Using the Tools

A client who’s excited about starting school this summer talked during group of the challenges he encountered during the registration process.

                “I spent all day filling out paperwork. I really wanted to start the summer session.”

But for some reason, even though it was requested on paperwork he’d received weeks earlier, he’d neglected to obtain documentation of his military service. Because he hadn’t, he was told he wouldn’t be able to take his core class.

As frustration grew, he realized his obsession about stating the summer sessions was just that: an obsession. He re-framed the situation and realized he might have to start school in the fall  instead of summer. Starting 90 days later was not going to be that big of a big deal.

He felt good about his attitude.  Instead of following his usual pattern of getting drunk or high when frustrated, he used tools from the program.  He called his sponsor. He called friends. He talked to his family. He remembered hearing in group that there was more than one way to get what he wanted. He decided to be patient and to find other ways to get the paperwork before the registration deadline expired.

An interesting conclusion to his challenge came when an administrator – who’d witnessed his daylong struggles to get into the class - told him to not drop his application. She said she’d help him get in to the class now, and that they’d take care of the paperwork later.