Thank you all once again for the warm welcomes! I am touched and extremely pleased Evie has found this forum.

Anthony, it is very sad but you speak the truth about the therapy industry. I was more along the lines of a guidance counselor for youth, but I did do some talk therapy. The staff at our youth facility had some minimal training to deal with trauma, but especially since trying to help Evie I have come to realize that our training was quite faulty, and possibly made things worse in many cases. We were told to listen and be sympathetic to traumas the young people experienced, but were not permitted to challenge them to better themselves. We were often enabling them to continue with being ill, and excusing their bad behaviour based on the trauma... something I would never tolerate at home with my own children! It is a shame, and I believe it's one of the reasons I retired early, due to my frustration in not being able to help properly. I did much more as a foster parent for the handful of youth my husband and I helped raise, than I did with the thousands that came through that facility. At least now I am learning with Evie and will apply that knowledge to any other trauma survivors who cross my path.

Thats exactly it Kathy, and really what its all about. Whilst I know how to heal people at their worst, only they can do the work, only they can make the choices, and you are right, not pushing them does nothing except excuse their actions, even support their actions, instead of focus reality and responsibility back upon them.

The good thing here, is that I do not need to worry about trying to help the world, all I need to do is concentrate on some, being on what I can handle myself, the worst cases that others cannot quite handle, or may not feel up too, then as people heal, the community just becomes one huge therapy community, where everyone helps everyone along, through the very steps they have walked, or are walking.

I think if you can help one person, that is better than none at all, and that is my aim and still remains as such, even though I have helped many heal already / still healing, one is excellent if you ask me. One more person that can participate in life once again, one more person that is now less likely to get involved in crime, drugs and the like, one less to hopefully end up dead.

I absolute admire both you and Jim for the work you both do, simply opening your hearts and home to help others less fortunate. I am the same pretty much, where I lost focus on money years ago, instead the reality of what is more important, humanity.

Welcome Kathy,

Glad to meet you and glad that Evie has you and Jim in her life.

Oh, and Anthony...thank you for putting into words how I've felt for a long time but couldn't quite find the right words. If you don't mind, I'll borrow them when some of the money grubbing money folks in my life start spouting off.

Thank you for the welcome Marlene. We are glad to be here!

And thank you for the compliment, Anthony. I try to live by the motto, "To whom much is given, much is expected". Jim and I have had our share of personal difficulties, but for the most part we have been fortunate in our lives. So we endeavour to share our good fortune with others whenever we're able. We are by no means perfect, but we do try. I'm glad you have adopted the same philosophy. In my opinion, it's one of very few ways to really be happy with oneself. And I agree, if even one person is positively impacted by it, it is worth all the struggles.

Welcome Auntie! :) :) :)