Boykin helps some of the younger treatment clients with his self- disclosure and his comments in the group therapy sessions that are part of treatment. “Everybody can speak on their personal situation. The group picks a topic and we discuss it; maybe what you share in the group will help the next guy. They’re just asking you to be honest.” In his role as an employee at All Joshua, Boykin welcomes new clients when they are being admitted. “When I see new people come in, I try to help them feel comfortable. “If you want help, Mike Robinson is here to help you. He has that impression on you – he’s a giving guy who will help you any way he can.”
He tells newcomers to the program who are battling addiction that they can have the sense of trust needed to “open up and tell people what is really going on with you,” Boykin says. In other programs, “I’ve seen plenty of guys who are on parole or probation who feared they’d be locked up if they tested ‘dirty.’ That makes people step back from being honest.” Boykin cites “realness and honesty” as one of the qualities that distinguishes the All Joshua treatment program. He enjoys sitting down with Robinson and the other counselors at All Joshua. “You can tell they are sincere about helping you.” In itself, recovery from addiction is not a comfortable process. But establishing a certain feeling of comfort encourages treatment clients to be honest about themselves and their past and current situations, which increases their chances of a successful recovery. “When you sit down with someone and they share things about themselves and you share things, that breaks the ice,” Boykin says. “Mike’s honesty about himself made me be honest about myself, and when he said ‘Let me tell you how this is going to work for you.’ That goes a long way.” “Mike made me feel comfortable to be able to talk about things that were going on with me. Now, I feel like I want to give back to all the younger guys that come through (All Joshua). I’m not a counselor but I can talk to them while they are waiting to be seen. They share what is going on with them, and I share what is going on with me. We can get through this thing together.”
“If you want help, Mike Robinson is here to help you.” -James Boykin
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