EMOTIONAL FIRST AID AT NEIGHBOUR TO NEIGHBOUR

SHARON BENJAMINS HAS BEEN A SYMPATHETIC LISTENER SINCE SEPTEMBER

Anyone in the LGBTQ spectrum, I would love to help." - Sharon Benjamins

For the last seven months, Sharon Benjamins has been providing an important service at Neighbour to Neighbour Centre.

"I provide emotional counselling," said the west Mountain resident and third year University of Toronto social work student who is slated to wrap up her placement term at the Athens

Street centre on March 30. "I ask them what they want to talk about; is there something you need to talk about?"

Benjamins said she has been at the centre each Wednesday since September meeting by appointment with two or three people each week, mostly food bank clients, about matters weighing heavily on their minds.

"I think a lot of times people just want someone to listen," Benjamins said. "There's issues with money, lots of anxiety about money and rent; also, I find people are coming to me just feeling isolated, they don't have a lot of relationships or they want relationships they can't seem to find."

Benjamins said the private sessions, which can often get emotional, run about 45 minutes.

Where possible, she will refer the client to an agency that can help them with their specific issue.

She noted her university

training has enabled her to separate the difficult matters she hears about from her daily life and not keep them bottled up inside. "I guess I just want to help," Benjamins said. "I like helping people, I like listening."

With graduation on the horizon, the 30-year-old said she would like to work with transgender youth in the future.

"I would love to help them and support them any way I can," Benjamins said. "Anyone in the LGBTQ spectrum, I would love to help."

Laura Ryan, manager of family services at Neighbour to Neighbour Centre, said Benjamins has been providing emotional first aid for the people coming through their door.

"She brings a social and emotional connection to our clients," Ryan said. "Being hungry is pretty stressful."