For some women, “’til death do us part” ended in a divorce or it snuck up too soon. Other women had to leave behind health insurance and financial stability to escape emotional or physical abuse.
For women trying to get back into the workforce, especially after an extended absence, the YWCA is there to help ease the transition.
The YWCA in Everett is hosting a Life Transitions workshop to assist women who are re-entering the workforce after a divorce or the death or disability of their spouse or partner, particularly if they have been a homemaker for more than a decade.
The next workshop, “Pathways to Work,” is provided by the YWCA Pathways for Women from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Dec. 2 through Dec. 15 in South Everett.
Shannon Gaule, lead instructor, said the workshop goes more in depth than just showing women how to fill out an application or type up a resume. If women are willing, they can look at and talk about how they are feeling and the experiences leading up to the change that is pushing them back into the workforce.
“There are a lot of tough stories,” Gaule said. “I’m amazed by their courage and strength.”
The workshop helps women rebuild their self-esteem and equips them with coping methods to get through the situation that prompted them to seek help, said Brenda Patrykus, program assistant.
“Our program motto is to empower women,” Patrykus said. “We help them get out of difficult situations.”
Patrykus said many of the women are there because of divorce, domestic violence, separation, death or their partner cannot work, and they are adjusting to these changes.
Instructors and mental health counselors work with the women to talk about these changes and the accompanying fear, anger and sadness they are experiencing.
“For most of them, change is difficult,” Patrykus said.
Often times, women think they do not have skills to offer, but instructors are there to point out transferable talents, such as leading PTA meetings, running a household and balancing a checkbook.
“We (women) have the tendency not to give ourselves enough credit,” Gaule said.
During the workshop, women gather all of their skills, education, references and past jobs together so that when they fill out job applications they are poised and have the necessary information ready.
Women also assess what their interests are, which job fields they would like to tap into and which skills and training they need for potential jobs.
“We beat down those myths: ‘I’m too old to go to school,’ ‘I can’t go to college,’” Patrykus said. “The difference can be a two-year degree.”
Women begin to bond during the workshop as they realize there are other women in similar situations who understand how they feel, Patrykus said.
“They know it’ll get better for them,” she said.
For more information or to register, contact Patrykus at 425-258-2766 ext. 226 or bpatrykus@ywcaworks.org.
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