"2 years in Gem Centre and what I think."

I was treated with respect in Gems and the staff were really nice. I always dreaded the waiting room but with a sense of enjoyment from ice-hockey and little activities, I seemed to not mind it. I was always greeted with a smile by my therapist/mentor../whateveryouwanttocallher, and she was extremely nice. We had inside jokes and got along like I new her before hand. She stood by side in my worst and helped me through everything. I could tell her anything and not be afraid it would get out of the building and to my family. When she left I felt isolated and alone and had left Gem Centre. I felt like I was ready to 'face the world' and get on with life. Mid-way through out sessions I went clean and have now been clean for two months which I could not have done without her. She is truly a mentor and a lovely woman who I could sit with and talk too all day long. The rooms were small and a bit intimidating, especially the one way mirror wall with all the microphones. That was surprisingly scary and I didnt feel safe at all...

Gem Centre did help me in ways school and family could not which really made me feel at home there. At first I was so scared to go for my first few meetings and barely talked to her in my first meeting but soon I opened up and we started to talk on a regular basis with a high level of respect and our conversations were full of interesting things about day to day life and I could really feel a sense of happiness in the room with her as I felt safe, like I said beforehand. The building on the outside does provide a sense of relief and I remember at a young age when me and my mother would pass the building and head to the shops. The colours were very vibrant and it really made me feel at home and I remember going in there once I believe and there was a toy toaster that I pretended to make a burger for my mother. Now that I have been there I could totally recommend this to anybody.

However, I must move on to perhaps one or two cons to the Gem Centre... One of which is when I felt like I was fine and left and 'face the world' on my own without any mental crutches to keep me up. In the end I began to fall back into a slight ditch and before she left, she asked if I wanted to continue with counciling or leave it. I said leave it as I felt for sure I could do it. But in the end I did begin to slip and I have slipped quite far now.. I went to see my pyschiatrist and she has placed me on a waiting list. However, this waiting list has been going on for months now and I still have had no word on what is going on but I need pure stability in my life and I need help and being stuck with no one to go to is really hard at the moment.

Overall, I find this place to be very comforting and helpful but if you are in a tough state you must ask for help early, when you are beginning to slip so you can get help when you truly need it!

-Krism.