Paul Lyden

My job was to offer support to the peers/consumers that came to Recovery Ave. This could be one on one talk sessions, group support sessions, or advocate for peers to find employment or housing. We offer recreational activities, such as games, trips, or music or art sessions. This helps to build bonding experience and rapport with our peers. We offer emotional support to those who are looking for a safe and understanding environment to aid in mental health and addiction recovery. Among the peer specialist who lead activities, I would personally give sessions of guitar/ukulele music and guided meditation for relaxation.

As a Direct Support Professional I was in charge of two children every work day. Working the day shift started with getting the children up and ready for the day. Making sure they were showered and clean, and had breakfast before attending class. During the school day we assisted the teachers in carrying out the lesson plans designed for each students. My skills included guidance of the students schedule throughout the day, including attending lunch and taking their medication at proper times. I applied de-escalation techniques to manage challenging behaviors, including distraction, re-direction of attention, and calming and soothing breathing techniques. We maintained clean, safe, and well-organized classroom environment. We documented progress notes thoroughly to track students achievements, progress, or changes in behavior patterns. This was needed to show if the students were achieving their classroom learning and behavioral goals. We managed crisis situations effectively, maintaining calm and ensuring safety of clients and staff. We receive training on how to handle students who become physically aggressive in a way that we do not harm the students or co-workers around us. Overall, we work to build rapport with students and build trust to be more effective in directing the students to good behaviors.