September 16, 2024
Celebrating Recovery Month: A Personal and Professional Journey
Meet Our Director of Recovery Coaching
At Eliot Community Human Services, our commitment to recovery is embedded in the work we do every day. To highlight Recovery Month, we sat down with our Director of Recovery Coaching to explore how lived experience shapes the recovery journey for individuals we serve.
“As the Director of Recovery Coaching, I provide supervision and support to all our recovery coaches. This involves guiding them through professional development, encouraging self-care, and offering overall guidance on the best ways to support individuals on their recovery journey. I also collaborate with clinical staff to provide education and perspective on what recovery truly looks like. I feel privileged to have been a part of Eliot for the past five years and to have contributed to the growth of recovery coaching across different areas of our agency. Eliot truly recognizes the value of recovery coaches as essential members of our treatment team, which has been a rewarding experience for me both professionally and personally.”
Lived Experience: A Beacon of Hope
“My lived experience now serves as a source of hope for those we serve, showing them that recovery is possible. Because I’ve been through many of the same challenges, I can easily build trusting relationships and connect with individuals as they take their first steps toward recovery. This perspective also enriches the work we do with clinical staff, as it helps to inform and complement the treatment we provide.”
What Recovery Month Means
“Recovery Month is a special time for reflection and connection. It’s a chance to raise awareness, combat the stigma surrounding addiction, and share our stories with the community. Personally, it’s a time to reflect on my own journey and assess how we, as a community, can improve our support for those still in the grips of addiction.
While September is a significant time for celebrating recovery, it’s important to remember that recovery is not just a one-month event—it’s an ongoing process. I continue to work on my recovery every day, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to help others on their journey as well.”
The Role of Peer Support in Recovery
“Peer and recovery coaching play a vital role in the recovery process. Addiction can be isolating, and having someone with lived experience as an ally can make a huge difference. We are able to connect and understand individuals in a way that purely clinical settings sometimes cannot. Recovery coaches serve as beacons of hope, showing that it is possible to go through treatment and come out on the other side.”
A Message of Hope for Recovery Month
“Recovery Month is an important time to celebrate successes and acknowledge the challenges people have overcome. It’s also a reminder that recovery is real and that hope is alive for those in different stages of their journey.”
How the Community Can Support Recovery Efforts
“We’ve made great strides in how we address addiction and support recovery, but there is still much work to be done. I would love to see more advocacy around how treatment is accessed and delivered. We need a recovery-oriented system of care where individuals and systems collaborate to create a comprehensive support network for those struggling with addiction. We must integrate recovery language and practices into the fabric of our society.”
A Final Thought
“Two quotes by Maya Angelou guide my work and reflect the two most important aspects of my role—empathy and advocacy. Empathy is understanding the feelings of others, and advocacy is ensuring that people receive what they deserve, especially when they are unable to do so for themselves. Ultimately, our work is always about the people we serve.”
“I learned a long time ago the wisest thing I can do is be on my own side, be an advocate for myself and others like me.” – Maya Angelou
“I think we all have empathy. We may not have enough courage to display it.” – Maya Angelou
This Recovery Month, let’s celebrate recovery, raise awareness, and continue advocating for those still on their journey. Together, we can create a stronger, more compassionate community.