Celebrating a New Milestone
Journey from Client to Counselor
In 2017, when Robert Brooks was participating in Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton’s (CCDoT) Partners in Recovery program, he was there for help managing a substance use disorder and post-traumatic stress. While in treatment, he found himself helping others in the program — making sure they could access the services they needed or just lending an ear. “My counselors would say, ‘That’s case management,’” said Brooks. “I guess they were preparing me for what was to come.”
Brooks said the instinct to support the people in the program with him felt so natural. “A lot of us already have that skill — helping others. People at Catholic Charities helped me develop it, to do it on a larger scale. They encouraged me to learn how to do it better.”
His journey as an employee of CCDoT began just a year after he joined the program for services. The Director of Outpatient and Crisis Services hired him as a Peer Mental Health Advocate and has been leading by example ever since.
Brooks said an individual in CCDoT’s program recognized him from when they were incarcerated together. “I told him, ‘I used to be a client here too. We’ve both come a long way.’ He sees me sitting behind my desk and wonders if he could do the same. Hopefully, I can encourage him to become a peer advocate.”
He’s Been Where They Are
“It’s my lived experience,” Brooks said, that helps him connect to the clients in the programs. “They know I’ve been where they are. Some people remember me from when I was in group. They remember my change. They have seen my transformation.”
After getting the peer advocate job, he enrolled in Camden County Community College and earned an associate’s degree. He became a Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor. Last month, Brooks graduated with his BA in Human Services Direct Care from Rowan University. CCDoT currently employs Brooks as a Dual Disorder Coordinator in the Partners in Recovery program in Trenton and the Partial Care program in Westampton.
He says he uses cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing when working with the people he sees in his programs. “It’s a good style of treatment,” said Brooks. “It’s about building people up and focusing on their strengths. When I meet with a client, I look at what they do well and we go from there.”
He said it’s important not to give advice. “We’re not here to fix people. My job is to show people they’re doing better than they think. If they came in for help, I remind them that’s a step in the right direction.”
He said he is very grateful for all of the staff at CCDoT who have guided him along the way and given him encouragement and opportunities. “The staff here are really supportive. They’ve helped me every step of the way,” said Brooks.
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Robert Brooks recently graduated with a BA in Human Services Direct Care from Rowan University. Not too long ago, he was a client in the behavioral health program he now works in as a counselor.