Ann Patterson B.A., M.A.
"LOVE" RELATIONSHIPS, EMOTIONAL HEALTH, ACOA & GAY ISSUES Expert
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I am retired, a writer, an advocate and a life counselor with individuals dealing with personal relationships and their emotional health as it affects love, self esteem, addictions, relationships and other aspects of their lives. I have written short stories and articles that deal with childhood abusive homes, gay men and lesbian issues, children of divorce, emotional trauma of adults related to sexual and emotional abuse, grief, and related topics. I was a secondary teacher after receiving my B.A. degree in Social Science. After a few years, I began working with nonprofit and government agencies. Through those experiences, I became an advocate for persons with development disabilities, mental illness, aging issues, child abuse, physical disabilities, social welfare needs, discrimination, hospice terminal illness as well as hospital patients and various health issues including arthritis and hemophilia. At the age of 52, I returned to college and earned a M.A., Masters in Community Counseling. I chose not to begin a formal practice in Counseling because I preferred to continue my work with Idaho Department of Health and Welfare where I was the Community Resources Specialist. My duties included developing programs for the purpose of involving communities in providing services for mothers with children who received government payments to care for their children and who chose to receive training for employment. At the same time, I also worked to change negative attitudes of individuals and community services that were negative toward intervals that received welfare payments. While working as Volunteer Services Director and Consultant at the Idaho State School and Hospital with two goals: recruitment of volunteers to share their time, skills and knowledge with residents at the over-crowded institution for persons considered "mentally retarded" at that time; and, I provided public information throughout the state to promote understanding, acceptance, non-discrimination, acceptance, and community participation to change their verbiage from "idiots," "imbeciles," "retards," and similar ugly words and names to the accepted words describing persons with developmental disabilities. Not only did I serve in the above professional positions, but also I held Executive positions at other institutions and with nonprofit organizations. They included: Development Director at 2 major medical centers, Retired Senior Volunteer Program, United Way, Idaho Nurses Association, many School Districts and the City of Davis California. My work throughout my career included grant writing, fund-raising, public information, public relations, newsletter and news-magazine publications, journal articles, and I served on numerous health and mental health Boards of Directors. I initiated or served with others to develop the first Hospice in Idaho; the wellness/fitness program at Mercy Medical Center, Nampa, Idaho; Child Development Centers, Idaho; Retired Seniors Volunteer Program; Affordable Housing; and many other new programs in Idaho. I received special recognition by The Idaho Statesman as "Distinguished Citizen" and I received recognition from my professional organizations and the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. Throughout my adult life people as someone with whom they could share their difficult personal problems for which they needed or sought counseling have sought me. I have been through many of those problems since childhood and have sought and found healthy recovery through counseling and medical services. After receiving my Masters Degree In Community Counseling, there has been a great increase in the number of persons who have sought my counsel or referrals. I have continually increased my knowledge, understanding and skills concerning physical and mental health needs and the research concerning them.
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Ann Patterson Quick Facts
Main Areas: Counseling: Relationships, Gay Issues, Adult Child of Alcoholics, Supporting a Recovering Alcoloics
Career Focus: Writer, Counseling, Speaker,
Favorite Quotes & Thoughts from Ann Patterson
Like
the poet, my philosophy for my life is, "If I can help someone along
life's way, then my living will not be in vain." I
believe that every person has the capacity to find happiness and that happiness
in life depends on positive relationships with self, family, friends and
community.
I
believe it is possible for individuals to understand their needs and recognize
that they have the wherewithal within themselves to change their life and needs
from negative to positive.
I
believe that the counselors and other mental health professions are essential
in helping people with significant needs related to hurtful life experiences so
that they can find the healing that they need.
I
believe that Lesbians and Gay men have the same relationship issues as other
people apart from discrimination that impairs their success for many goals in
their lives.
I
believe that Alcohol Addiction is a disease that requires a myriad of support
along the path to sobriety and positive physical and mental health.
I
believe that Adults who grew up in Alcoholic and other dysfunctional homes can
find hope; healing and positive emotional help through the counseling process.
Getting Started With Ann Patterson
Like the poet, my
philosophy for my life is, "If I can help someone along life's way, then
my living will not be in vain." I believe that
every person has the capacity to find happiness and that happiness in life
depends on positive relationships with self, family, friends and community.
I believe
it is possible for individuals to understand their needs and recognize that
they have the wherewithal within themselves to change their life and needs from
negative to positive.
I believe that the
counselors and other mental health professions are essential in helping people
with significant needs related to hurtful life experiences so that they can
find the healing that they need.
I do not sell products, including books and audio visuals.
I believe that Lesbians and Gay men have the
same relationship issues as other people apart from discrimination that impairs
their success for many goals in their lives.
I believe that Alcohol Addiction is a
disease that requires a myriad of support along the path to sobriety and
positive physical and mental health.
I believe that Adults who grew up in Alcoholic and
other dysfunctional homes can find hope; healing and positive emotional help
through the counseling process.
Ann Patterson may be contacted at best4writing@aol.com. She is developing a web site at this time. The site will be called Question Perfection, a title that indicates that when an individuals seeks perfection in life or is pressured to be a perfect person to try to please another person, they can lose their way in their pursuit of happiness.
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