Peers in recovery help those still struggling regain control of their lives
At the Peer Resource Center open house, left to right: Byron Hall, Jullie Calkin, and peer support specialist Karen Wands Park. |
People in recovery
are finding the help they need from people who’ve made it through similar
challenges and have been trained as peer support specialists.
are finding the help they need from people who’ve made it through similar
challenges and have been trained as peer support specialists.
That’s the premise of
the Peer Resource Center, a program operated by the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB) in the
Merrifield Center.
the Peer Resource Center, a program operated by the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB) in the
Merrifield Center.
Drawings by members of the center’s art club. |
Clients who come to
the center for help, along with peer support specialists, spoke about the program at
the center’s open house March 30.
the center for help, along with peer support specialists, spoke about the program at
the center’s open house March 30.
“There is hope here,”
said Sue E., a 34-year-old immigrant from Morocco, who talked about how the Peer
Resource Center is helping her deal with overwhelming challenges.
said Sue E., a 34-year-old immigrant from Morocco, who talked about how the Peer
Resource Center is helping her deal with overwhelming challenges.
Her life had become
unmanageable, she said, after her relationship with her parents deteriorated and
she began abusing alcohol, coke, and prescription drugs and got in trouble
with the law. She started getting help from a women’s recovery program during a
nine-month stay in the Fairfax County jail.
unmanageable, she said, after her relationship with her parents deteriorated and
she began abusing alcohol, coke, and prescription drugs and got in trouble
with the law. She started getting help from a women’s recovery program during a
nine-month stay in the Fairfax County jail.
At the Peer Resource
Center, Sue said, she “found people who share almost the same stories.” She’s
now in therapy, has reconciled with her family, and found a job as a
hairstylist, but acknowledges, “I will always be in recovery.”
Center, Sue said, she “found people who share almost the same stories.” She’s
now in therapy, has reconciled with her family, and found a job as a
hairstylist, but acknowledges, “I will always be in recovery.”
Jullie Calkins, a
former meth addict with bipolor disorder, moved to Northern Virginia from
California six months ago to care for her Alzheimer’s-stricken mother. She started
coming to the center because she was worried that all the upheaval and stress in her
life could trigger a relapse.
former meth addict with bipolor disorder, moved to Northern Virginia from
California six months ago to care for her Alzheimer’s-stricken mother. She started
coming to the center because she was worried that all the upheaval and stress in her
life could trigger a relapse.
She takes advantage
of the CSB’s Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) program, a series of
workshops to help people get through difficult times, sees a counselor, takes the
center’s art class, and sometimes just comes to the center for coffee and
conversation.
of the CSB’s Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) program, a series of
workshops to help people get through difficult times, sees a counselor, takes the
center’s art class, and sometimes just comes to the center for coffee and
conversation.
Annandale resident Byron Hall, a chef
and artist from New Orleans who’s been out of work for more than 10 years due
to depression and a back injury from a car crash, is ready to go back to work.
He drops in at the center for help with his job search while at the CSB for
mental health therapy.
and artist from New Orleans who’s been out of work for more than 10 years due
to depression and a back injury from a car crash, is ready to go back to work.
He drops in at the center for help with his job search while at the CSB for
mental health therapy.
Community Service Board Director Tisha Deeghan and Peer Resource Center Director CW Tillman. |
The center offers a women’s
discussion and support group; a men’s peer group; a creative expressions art
club, where participants do therapeutic art projects; and a job club where they
work on their resumes and learn job search skills. There’s also a Narcotics
Anonymous group and individual support sessions. Walk-ins are welcome, too, and
people drop in for social interaction and to use the computers to connect with community resources or check their email.
discussion and support group; a men’s peer group; a creative expressions art
club, where participants do therapeutic art projects; and a job club where they
work on their resumes and learn job search skills. There’s also a Narcotics
Anonymous group and individual support sessions. Walk-ins are welcome, too, and
people drop in for social interaction and to use the computers to connect with community resources or check their email.
The peer support
specialists connect people with the community resources, such as finding mental health services, affordable housing, basis computer skills training.
specialists connect people with the community resources, such as finding mental health services, affordable housing, basis computer skills training.
“Treatment works; people recover,” said Tisha Deeghan, the
executive director of the CSB. It’s the concept of
peers helping peers “that makes this all possible,” she said. People who’ve
been helped by the center can take an intensive training program and learn how
to assist others as peer support specialists.
executive director of the CSB. It’s the concept of
peers helping peers “that makes this all possible,” she said. People who’ve
been helped by the center can take an intensive training program and learn how
to assist others as peer support specialists.
The seed for the Peer
Resource Center was planted by people in recovery, said the center’s director,
CW Tillman. The program is a partnership of the CSB, the outpatient staff,
and the clients, whom he refers to as “guests.”
Resource Center was planted by people in recovery, said the center’s director,
CW Tillman. The program is a partnership of the CSB, the outpatient staff,
and the clients, whom he refers to as “guests.”
Many of the guests
have substance abuse issues, mental health challenges, or both, said Tillman,
who had struggled with depression for years and had attempted suicide before he
gained a sense of hope while recovering in the hospital. He now works with the
National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention.
have substance abuse issues, mental health challenges, or both, said Tillman,
who had struggled with depression for years and had attempted suicide before he
gained a sense of hope while recovering in the hospital. He now works with the
National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention.
About 200 people came
to the center during its first month, in October, he said. It served 550
in February, and is on track to serve 700 people in March.
to the center during its first month, in October, he said. It served 550
in February, and is on track to serve 700 people in March.
The peer support
staff who’ve had similar experiences can establish an instant connection with
the guests, Tillman said. It’s all about “listening and validating,”
staff who’ve had similar experiences can establish an instant connection with
the guests, Tillman said. It’s all about “listening and validating,”
Glad to see something positive–folks getting the help they need and then giving back.