Give as You Live”…
 

HOW

We would like to encourage you to register your Kroger Shopping Card online at krogercommunityrewards.com

  • Be sure to have your Kroger Plus card handy and register your card with The HopeQuest Ministry Groups, Inc NPO #39575 after you sign up.
  • If you do not yet have a Kroger Plus card, they are available at the customer service desk at any Kroger.
  • Click on Sign In/Register
  • If you are a new online customer, you must click on SIGN UP TODAY in the ‘New Customer?’ box.
  • Sign up for a Kroger Rewards Account by entering zip code, clicking on favorite store, entering your email address and creating a password, agreeing to the terms and conditions
  • You will then get a message to check your email inbox and click on the link within the body of the email.
  • Click on My Account and use your email address and password to proceed to the next step.
  • Click on Edit Kroger Community Rewards information and input your Kroger Plus card number.
  • Update or confirm your information.
  • Enter The HopeQuest Ministry Groups, Inc NPO #39575, select our organization from the list and click on confirm.
  • To verify you are enrolled correctly, you will see HopeQuest’s name on the right side of your information page.
  • REMEMBER, your purchases will not count for HopeQuest until after you register your card(s).
  • Do you use your phone number at the register?  Call 800-576-4377, select option 4 to get your Kroger Plus card number.
  • You must swipe your registered Kroger Plus card or use the phone number that is related to your registered Kroger Plus card when shopping for each of your purchases to count towards HopeQuest.

12 Weeks at Trek: Why So Long?

 

Here at HopeQuest, we value the success of our clients. Recovery is a life-long pursuit. How one begins that journey is very important in laying a foundation for life-long success. We believe that 12 weeks is a worthwhile investment for long-term recovery for several reasons.

  1. Momentum: It takes a few weeks to adjust and then to start building a foundation for success. Once you start learning and absorbing, each week builds for a greater impact.
  2. Depth of focus: Addiction is often developed over a period of years of self-destructive behavior. Likewise, recovery and life-long change take time. 30 days is simply not long enough to both explore and begin addressing the root causes of your addiction.
  3. Research and experience show 12 weeks is an optimal time frame for real and lasting change.
  4. Courts are seeking longer programs as a part of their sentencing options because they understand that short programs lack the depth to pursue real change.
  5. Transitional and continuing care programs are available through HopeQuest for clients that complete the 12-week residential intensive. Transition programs provide a safe and secure environment that allows individuals to begin practicing their recovery skills in real life scenarios.

We are committed to the recovery success of every participant in the Trek program. We believe 12 weeks best enables each client for the greatest possibility of success as they apply the skills, tools, and habits they have developed during their stay. Above the things they have learned, we want the clients to experience that God is for them.

Get To Know HopeQuest: Bryan Bailey

Get to Know HopeQuest

This is a series of interviews where we introduce you to some of the men and women who serve the clients at HopeQuest. Today we meet Brian C. Bailey, the Campus Pastor / Director of Spiritual Formation for the last four years.

Bryan’s background in a nutshell

Bryan grew up in Texas and New Mexico, receiving three degrees from Texas Tech: a bachelor’s in Corporate Finance, a bachelor’s in Economics, and an MBA in High Performance Management. He planned on becoming an investment banker and senator, “Then Jesus showed up.” After obtaining his Master of Divinity with a focus on Biblical Languages from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Bryan worked in high school and college ministry until God brought him to HopeQuest.

“When I was in seminary, never in a million years would I have thought that I’d end up working at a rehab! But this is ministry every day, not once a week. I always tell people that ‘Pastor’ is not who I am, it is what I do. Walking with and sitting down with hurting people is pastoring.”

What is the role of faith in an addictions treatment program?

“Do you have to be a Christian to recover? No. Will you ultimately get peace and joy in your life without a relationship with Jesus? That’s a different question. I think most people who want recovery or talk about recovery are really wanting peace. We had a client who had been to 11 rehabs. He said this is the first place that dug beneath the surface both spiritually and clinically.”

What if somebody isn’t Christian? Can they still benefit from the TREK Program?

HopeQuest has served everyone from monks, to atheists, to megachurch pastors, to ex-cons, etc. “People who aren’t Christians are asking the same questions. We’re all searching for peace. Most people walk into the program with a lot of spiritual baggage. Faith doesn’t have to be overcomplicated! I want people to ask the hard questions and have permission to question and wrestle. You will never grow beyond the questions you are afraid to ask.”

“I view our clients as leaders, especially in the environments they will step back into after treatment. That mindset changes how I interact with them. I try to give clients freedom, confidence, and tools to find answers.”

There are other Christian treatment programs out there. What makes HopeQuest unique?

“I don’t have personal experience with other programs so I can’t say. I do know that I don’t focus on religion – I focus on the gospel. Not dumbing down the gospel, but bringing gospel clarity. We are grace-focused and practical, meeting clients where they are at. My guiding philosophy is ‘gospel + safety + time.’ If you remove any of those ingredients, it doesn’t work.”

“I also try to let clients see the human side of pastors. I am not the savior or superhero in their life. You can’t get away with wearing a mask here!”

What about your work do you find most rewarding?

“Seeing clients find hope and have lightbulbs go off. Seeing clients own their own faith. That’s huge. I once had a pastor hug me, sobbing, after class one morning. He told me he has been teaching grace his entire career but only just then came to really understand it. Moments like that keep me going.”

What is Christ-Centered Recovery?

HopeQuest is a fully integrated residential program which is both Christ-centered and clinically-effective. While some programs may have a Christian track, a personal relationship with Christ is central to who we are and what we do.

Many of our clients have tried the spiritual tools available to them but still struggle with their addiction because they haven’t been able to get to the root of the problem.

Here are some ways that HopeQuest invests in the spiritual and Christ-centered piece of recovery:

• Every HopeQuest staff member is an active church member and has a personal relationship with God

• Several on our staff are ordained ministers with Master’s degrees in Divinity and Theology

• Full-time HopeQuest campus pastor on staff is available to clients during the week

• Daily devotions and chapel services

• Weekly church participation

• Each client receives a new, leather bound study Bible 

• Clinically-effective, Christ-centered, and Bible-based curriculum

• Primary target not addictive behaviors but the hearts of our clients

• Our church and investment partners invest monetarily and spiritually in every client

• Grace-filled environment where no one is judged or shamed

Join Our Team! Now Hiring… (4) Positions Available

The HopeQuest Human Resources Team is pleased to provide information about the current employment opportunities available with The HopeQuest Ministry Group located in Woodstock, GA. We hope you will prayerfully review the positions that are currently listed to determine how they match your spiritual giftedness, skills and experience.

There are (4) current open positions: Georgia Licensed Counselor or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), LPN Nursing position, and two Recovery Tech positions (one male & one female).

We would ask you to consider the HopeQuest mission in general. There are many different staff and support roles that need to be filled from time-to-time. It is our desire to identify those whom God is calling to serve with us in our efforts to help individuals and families impacted by addiction experience hope, freedom and life. You can be assured that we prayerfully seek His will throughout our employment process.

May God bless you as you seek His desire in your vocational calling.

Women’s Transition House Opening!  

Part of HopeQuest’s Trek Women’s Program
We are excited to announce the opening of the Women’s Transition house!
For many years, women exiting the Trek residential program relied on sober living homes or other half way house situations if they were not ready to return to their home environment. Thankfully, through the donation of a house located nearby the HopeQuest main campus, we were able to open our first women’s transition home on April 1, 2017.
The transition home is open to those ladies that have successfully achieved the women’s Trek residential program and desire to have some structure in place as they take a next step back into real world living. Women may stay in the transition program up to 6 months. Currently, the transition home has a capacity of 4 women plus the house director who resides in the home full time.
Celebrate with us on this new and exciting service we are offering clients!

Sexual Addiction Curriculum Available!

 

Walking Free/Journey Support Group Materials

Did you know that we have affordable group resources for individuals and churches to use to help men and spouses impacted by sexual addiction?
Building for Freedom is for men pursuing honest and authentic relationships with Jesus Christ and other believers through personal study and group support. Designed to engage men both spiritually and practically, this 15-week interactive study addresses the challenges of sexual integrity in profound and life-changing ways.
Journey is written for spouses of sexually broken men. Journey can be done alone, with a therapist, or as a part of a Journey support group. Journey groups are a 10-week counseling and support group for women facing betrayal and loss. Using the Journey workbook, women will work through topics such as “Angry – but not Stuck”; “Admitting Fears”; “Setting Limits”; and ‘”Trusting Wisely”.
Leadership Kits are also available to those that desire to start Walking Free or Journey Groups through their church.  For more information on materials or starting a group in your church, please reach out to John Harris. John will be able to offer direction and support when it comes to starting groups or purchasing materials. Call our main office at (678) 391-5950, or email John directly at john.harris@hopequestgroup.org

Thankfulness…we need it

You may not be aware, but we value what God can do in the life of those that are held captive by addiction.  We value it so much, in fact, that HopeQuest has a full-time Campus Pastor/Director of Spiritual Formation for our TREK Residential Program.

Today, this was a communication piece our Campus Pastor sent out as he challenged our residential program participants in spiritual life:

Good morning gang,

 Wanted to give you a heads up on what we did this morning in spiritual life. We showed them this video: http://youtu.be/5oPDcFJk–E

 And then I asked the guys “so why would I show you this video and what does it have to do with your recovery?” 

 I’ve watched time and time again the power of gratitude as clients recover. I challenged them to write five things they’re grateful for today, and then challenged to do five everyday and hang them up. Was shocked at how many guys were in tears… Please keep praying for these men. I love what I sense God doing around here. 

 

Here’s what we’re doing with those:

thankful

Our work is greater than just stopping destructive addictive behaviors.  We help people do that, but our vision goes far beyond stopping behaviors.  It moves into restoring freedom, hope, and life.

TREK for Women!

We are so excited to announce we will be opening the New TREK Residential Program for Women! Women's Program for WEBSITE

The program is a 12-week, state-licensed program for women held captive by addictions such as drugs, alcohol, or sex addiction. While we had previously admitted female participants in the traditional TREK program, we ceased to do so in March of 2014 for the purpose of developing a program to address the unique and specific needs of women. We are so pleased to share this great news! The new program is gender-specific (women only) and will function independently from our current TREK Program for men. We will have renovated residence facilities, female support staff, and specialized care designed for our ladies. Our Women’s Program will be limited to a maximum capacity of six ladies.

 

  • Do you know a woman that needs our help and would benefit from the TREK Residential Program?  Contact Joe Sellers, our Director of Admissions, at 678-391-5950 or joe.sellers@hopequestgroup.org, and Joe will help you understand more about the option of the TREK Residential Program for Women!

When Prayer Doesn’t Fix Addiction

Being clinically effective and Christ centered has it’s challenges.  Not from being effective in our approach to treating people held captive by addiction, but by the perception of Christians at times that more spiritual focus and more spiritual discipline is the sole answer to the problem.  Sometimes prayer doesn’t fix addiction.  Most of the time, it doesn’t.  So why do we still pursue being both clinically effective and Christ centered in our approach to treating people?

  1. God is for people trapped in addiction. God knows their story.  He understands their pain.  God is pursuing them with a reckless abandon to redeem and restore what has been lost.  If God is for them, we should be to.
  1. God can “fix” the addiction in a moment. He can do that!  But most often, God uses process to bring about recovery and restoration because other relationships are involved.  Process involves trust and faith.
  1. Significant emotional events change how our brain functions and works. Both in positive and negative ways.  Addictive behavior does as well.  We are so blessed to have skilled and gifted professionals with a heart for God and hurting people that can clinically address the deep and often broken parts of our clients.  We are thankful for people whom God has given great insight to the workings of both the mind and heart.
  1. We are clinical so the local Church doesn’t have to be (although it can be). The local Church does so many things such as feeding the poor, orphan care, widows, taking the Gospel to the world.  Our desire is to let the local church be the local church and shine where she is strong….in loving and leading people to Jesus.

So yes, we are both clinically effective and Christ centered.  God has given us a unique skill to care for the mind and minister to the heart.  We aren’t just one or the other, we are both.  Our goal goes far beyond the ceasing of an addictive behavior, but to offer Hope and Life as our clients move forward.

333 Dollars

 333 dollars.

Seems like a random number doesn’t it?  What could you possibly do with 333 dollars?
I can tell you what we can do with 333 dollars.  That money buys one man’s day in the Trek program. It is one day closer to a family having their son, brother, or father back.
What does he do in that one day, you ask?
He is in group therapy for about 6 hours.
He gets 3 square meals a day, plus snacks.
He has a roof over his head, a comfortable place to sleep, and most of all, his family knows he is SAFE.
He may have an individual counseling session with his therapist.
He sits on the front porch and talks to his mentor about the things he is learning about himself.
He plays a round of volleyball with the other clients.
He does his homework from group that day, reads his new, leather bound Bible, and journals.
That seems like a lot of activities for 333 dollars, doesn’t it? I thought so too.  At HopeQuest, our vision is to make recovery affordable and accessible. Your gift, along with the gifts of other generous donors, allows us to do that by financially subsidizing 1/3 of a client’s stay. And it starts with one day.
So my question to you is, would you, your small group, your Sunday school class, your church, or your family, be willing to donate 333 dollars to pay for a day in Trek, so that one man can write a different ending to his story?
Call 678-391-5950 today or you can send us a check at P.O. Box 2699, Woodstock, GA 30189

 

Addiction Kills

Usually I recommend a resource for you to read in reference to addiction.  This week, instead of something to read, I want to give you some steps of action for a resource.
Addiction kills.  There, I said it.  Addiction kills people.  Have you heard the statement, “Everyone knows someone”? If that statement is true, and I believe it is, then I have to ask you the question: What are you doing to help the person you know?  Maybe it’s your brother, your cousin, your co-worker, or your family friend.  Here are a few ways you can help that person that came to your mind, who you know is struggling with addiction.
  • Pray for them.  Prayer changes hearts and saves lives.
  • Reach out to them.  Don’t give up.  Being passive and quiet out of fear often enables them to remain in their addiction. Allow your love for them to show.  There is always hope.
  • Love them by fighting for them.  Without help, the cycle continues, and in most cases, gets worse.  If your loved one needs help, pursue it wholeheartedly.  You won’t regret it.
One place you know you can call is HopeQuest.  We have beds available today.  We can help your loved one.  Please call 678.391.5950.

I Made It!

This is an excerpt from some final comments that one of our clients wrote upon finishing his time at Trek. This really resonated with me, and I hope it will for you as well.  Recovery is hard work, as exemplified in his final statement- “I made it.”  

It takes courage to admit you’re in over your head.
It takes stamina to stay the course.
It takes hope to believe that life can be done in a different and better way. 
I am so proud of our clients as they daily persist in recovery, while they are in Trek, and when they leave and go back out into their worlds.
“It’s been a quest to find myself and who I truly am. No matter what the circumstances are, I matter. There are people out there that care. I think the name (HopeQuest) fits so perfectly here. This is harder than the Marine Corps. This is harder than Iraq. I would choose deployment to Iraq over this. I did it. I needed it. I made it.”

How to Successfully Talk about your Feelings

Today I wanted to share a really helpful tip for communication. This is straight out of our client curriculum- but it is truly a great life skill for everyone to use.  Being clear about how you feel and why (both in good and bad situations) is vital to healthy relationships.
To help others better understand you; follow this format when communicating your feelings.

•I feel____________________________(feeling word)

•About____________________________(situation)
•Because__________________________(reason)
“I” statements have the capacity to communicate what is going on with you and therefore trigger care and concern [for you] within your relational partner’s heart. “You” statements have the capacity to trigger defensive posturing with your relational partner.
Some things to avoid when conversing about your feelings:
– Saying “I feel like,” or “I feel that.” These statements express a thought or belief, not a feeling.

– Saying “I don’t know” as a feeling word. Do not say “It doesn’t matter,” or “I don’t care.”

– Instead of “I am proud of you,” say “I feel proud about_______ because______.”  Specifics are more important than you may think!

– Using minimizers like “I feel a little angry” or “I felt kind of hurt.” Try to accurately label the feeling – if you have to use a less intense feeling word, do so.

– Do not talk at, preach to, or teach one another. This causes others to close off and not hear a word you say.

-Do not talk for others. Communicate your feelings and only yours. Keep the focus on yourself and how you feel.

If you stick to your feelings and truly express them, you will see how powerful this tool can be.  Remember feelings are necessary for relationships.

The Importance of Community

A crucial part of operating a nonprofit is our relationships with the local community.  Counselors, medical professionals, detox facilities, churches, care ministries, lawyers, and individuals with a heart to serve, to name a few.  Since we are located in Woodstock, Georgia, we are blessed to be so close to the big city of Atlanta, which offers many opportunities to connect and partner with other organizations.  We get phone calls every day from hurting people, and we never want to hang up the phone without giving them another resource to find the help they and their loved ones need.
One of the strong focuses for HopeQuest in 2015 is to strengthen relationships with our local referral partners and community.  Some ways we do this is offering tours of our facility, making appointments to share HopeQuest with counselors and churches, and connecting with the resident recovery community.  We want to aid other organizations by offering our outpatient support groups, Journey and Walking Free, as well as make our inpatient program, Trek, readily available.  In saying this, I want to take a moment to extend this opportunity to you.  If you, or your company or church, is interested in partnering with us, or would like to have a conversation about resources that are available to you, please contact Samantha Kelly at Samantha.kelly@hopequestgroup.org.
Thank you for your continued support and prayers. God Bless!
© 2017 HopeQuest

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