Hi, my name is Brooke Pomerantz. I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and I have a Psychotherapy practice in Oakland, California. I've been volunteering with A Home Within for about four and a half years, and I was matched with a young adult and we worked together where I provided psychotherapy for about three and a half years, and then we ended our work together and then fairly soon after that, I opened myself up to another match and began working with another individual, an adult in his 30s. And that's the person I'm working with now. I've been in a consultation group for the entire time I've been volunteering with A Home Within. It's been a very very supportive community and group of wonderful, warm, thoughtful, reflective individuals, with whom I can think about my case and, you know, support my peers and on their cases. I've also been helping A Home Within talk to prospective volunteers along the way as well more recently.

So my work with A Home Within continues to evolve, I take advantage of the continuing education resources. I did the EMDR training last year and earlier this year, which was a really positive, helpful experience. And I feel very supported by the organization and appreciated and recognized. It's a really warm community where everyone has the shared mission of supporting foster care and former foster care youth and adults through providing individual psychotherapy.

Looking back at the whole picture, volunteering at A Home Within has meant being part of a thoughtful and dedicated community of clinicians with shared values around giving back and supporting the vulnerable population of current and former foster care youth and healing trauma, and navigating the complex challenges and consequences of having been in the child welfare system. It has also meant the opportunity to support an individual who has undoubtedly experienced trauma, and adversity through a safe and supportive therapeutic relationship.

I think that the most impactful part of my experience with A Home Within to date has been when my consultation group supported me in the ending of my work with my first A Home Within client. It was a difficult ending that I was able to navigate with care, professionalism, thoughtfulness, and compassion, to support a supportive goodbye with my client. I felt held by my group with thoughtfulness and care and I was able to bring that to the ending of my work with the client.

I really love this question. I've had daydreams and fantasies about expanding the services that we can provide to our clients to include case management and psychotherapy groups. I'm envisioning the additional supportive services could provide additional stability, help with concrete needs that so many of our clients navigate, and that psychotherapy group could provide an additional modality of support that can be very powerful and healing.

Yeah, I’ve found the experience of volunteering with the home within to be very rewarding and distinctive relative to other volunteer experiences I've had in the past. Working with A Home Within has felt more personal, more connected, and more meaningful. If you're considering volunteering with A Home Within, I would strongly recommend that you speak with a few volunteers to really get a sense of the commitment as well as the support services and other benefits that come along with volunteering. The work can be incredibly challenging given that our clientele carry so much trauma, but you have the opportunity to make an incredible difference. If you do decide to volunteer with A Home Within, I strongly encourage you to join a consultation group where you can get support and help thinking about your case. It will undoubtedly support your work with your client.

I'm also happy to share my honest experience with you as you consider this opportunity and commitment.