Deb Reichwald grew up in Mankato and has lived here all of her life.  All of her family and friends live in the area.  She attended college in Mankato and has always worked in Mankato.  Deb is in transition, working on personal growth and looking for a full time job in her field of Graphic Design.  Deb came to LWPC shortly after her job loss, and has been attending workshops and support groups.
Deb talks about how little things are big when you lose a job.  Working for so many years, she had a strong work and life routine.  When her job went away, so did her routine.  This can be a struggle for people in transition as many of us thrive on knowing what comes next in our day.  Deb feels LWPC gave her a place to go and a schedule to follow during this time.  After working twenty-two years, in the same job, at the same company, not having a schedule was difficult. 
Before she came to LWPC, Deb talks about having lower self esteem and feeling like she didn’t have a voice in the world.  She was stuck.  She says “It has been a gift to have the time and opportunity to learn more about myself.  I would have missed all of this growth and self learning if I wouldn’t have lost my job.” 

Deb talks about the skills she has acquired through LWPC workshops.  She sets better boundaries in her life, she has learned to use deep breathing techniques to manage stress, she recognizes when she is feeling stuck and has coping skills to begin moving forward again.  Deb keeps moving and is focused on being positive.  

Deb feels “I’m not the same person I was before I came here, I have grown so much.  I am stronger and more confident.  I have realized I can’t ever go back to the way I was, no one can take it away from me,  I can’t ever lose my new view of myself.  I can’t go back to my old self.” 

“I have become more assertive, I speak up more frequently.  I have started a singles group at church and being a decision maker for the group has really challenged me to be more outgoing.”
Deb also attends the LWPC Moving Your Dream Along support group and the Networking Event, stating she likes the topics we cover and she enjoys touching base with the staff and other participants. 
Deb now has an on-call job working with a woman with special needs.  She talks about how much she enjoys helping someone and what a great opportunity it is for her to learn a new profession.  Deb says “it feels good to have a job again, and get a paycheck”.
Deb believes coming to Life-Work Planning Center has given her the skills “to keep rowing, not drift, through life.” 

- Jill Hahn, M.S., Peer Counselor

back to client stories