Phyllis Richardson

I am currently a Sociology major at Albany State University in Albany, Georgia. In spring of 2013 I graduated Cum Laude from Darton State College in Albany, Georgia where I received my Associates of science degree in human services and a certificate in addiction counseling. I have volunteered in club community service projects and activities such as Recovery Day, a food drive/collection which benefited three local non-profit agencies, and Empty Bowls to support SOWEGA Council on Aging. I also served as Vice-President for the Human Services Club (2012-2013). I have received Certificates of Academic Excellence in recognition of outstanding academic achievement for the Merit and Dean’s list in spring and fall semester in 2011. I received the Certificate for the Merit list in spring, summer semester of 2012, and Certificate of Academic for the Merit list for spring semester in 2013.
Since I have been clean and sober for 22 years, I give thanks to God in all things. My personality is to be compassionate and respectful of others who are different from me, being in recovery helps me to look past the differences and see myself in their struggles. One of my long-term goal is to go back to school and apply myself in getting my bachelor’s degree. The ups and downs of addiction and my subsequent recovery created a desire to help others overcome their addiction problem. During my course of study, it was necessary for me to intern at a rehabilitation center. I chose the Anchorage Rehabilitation Center and completed 225 hours in the spring of January 2013. I conducted one on one interviewing sessions in a clinical setting and my training involved facilitating groups on alcohol/drug education, and ensuring all progress notes was filed appropriately in the medical records. I completed an internship program at Volunteer of America (Millennium Center) in Cuthbert, Georgia, where I conducted substance abuse education/recovery, participated in treatment team review, and gain familiarity with the facility documentation, and treatment plans. I am grateful to be given the opportunity to use my skills and the ability to fulfill my requirements as a student in a clinical setting. I can relate my internships experience to sociology work as both courses of study are centered on learning about behavior and helping people live a more productive life.
I am currently working at Albany Area Community Service Board/Aspire in Albany, Ga. I oversee clients with mental and substance abuse problems in an inpatient facility. I Observe, document, and report resident behavior/progress on an ongoing basis. I have been in this field of work over the past eight years and have narrowed my interest to the field of sociology with psychology as a minor. I have been given the opportunity to see how lives are changed and see the support from families not giving up, but learning their role in society. While being in this field I hope that I will increase my ability to analyze family dynamics using different systems approach and understand ethnic and cultural difference on family functioning.