My Journey to Guardian.
I always wanted to be a therapist, but I discovered my passion for substance use counseling at Raritan Valley Community College. It had a grant program in conjunction with the state of New Jersey for training clinical alcohol and drug counselors. I took a class, and I fell in love with it. Since then, I’ve never wanted to do anything else.
I earned my bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University and went to Kean University for my master’s in counseling. I am a licensed associate counselor and am currently working on my licensing as a certified alcohol and drug counselor intern.
I did an internship at Guardian Recovery beginning in May 2022 and was hired full-time in January 2023. During my internship, I fell in love with everybody here, and I simply didn’t want to leave. Thankfully, the role expanded to full time, and now I can’t picture myself anywhere else.
Recovery Starts
Here
Choose recovery and take control of your life, it’s the path to a brighter future filled with health, happiness, and fulfillment.
What I Do
We have our clinical meeting in the morning where we get updates on everything that’s been going on and receive our case assignments, so we know who we are working with each day.
When it’s the client’s first day—and particularly when it’s their first time in treatment—it’s important to meet them with kindness and grace. So I let clients know we are going to move at their pace, and I make a point of asking them what they need from me. I try to be very flexible to increase their comfort. If they want to meet in their room with the door open, that’s fine with me. If they want to meet with me while we’re sitting outside, that’s great too. I want to do whatever makes somebody feel more comfortable while they get settled in.
The main goal of being in detox—aside from physical stabilization—is figuring out the next level of care. So we do a lot of education and a lot of motivational talk, and we work with family members to help determine where we go from here.
Family is so important to the recovery process, beginning with detox. They know the client best and have gone through a lot with the client. Often, when we call them, it’s the first time they’ve been able to have a conversation about the issue. So it’s new for them, too. And with that newness comes a level of discomfort. But we help them find their voice and educate them about how they can support their loved one in recovery. We also give them ways to contact us to ask questions.
What Helps Clients Most
Our transparency is paramount. We tell our clients the truth about recovery. We do everything we can while clients are in the space to give them the best chance at recovery. And we’re transparent about the recovery process and the next steps after detox. Granted, sometimes they don’t like what they hear and don’t want to take the next step. But that is their choice. Our job is to keep them involved every step of the way and do everything we can to help them see a path to recovery.
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About Me
- The best part of my gig is … the team here at Guardian Recovery. I’ve learned so much from being part of the counselor team and being accepted for who I am. From day one, I felt like I could be myself. No one expects me to wear a blazer every day and be the perfect therapist. They’re asking me to be Alicia. And I get as much support as I need to be the best Alicia I can. The same is true for everyone. There is tremendous support. You never feel alone.
- When it comes to work accomplishments, I am most proud of … the fact that I started a family program about a year ago. It’s a virtual education program where families can get background information and understand why we do what we do. It’s something that’s not offered at a lot of detoxes, and it’s been very successful here.
- What makes you want to come to work every day … is witnessing the progress clients make. Seeing a client on day one versus day seven or 10 is gratifying. Many clients are fearful and uncertain when they enter detox, which doesn’t bring out the best in them. Once they start feeling better, they turn into who they really are in a short amount of time. It’s a cool process to witness.
- “Me” time is for … being outside. And by that, I mean sitting on the beach. I’m very family-oriented and have a large, extended family with whom I like to spend time. As you get older, your friends become like your family, so focusing on those relationships is important to me. I tend to be quiet and introverted at home, as I think I use up all of my extrovert qualities at work.
- My secret talent is … humor. I’m very talented at doing accents and impressions. I often do what I call “a quick 10” with clients or staff, where I do some impressions to entertain them and then move on with my day. I’m like a court jester.
- The quote I live by is … isn’t really a quote. Rather, I try to live with gratitude. When you move through different seasons or different parts of your life, you carry different things with you. I’ve been holding space for a lot of gratitude lately, engaging in 12-step literature, and being grateful that I wake up in the morning and love what I do and have a beautiful family.
- If someone were hesitating about entering treatment, I would tell them … you are going to live a life beyond your wildest dreams. It’s not always easy for clients to hear that in detox, but the path is so much easier on the other side. You can really see it when a person you come to know in active addiction has gotten sober and excelled in their life. They can have everything they want. It’s miraculous, and they are free.
Our Locations
Our Facilities & Teams Transform Lives
Changing lives by providing comprehensive support and rehabilitation, empowering individuals to overcome addiction and regain control of their health and well-being.
Delray Beach, Florida
Princeton, New Jersey
Denver, Colorado
Largo, Florida
Portland, Maine
Plymouth, New Hampshire
Pine Brook, New Jersey
SELF-ASSESSMENT:
Do I have an Addiction issue?
Disclaimer: Does not guarantee specific treatment outcomes, as individual results may vary. Our services are not a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis; please consult a qualified healthcare provider for such matters.
