What inspired you to become an addiction counselor? When I was completing my bachelor’s degree I was working with adolescent girls. I had no desire to work in addictions until I had the opportunity to work on a residential treatment unit for dual diagnosis, active duty military. (Which is rather funny because now I have

What inspired you to become an addiction counselor? My sobriety date is July 1, 2008. I believe I am still here to help others who have had a similar battle. I know how the mind and body are plagued by chemical dependency. I know what it does to the family structure and the impact it

Caduceus Groups for Recovering Medical Professionals What is a caduceus meeting or group? A caduceus meeting or group is a support group for all medical professionals that have the desire to recover from chemical addictions using a 12-step approach. In these groups, impaired professionals can feel confident in sharing their stories with other folks who

“What the new year brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to the new year.” -Vern McLellan   Happy New Year! As we begin this new year, I would like to look at motivation and openness to change. The stages of change model developed by Prochaska and DiClemente in the

What inspired you to become an addiction counselor? I have the soul of a storyteller. Addiction counseling has proven to be a setting where my soul has found its meaning and purpose in this life. Our stories make us who we are. We share our experience, strength, and hope because our stories bind us together.

When searching for addiction treatment one of the first questions is: “How do I pay for treatment?” Fortunately, many treatment centers can utilize medical insurance to pay for some or all of the treatment episode. This coverage is protected by a law established in 2008, this law called The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Act.