Counselor Yazzie: (Walks into her office with a cup of coffee in her hand. She sits down at her desk and takes a look around her desk. There is a photo of her husband and herself taken at the family reunion last year. Next she picks up a picture of her twin boys and her little girl. She thinks to herself, they have grown so much the past few years. She puts down the photo and takes a sip of her coffee. Okay lets get to work! I need to review these files before the day is over.)
Renne: (The receptionist walks in) Doctor your
10:00 appointment is here.
Counselor Yazzie: She’s early! Okay! Give me a few minutes to review my notes and the file. (Opens the file)
File:
Name: Martha Two
Bears (New Patient)
Age: 23
Occupation: Student
Background: Raised
by a single parent (mother). Her father deceased at the age of 14 years old.
Spent her summer vacation with her grandparents. Had her first drink at the age
of 15 years old. Has been in and out of treatment for the past 2 years. Claims
that these other treatments don't work for her.
Counselor Yazzie: (over the intercom) Renee, please send Miss Two Bears in.
(Martha walks in.)
Counselor Yazzie: Hello (Extends hand)
Two Bears:
Hello (Shakes hand)
Counselor Yazzie: Please have a seat. Would you like some coffee? I just made a fresh pot
a few minutes ago.
Two Bears:
No thanks. I'm not a coffee drinker. I never was!
Counselor Yazzie: Good for you! (Smiles) I've always been a coffee drinker. My whole
family drinks coffee. My mother always had coffee on the stove. So it was a
given. (Laughs)
Two Bears:
(Smiles) Yeah, my mom always had coffee. Sometimes I think she was born with a
coffee cup in her hand. (Laughs heartily)
Two Bears:
Okay doctor, how should we start this?
Counselor Yazzie: (Smiles) Well, how would you like to start? Do you have any questions
for me before we start? (Walks over to the chair that is across Martha) Mind if
I sit here?
Two Bears:
No! I don't mind. Yeah, I have a few questions for you! Can you tell me about
yourself? You know.... where did you go to school and stuff like that... That’s
if you don't mind telling me a little about yourself?
Counselor Yazzie: Sure. I like to keep things open. Well, let me see! Where to start?
(Taps fingers on folder)
Two Bears:
Where did you go to school? Where is your hometown? (Pause) By the way, what
tribe are you from?
Counselor Yazzie: Whoa, one question at a time. First question: I got my master's and
Ph.D at the University of Arizona. My family is from Red Valley, Arizona.
Therefore I'm from the Dine Nation.
Two Bears:
Hey, my mom is Navajo, too! Wow! Small world, huh? So are you married? Do you
have any.... umm kids? (Laughs quietly)
Counselor Yazzie: (Laughs) Yes I am married and I have 3 kids.
Two Bears:
So how long have you been working here at Yellow Creek Treatment center?
Counselor Yazzie: Oh! I'm going on 8 years! I think? It’s been so long, hard to keep
track of the years.
Two Bears:
Wow! That’s a long time. That's nice. The longest job I've ever held was about
a 7 months (giggles). (Gets a serious
look on her face) Can I ask you a really personal question?
Counselor Yazzie: (Curiously) Sure, what is it? (Sits up straight)
Two Bears:
Were you ever an alcoholic? IF you want to call it that!
Counselor Yazzie: Yes, I was! In fact, I was
about your age. Give or take a few years!
Two Bears:
Really! (Looks at Mrs. Yazzie) I know I have a problem but I really don't know
how to deal with it?
Counselor Yazzie: You're a strong young lady. It takes a strong person to admit you have
a problem. That’s a start!
Two Bears:
Yeah, but what is the “next step”? I've been to all these treatments but they
just don't work for ME. (Starts to cry softly)
Counselor Yazzie: Why do you think these treatments didn't work for you?
Two Bears: Well, I guess it's because I think differently.
These "mainstream” treatments don't think the way I do.
Counselor Yazzie: (Softly) That’s okay! We are all different individuals. So how did you hear about culture treatment for Natives here at Yellow Creek?
Two Bears:
Well my friend, Billie told me about it. He is a recovering alcoholic and he
received treatment here with the program. He said that maybe it would work for
me based on my traditional background. I never thought about it as a treatment
for alcohol.
Counselor Yazzie: You said your mom was Navajo, right?
Two Bears:
Yeah, my mom is Navajo. My family is from Tsile, Arizona. I used to spend my
summers down there with my grandparents. Man, I miss those summers! (Sigh)
Counselor Yazzie: What were your grandparents like?
Two Bears:
My grandparents were great. They always made time for me. They were really
traditional! My grandmother never went
to school but grandfather did, but only up to 8th grade. (Proudly) He became a
medicine man instead.
Counselor Yazzie: So you grew up in a traditional home?
Two Bears:
Yeah, my grandparents told me about the stories of our people. I know some
traditional ceremonies but not a whole lot.
Counselor Yazzie: Well, why I don't I give you some information about
the ceremonies we use here as part of our treatment. After I give you some
background about using culture treatment for alcoholism, then we can see what
you could be interested in. Find what works for you?
Two Bears:
Okay!
Counselor
Yazzie’s Introduction
Back to Maggie’s Office