Yes, we are working...

Based on the content of recent posts, you might be wondering if we really are doing any of the work that we told you all was the reason for coming over. The answer is yes, we indeed have been working (more often than playing) and learning a lot!

Mike spends the majority of his workweek at Cornerstone Counseling Center. The center currently has 6 counselors, a psychiatrist, support staff, and Mike. He leads counseling sessions independently with clients, and often sits in with other counselors for observation. This week he had the opportunity to attend seminars on how to conducting debriefing for people who have recently experienced trauma. The majority of his clients are missionaries or NGO workers who are in need of some type of counseling, which could range from processing a traumatic event to dealing with depression to struggling in a marriage or family relationship, etc.  Most are here for short periods of intensive counseling, and come from all over Asia.  Each of the counselors raises their own support or is part of a mission organization.  We have found the counselors to be highly skilled in their work, and have a deep love and compassion for people that God is using to make a difference in their client's lives.  It has been a great place to learn what counseling can look like and the role it plays in church and community. Cornerstone is fortunate to have one Thai counselor at this point, and the rest of the counseling is done in English. Needless to say, it is a multi cultural experience. The physical design of the center is a welcome and peaceful respite from the moment you walk in the door.  

The entrance to Cornerstone

 We especially like the live goldfish in the goldfish pond in the reception area. 

Mike has his own office, which is super nice and spacious. 

My work as a nurse has been extremely varied from day to day. I primarily work with a local missionary woman named Lori who helps support families during their childbirth experience. Women come to Chiang Mai from all over Asia and the Middle East to give birth because of the level of medical care available. There are also many expat women who live in the general Chiang Mai area, maybe because their husband/partner is Thai, they are here for work, or just because Thailand is a nice place to live.  

Lori offers birth classes in English, labor support, and postpartum follow up to these families.  Childbirth is a huge transition for anyone, and this is significantly intensified when a person gives birth in a place where birth practices are different than at home, the language is not your own, and support from family and friends may be limited.  

Lori has been coordinating birth support for 20 years, and usually as part of a team of other women.  However, the team has shrunk considerably over the past year as everyone else has taken on other responsibilities.  As you can imagine, Lori was excited to hear that I love doing this kind of work, and would be available for 10 weeks to help out!  It has been fun for me to specifically offer breastfeeding support to families.  We are currently getting ready to initiate our third set of classes since I've been here, with usually about four couples per class.  Connecting prenatally is super fun, and offers a great chance to provide education, and get to know each other and potential challenges before birth.   After a mom gives birth, I will often visit the family in the hospital to support them with early feeding issues, and then continue to support through phone calls, text and e-mail, and home visits, either at their house or mine.  It has been a real blessing to connect with so many wonderful families, and offer support as they transition into this new role of being parents, or helping with specific feeding challenges.

This is the hospital where most of the moms give birth.  The postpartum ward is on the 14th floor- it offers a great view of the city!

 There is a lactation clinic at the hospital.  The nurse's approach to lactation support is very different from how we do things in the states.  They offer much more hands on interventions, and much less teaching or troubleshooting than we would in the states.

In my spare time from the prenatal/postpartum work, I have been volunteering three days a week at Grace International School as a school nurse.  It has been fun to get to know students in both the elementary and secondary school, as well as the other school nurses.  Here are Cindy and Bethany on a day when we were all very color coordinated!

For all of you nurses out there, Chiang Mai is a fabulous place to learn and work!  There is currently a great need for school nurses at Grace next year.  These are volunteer positions, but the repayment in getting to know the students, serving a needed role, and the great food and weather of Thailand is not bad!  There is also need for nurses with childbirth and prenatal/postpartum experience to join the birth team over here, either for a short or long term commitment.  You just might want to think about whether these roles could be for you...