Our nonprofit prioritizes building genuine relationships with individuals who have experienced complex and sustained trauma. To achieve this, we have developed a Friendship Practice that operates on a three-level continuum:
- Level One pertains to clients seeking a relationship for services only. Interactions with these individuals revolve solely around how we can benefit them.
- Level Two involves clients seeking a relationship for services, emotional support, and companionship.
- Level Three refers to clients seeking services while desiring a mutual emotional support and friendship relationship.
Currently, we have around 140 “friendships,” with the majority falling under Level Two. Forming friendships with individuals who have experienced significant trauma requires additional knowledge and skills. Our staff receives training in trauma-informed care, Motivational Interviewing, Stages of Change, and SMART Recovery.
However, creating a Friendship Practice is just the beginning. We also aim to establish environments where these relationships can thrive. At our nonprofit, we’ve found that food is an excellent medium for cultivating these friendships. As journalist and activist Michael Pollan writes, “The shared meal elevates eating from a mechanical process of fueling the body to a ritual of family and community, from the mere animal biology to an act of culture.”
That’s why we hold community events such as our bi-monthly cookout, pizza with club staff, and late-night Waffle House runs with our coaching clients. We believe eating with those we care about is deeply ingrained in our cultural DNA and helps foster genuine connections.