Testimonials

A Parent’s Story

Erin,

Although I am unable to speak with the group of professionals visiting Wellness, perhaps you can share a few of my thoughts with them. Miracles really do happen at Wellness – [my daughter] is proof!

It has been almost two years since she checked into Wellness. When I took her to the airport, I felt hopeless. I realized that there was nothing that I could do to help her. Moreover, the local professionals could not help either. Wellness was the last hope for her. She needed a comprehensive, team approach to find herself again.

A year after graduation from college, my daughter moved back home. By this time, she was a full blown alcoholic/addict. She was not the same beautiful, intelligent, caring, funny person. She had “numbed” herself with drugs and alcohol. There was not a single 24-hour period that she did not abuse some sort of substance. It was impossible to get through to her.

In Virginia, she was seen by a psychologist who said that she could not help. Our next stop was a psychiatrist, and he could not help her either. A series of events gave us some leverage to send her to a local treatment center. In less than a week, I received a call from the director asking that we meet. According to their team, they could not help her because she needed a dual-diagnosis treatment center.

Fortunately, they gave us a brochure from Wellness, along with reassurance that Wellness may be able to help.

I’m not sure how Wellness differed from that facility in terms of actual treatment; however, the following are some of my practical observations:

Wellness uses a multi-faceted approach that treats the entire person – mind, body, and spirit.
At Wellness, the residents live together in a closely-monitored, humble, apartment setting. They dress modestly and learn to appreciate even the small things in life.
They learn and live practical life skills such as budgeting and cleaning. These skills are useful in making the transition into a sober, well-lived life. For instance, the residents live on $85.00 a week. They buy their own groceries and sometimes cook meals together. Residents are required to clean their apartments. The ability to live humbly has helped my daughter live within her means. Even today, her house is neat and clean. In my opinion, this is a reflection of the manner in which she is living her life.
While in treatment, sober contacts are made and a sober network is created. Residents are required to go out “on pass” with a sober contact. A pass could be a trip to an AA meeting and then to Starbucks or out for ice cream. These outings taught her several things: it’s OK to ask for help, the importance of building a support network, and “sober fun” really is fun. Helping others is an important part of a well-lived life. Now, she takes Wellness girls out on pass on a weekly basis.
The after-care at Wellness is one of the most important aspects of treatment. At Wellness, my daughter met with a counselor who is intelligent, insightful, persistent and wise. I know that there were times when she was uncooperative, but her counselor never gave up on her. She continued to meet with her even after she completed the Wellness program. When she was having a rough time after moving to a three-quarters house, her counselor encouraged her to return to Wellness until she was strong enough to try again later. She followed that advice and continues to lead a sober life. At this point, my daughter meets with that same counselor every other week. This is comforting to me because we live 800 miles apart and I know that she has her best interests at heart.
Wellness graduates are a close-knit group who are supportive to each other. They meet on a regular basis and continue friendships after treatment.

How has treatment changed our lives? Our daughter is happier than I have ever seen her. She has a strong sober network of friends and enjoys helping others. She has a full-time job at a state university and plans to earn a graduate degree in counseling. Her fellow employees love her and tell me that they don’t know what they ever did without her.

This past summer she bought a well-built, traditional Florida cottage (circa 1920’s). Her father and I love to receive telephone calls from her and it is a treat to spend time with her. Additionally, her four brothers and sisters love to spend time with her.

To sum it up, we have been re-united as a family. Miracles really do happen at Wellness!

Best regards,
(a WRC mom)

…..I decided to do after care in Florida at Wellness Resource Center, I could not be happier with that decision. I did 3 months of inpatient treatment after which I went through WRC's step down process of going to look for work and slowly moving to the next step of moving in to their half way house that WRC calls Transitional Living, the step down process takes a month usually and for me it took exactly a month. I signed a lease to do 5 months of transitional living, again could not be happier with the decisions I have made. That process really gave me a chance to do the right thing and earn my way rather then have it all given to me. I got a humbling job at a sub shop called jersey mike's at which I am now a closing manager; however I am starting to look for a new job at halfway houses and rehabs to be a "tech" as they call them down here so I can start to get experience in the field of addiction. I am going back to school next summer to finish up my degree in social work so I can really get involved in this disease. I really want to be a case manager and help young adults find their way, God knows I have plenty of experience in the department of being messed up so I know I can use my experience strength and hope to help others like me. I moved out of the Transitional Living on Jan 24 I believe it was, and I moved into a townhouse in a gated community with two of my friends that I went through treatment with at WRC. I'm so happy I could cry. Today my family talks to me, today I don't have to get drunk or high, today I can wake up and get on my knees and pray to a higher power of my understanding.
- Will G.

I just wanted to tell you again, how amazing I thought the Family Weekend was.

John and I are both very appreciative of everything you have done to help [our son] with his recovery. We can see that Wellness and your patients are more to you than just a job... it is clear that you are passionate about your profession & it shows in the good work you do.

Please keep us informed about the progress of[halfway house]as it unfolds. We trust your recommendation that this is the best Sober Living arrangement for[our son].

Thanks again for everything... it was great meeting you & seeing first hand all you do.
- a graduate’s mother

“I was a patient at Wellness from March 07-June 07. I recently celebrated one year of sobriety (February 15, 2008) and thought I should let you guys know. I use a lot of the tools, living skills and lessons I learned at Wellness. I don’t think my story is unique. Perhaps unique to me because it was my first year of sobriety, after multiple attempts over the last decade. Wellness was also the last of five treatment centers I had been to in 2 years. I believe my successes are a direct result of the hard work I did at Wellness, which set me up for the hard work I am able to do on a daily basis. I work the steps, go to a meeting day, have a sponsor, you know the usual. Also, I dropped twenty pounds and quit smoking too! Being hyper-vigilant about my health extends further than my recovery, but recovery is always first.

I thank you folks at Wellness for being a place that offered me a platform to do the work and I guess...being pretty tough about it. My life was not only unmanageable, it was unlivable prior to treatment. My last suicide attempt left me within minutes of death, and now I live a full and meaningful life. That’s awesome and truly a miracle, a miracle that can happen for anyone who walks through those doors.”
- Jeannie H.

Thank You! “I was a patient at your facilities during the summer, fall, and part of winter in 2004. I’m writing to thank you. I’m not sure whether you get gratitude as much as you all deserve it, but you certainly helped me. Your facility saved my life. While there, I was a bit of a controversial patient, and eventually broke ties with your facility following my dismissal from the halfway house, however, have always wanted to express my gratitude with the staff there...I have been sober since May 10th of 2004—almost four years now!!! I’m a college student again, am 22 years old, and am a member of the local national honor society (straight As since enrolling back in school!). I’ve been renting my own three bedroom house now for three years, and have a girlfriend I’ve been dating for a year whom I plan on marrying. All this is being said as evidence of the impact you made in my life. Before I attended your rehab, I never even considered my dreams. Oh, I had them, but as crazy as it sounds, I never even considered that I could amount to them—to amount to anything. I was an ex-soccer jock high-schooler with depression issues and a hell of a crystal meth addiction once I got into college in Montana. Now, I’m looking at transferring to a state school, or even an art academy—I have colleges offering me tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships—my landlord says I’m his best tenant ever—and most importantly, I have self-respect like I never knew existed. Thank you!! I just wanted you guys to know that—that what you do, on a daily basis, truly does change lives.”
- Wellness Patient, 2004

“Wellness showed me the tools I needed for a successful sober life and helped me gain the willingness I needed in order to use them!”
- Meghan R.

“Wellness has taught me accountability, self-sufficiency and self-respect.
I grew so much through Wellness’ intensive program and supportive staff.”
- Sophie M.

“Drugs and alcohol had ruined my life, and then I found Wellness.
Wellness Resource Center is the solution!”
- Sean R.

"Thank you very much for all your hard work and EXTRA effort.
One of the best trained and professional programs I have ever encountered in 29 years of professional experience."
- From a Referring Psychologist