Description

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“Old stories are universal and want to be told.  To bring those stories out into the world as a vehicle for navigating sobriety and recovery is a glorious thing.
I was hired to be an addictions counselor for the therapeutic community at the Frederick County Adult Detention Center. Susan Gordon encouraged me to tell them stories. I thought she was crazy, but I trusted her judgment and told them stories. The impact those stories had on those men changed my life. I worked in addictions for 15 years, taking those stories with me to very agency in which I worked.  The women at the Center 4 Clean Start in Salisbury, MD were every bit as receptive to story as the men who were in jail.”
            --Beth Ohlsson
 

About the Author

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 For the first 25 years of her professional life, Beth Ohlsson was a theater teacher in Frederick, MD. Meliss Bunce, a resident artist working with her students, suggested that Beth become a storyteller. After coaching by Donald Davis, Susan Gordon, and a Master’s Degree under Joseph Sobol, Ohlsson began telling stories professionally and was hired as an addictions counselor for the therapeutic community at the Frederick County Adult Detention Center. Now Executive Director at the Recovery Resource Center in Salisbury, she works as an educator, a performer, and a counselor

Praise For…

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“An incredible contribution to the field of substance abuse recovery and a charming learning tool for all in the human services/education field, this book is a powerful, delightful and insightful resource. Plus, it is the next best thing to having a bedtime story read to you by a smart & caring therapist.”

— Eileen P. Gilheany, MSW, Social Work Department, Salisbury University

“This book would have been a dream come true when I was a new counselor. It conveys the depth and purpose of each of the Twelve Steps and guides readers to connect the steps to real life in simple terms.”

— Kennedy Hinman, Director of Outreach for a residential treatment center and a Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor

“A unique and groundbreaking book that offers a new avenue in the war against addiction. A truly captivating read.”

— Dr. Robert M. Coker, DO, DABAM, Medical Director, Hudson Health Services

"Beth's remarkable and creative contribution to the field of chemical dependency is that she shows us how story is a unique and powerful doorway to recovery and healing. Anyone who wants to get acquainted and/or deepen their journey with the 12 steps for themselves or to assist others will be grateful to have found this book as a special resource."    
 
— Marla Zipin, Psychologist and Life Coach, Washington, DC

"Beth Ohlsson combines the ancient wisdom of folktales with cutting edge knowledge of addictions treatment.  The result is insightful and healing."
— Elizabeth Ellis, storyteller, NSN Circle of Excellence, Dallas Texas

Stories are powerful.  They teach.  They transform.  They make truth accessible. They open doorways to explore life in deeper ways.  Veteran Storyteller, Beth Ohlsson has provided us with a powerful work in Distilling Hope.These stories lead us on a path toward recovery and hope.
You will find yourself sitting on the edge of your seat, fully engaged in each story.  As you read, you will be prodded to think about your life.  You will identify with characters and situations in the stories in ways that will shed light on where you are on the road of recovery.  Coupled with the stories is a workbook section that will allow you to do deeper work as you engage the story where it intersects with your life.  This section is well done too!
As a pastor, I can see how this powerful work can be useful to people from all walks of life and in many settings, from groups to individuals.I am confident that this work will be another tool in helping people open doorways to hope and healing.
 
— Martin Hutchison, Pastor ,Community of Joy Church. www.joyfilled.com, Founder, Camden Community Garden, www.GrowCamden.com