The Hardest Part of My Work (And Why I Keep Doing It)

For the past two years, I’ve been working in the non-for-profit space as a Team Leader and Drug and Alcohol Counsellor. Most of the clients I support are people coming out of the justice system or navigating community orders. It’s a space that is incredibly challenging — but also where some of the most powerful moments of change can happen.

When I sit across from someone who has just come out of prison, I’m often meeting them at one of the hardest points in their life. They’re trying to adjust to life outside, rebuild trust with their families, navigate stigma, and break free from patterns that have followed them for years. On top of that, many are living with dual diagnoses — mental health conditions alongside substance use. It’s not neat, it’s not simple, and it’s not always a straight path forward. But what I’ve learned is that people don’t need perfection — they need connection. They need someone who will listen without judgement, someone who believes they are more than the mistakes they’ve made.

What really defines my work in the non-for-profit space is advocacy — breaking down the stigma that so often surrounds people in the justice system, people living with substance use issues, and people experiencing mental health challenges. These barriers make people feel unworthy of support, ashamed of their struggles, and invisible to the world around them. I see my role as helping to dismantle those walls. To remind people — and the systems around them — that everyone has a story beyond the stigma. That recovery, growth, and transformation are possible when people are met with compassion instead of judgement.

What keeps me going is seeing what happens when stigma is replaced with support. I see it in the relief when someone realises they’re finally being seen as a person, not a problem. I hear it in the gratitude of a client who says, “You didn’t judge me — that’s why I came back.” I feel it in the pride of people who, step by step, begin to believe in themselves again. This is the heart of my work: to be part of breaking cycles, challenging stigma, and opening doors to healing.

Working in the drug and alcohol and mental health space with people coming out of the justice system isn’t just my job — it’s my passion. It’s where I’ve seen resilience in its rawest form, and it’s where I’ve learned the power of compassion, patience, and advocacy. The hardest part of my work is also the most important part: breaking down stigma and building people up. And that’s why I’ll keep doing this work. Because every person deserves to be seen for who they are today, not just for where they’ve been.

💡 This is the heart of why I do what I do. It’s not easy work — but it’s the work that changes lives.