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| For employees in the Social Services Department at Hammond-Henry Hospital, patient care is about more than treating physical ailments, it's also about caring for an individual's mental well-being. |
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| The department is in the process of expanding its services, helped by the addition of counselor Jim Pugliano. Pugliano joined the department six weeks ago. A native of Springfield, Mass., Pugliano has lived in the Henry County area for the past two decades. |
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| Pugliano earned a bachelor of arts in social work from the University of Detroit, and received his master’s degree in social work from Wayne State University, also in Detroit. |
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| Prior to coming to Hammond-Henry, he served as a counselor at Bridgeway in Kewanee for 18 years. Through his work at Brideway, Pugliano became familiar with Hammond-Henry. |
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| "We periodically were called to work with clients at Hammond-Henry or Kewanee Hospital," he explained. "When I found there was an opening (at Hammond-Henry), I put in for it. I enjoy being able to do what I'm doing, and still continue to expand into areas I'm not as familiar with." Social Service employees work with patients and their families in nearly every department of the hospital, explained Rita Mullin, who's worked in the hospital's Social Service Department for the past eight years. |
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| "There's no such thing as a typical day in this job. The typical day is untypical," she said. |
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| The day could range from tackling depression issues with a skilled care patient to counseling a bereaved family in the emergency room. |
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| "We deal with everything that comes through our doors," said Mullin. "If we don't know the answers, we try to find someone who can. We're like jacks-of-all-trades." Though some clients are referred to the department, others seek help on their own. |
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| "We are getting more calls from the general community in regards to counseling. Word is getting out that we're here," said Pugliano. |
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| At the moment, counseling in the Social Services Department is done primarily on a one-on-one basis, said Pugliano. But, he does have experience with group, couple and family counseling, and said he would be willing to offer those services in the future. |
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| Though the stereotype of a counselor and their couch is a prevalent one, Pugliano said that image isn't entirely accurate. Some clients can just drop in and start talking. They feel comfortable coming in and giving information. For others, you have to be a more active counselor. They might be anxious or unsure of the process, and you have to help them relax. |
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| "To help a client work through issues, we need to make observations and ask questions and make suggestions, but ultimately, though, the responsibility for change comes down to the patient," he said. |
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| Counseling a client, said Mullin, requires care and compassion. "We do want to help them. We care about what's going on, and we want to make them feel better." Sometimes, a common interest is all it takes for a counselor to make a connection with a client. |
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| "I'm a Star Trek fan," admitted Pugliano. "If I bring that up, it can sometimes help to build a bond. Ultimately, though, you never know what¹s going to take affect on a person." Statistically, nearly half of all clients drop out of counseling without giving their counselor a reason. |
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| "If your ego demands feedback, then counseling is the wrong field," said Pugliano. |
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| "You may never know the outcome of what you've done for someone," added Mullin. |
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| But, added Pugliano, for counselors, the desire to help outweighs the need for feedback. |
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| "I've been in the profession for 30 years, and I've always felt that I work well with people, and I hope I'm able to help them," he said. |
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| The Social Services Department at Hammond-Henry Hospital offers treatment in areas such as: anxiety, depression, relationship, parent-child issues, anger management, domestic violence, stress management, assertiveness training, self-esteem issues, aging, relaxation skills, empowerment, communication skills, job-related issues, life stresses and adjustment problems. |
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| For more information, or to schedule an appointment, phone 944-6431. |
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| Article taken from the Geneseo Republic by Lisa Depies |
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