New Life 2018

Counselor believes in the power of the group

“I LOOK AT EACH CLIENT AS AN INDIVIDUAL, WITH THEIR OWN 'CHALLENGES’ THAT THEY BRING INTO TREATMENT.” – TRISH EARNEST, NEW LIFE

Bethesda, Md. Once in recovery, Earnest began to see addiction counseling as a good career ˆt and returned to school to earn the necessary certiˆcation. She completed her supervised clinical practice requirements, and joined the staŠ as a counselor about two years ago. Counseling professionals often say that the really important learning in their ˆeld takes place on the job, rather than in school. One key principle Earnest has learned and applied in her years of practice is the importance of treating each client as an individual. “I do group therapy, but I still look at each person as an individual, with their own 'challenges' that they bring into treatment. We can't treat everybody the same. Clients also need to know you have compassion, empathy and a non-judgmental attitude toward them.”

Trish Earnest, an intake clinician and group therapist at New Life Addiction Counseling Services, has spent her entire career in counseling and teaching roles. But, it wasn't until fairly recently that she found her true calling as an addiction counselor. After graduating from college with a psychology degree, Earnest began her career working with troubled youth in a state-run facility, and also worked as a special ed teacher in a private, religious school. In 1995, Earnest sought treatment and recovery after her long-term addiction to alcohol, marijuana and cocaine. ‚e addiction had led to the breakup of her marriage, a potential home foreclosure and the possibility of losing custody of her two young sons, then ages 1 ½ and 3 years old. To get her life back on track, Earnest completed six months of treatment and aftercare in a program in