In this episode
Who is Diana L Strong ….
I have been involved within the mental health world for over 23 years and have completed a great deal of my own personal work along the way. I do feel it is a lifelong journey at each stage of life, because there are always new obstacles demanding further insight to grow. A true lifelong journey of self-discovery.
That being said there are a few old wounds once scratched that will still bleed, so I tread lightly to not create trauma responses within myself and or vicariously to others. I have shared my story before in different settings, so I am comfortable in most areas … I am sharing with you the few areas that are at the core because these are the elements that changed my life of who I am today. I want to share my story and because I trust you two so much I know what needs to come out along the way will, and will be for the benefit of myself and others.
I have seen how truly dark the soul and spirit can go and I have been there beside so many trying to keep them in the light.
When people ask me what I do I say “I am a Mental Health Specialist 2” because that is my TITLE presently. But what I do is so much more than that. I started my career with the idea I was going to work with the “worst of the worst” really get in there and season my pot as my grandpa Tom would say. Because then I could work with anybody…right?
So that’s what I did – Along the way -I have worked within ALL elements of mental illness, addiction, and human services. The list is long - I have worked with the abused and the abusers, those without nothing to those that “believed” they had everything… but found it meant nothing. I have had clients take their own lives and those of others. I have talked clients off their perceived “ledge” (some factual) more than I wish to count. I have also been there to pull people out or down and perform CPR on them. Trying to will life back into their bodies, while knowing their sorrow and their desire to die. I have worked to understand and learn all the different depths a human can go towards, both directions.
I have also, stood next to clients to testify in court to protect children, the abused, and the mentally ill. I have been physically attacked and injured badly by a client who was in a full psychotic episode.
I have a huge amount of pride recently (2014 – that’s recent right?) as I have become a trained and certified First Responder Crisis Therapist to provide services to our military, police, fire, and ambulance, red cross, and disaster responders.
I when time avails will volunteer to be present with women that have been raped at hospitals, so they are not alone in the process. I worked with abused children with examining Doctors to gain video of sex abuse forensic and follow ups for court, so they would not have to be present with the abuser. I have helped mothers and children hide from abuser’s in safety homes.
I am sharing this glimpse into my world so you can get to know me ... really. It is important. Because I will continue to do what I do in some way or another for the rest of my life, It only changes by the direction ..… which I have long known is not up to me…
