Imagine a place where sunlight floods into the darkest corners of our states understaffed mental health system. Where addiction treatment is a pathway to lasting healing, not a revolving door. Where boards include those with lived recovery experience, their knowledge guiding the way to better outcomes. That's the California we're creating.
HARD CONVERSATIONS
By Susan M. Wagenaar
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This is one of those hard conversations to have, but sometimes the truth needs to be spoken. I've been told by countless individuals that the current clinical approaches to addiction recovery often feel like a lecture hall where the clock hands move slower than a snail. Group therapy sessions, led by facilitators in sterile, uninviting spaces, echo with the same tired phrases week after week, and monotony sets in. It's not that these methods are entirely without merit, but neither was Blockbuster Video, until it failed to innovate and stay relevant in a changing world.
Whether you're a therapist, a drug counselor, or a peer support specialist, as I am, we all have a responsibility to create an environment that fosters engagement, curiosity, and a genuine expectancy that recovery will be anything but boring.
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Think about it: we're living in an era where connection and community thrive online. Support groups buzz with shared experiences, recovery forums light up with encouragement, and social media feeds overflow with stories of resilience. People are finding solace, strength, and even laughter in the digital embrace of those who understand their struggles.
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But here's the thing: it's not just about technology. It's about shattering the mold of outdated approaches, those tired relics from the 1980s and 1990s that even therapists have grown weary of using. It's about igniting a revolution of fresh ideas, where therapists become architects of transformative experiences, not just dispensers of some long-dead psychiatrist or behavioral health scientist's outdated clinical doctrines. Let's make it about empowering individuals to seize the reins of their own recovery, to unleash their inner strength and rewrite their story with courage and authenticity.
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Imagine a recovery landscape where the focus shifts from sterile offices and rigid protocols to vibrant community day centers and supportive online spaces. Imagine a world where laughter and creativity are embraced as powerful tools for transformation. Imagine a system where the voices of peer support specialists and therapists harmonize, where lived experience and academic knowledge intertwine, creating a tapestry of understanding that guides individuals toward lasting recovery.
This isn't a pipe dream. It's a call to action. It's about challenging the status quo and demanding a more engaging, inspiring, and nuanced approach to recovery. It's about recognizing that true healing happens not because it has an evidence-based or trauma-informed label, but when we connect with others in relevant and meaningful ways that resonate with them. It's about remembering that you can't bore people into recovery, or make them drink the Kool-Aid if they despise the taste; you have to set their souls on fire by igniting the flame of recovery in their hearts.
This is the future of recovery, and it's waiting to be embraced.
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​About the Author
Susan Wagenaar is the founder of Colusa County Recovery, Glenn County Recovery, and Clean and Sober Nation. She has cultivated two thriving online recovery communities with a combined membership exceeding 25,000 and a growth rate of over 700 new members each month. Beyond the digital sphere, Susan is a dedicated advocate for recovery, having spoken at numerous rehabs, facilitated over 100 group meetings for justice-involved individuals, and authored two e-books generously offered to the public for free.
