Addictions counsellor equips others with helpful tools

By Joan Janzen

FoodMesh volunteers and other interested guests listened intently to an addictions counsellor speak on Wednesday evening, March 15th, at 800 - 12th Ave. East, Kindersley. Kerri Edgerton, a certified Drug & Alcohol Specialist, helps individuals suffering from addictions.

Kerri’s experience stems from much more than her education and training. She spoke about her own past addictions and her path to recovery, which began 14 years ago.

“I don’t have a problem sharing my story,” she said. She walks others through her personal experiences because of her deep desire to help others become free from addictions.

Her path of destruction began very early, at the tender age of 11 years. “I didn’t feel like I had any purpose as a kid. I didn’t trust anyone, and that mistrust grew. That’s why I trusted alcohol; it gave me a warm feeling,” she explained.

As a confused young woman, she entered into one relationship after another, experiencing much physical and mental abuse along the way. A cycle of destruction continued throughout her relationships, ushering her into a dark place. In her brokenness, she succumbed to an ultimatum to try hard drugs but was completely ignorant of the consequences.

She became a mom but didn’t know how to parent. As the stresses of everyday life continued, her addictions increased. Homelessness, an overdose, alienation from family, getting in trouble with the law, and having her children apprehended all became part of her life story.

In 2009, she took the first step toward coming clean, entering a detox centre and participating in a 12-Step Program. There, she was forced to deal with her debilitating anger and resentment and began forgiving others and herself.

“As the years have gone by, I’ve undergone a lot of trauma counselling, did a lot of hard work,” she said. “I learned how to believe in a power within myself. I had to recognize that something bigger than me had helped me. If it wasn’t for God, I wouldn’t be here today.”

Now she concentrates on using her very difficult experiences from yesterday to help individuals with addictions find a better tomorrow. “I love helping people learn the reality of who they are,” she said. “I help plant seeds of communication.”

Communication is one of the keys to help unlock the door of destruction. “It’s not that people didn’t care; they just didn’t know how to communicate with me,” Kerri recalled. “And I didn’t know how to communicate with them.”

She has first-hand experience of the importance of teaching people how to communicate, learning how to talk about their life, and deal with their emotions. “The biggest thing is having a conversation, asking if they’re OK, and letting them know they don’t have to be alone,” she advised.

“Trauma can lead to anger and violence, but I think it comes down to gaining someone’s trust,” Kerri said. “Trust is a big deal for people with addictions. If you trust and respect someone, the walls begin to come down.”

Kerri admits there’s not a thing she can do to change her past, but she has dedicated her life to helping others change their future. She provided valuable tools to the volunteers in her audience so they, too, can help others. “We all have a story, and we all impact people,” she concluded.