My Journey to Guardian.
We need to go back about seven years. I had an associates degree and was working on a produce farm. Being in recovery (I will be sober 12 years as of January 2025), I decided it was time to follow my goals so I could work in the medical field.
So I applied for and got a mental health technician job at another rehab facility. There I worked on a dual diagnosis unit but soon discovered that I wanted to work strictly with addiction. While working as an overnight behavioral health technician supervisor there, I also worked at Princeton Detox & Recovery Center part-time as a behavioral health tech. I was eventually offered a full-time job here, was promoted to lead overnight tech, and was recently promoted to tech supervisor.
With regard to education and credentials, I am a mental health first responder and am about to be certified as a peer recovery coach. I’m in my last class to become certified in medical billing and coding, and I started working on my bachelor’s degree in social work at Rutgers University in September 2024.
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
Simply put, I manage the schedules and capabilities of the behavioral health techs. A good deal of my work is administrative, making sure that documents are completed properly by techs, but to me the most important part of my role is coaching them to work cohesively as a team and helping techs to be good communicators. I always reinforce that what they are doing is much more than the tasks they perform during their shifts. They are helping clients grow and introducing different ideas and values to them.
I take a lot of pride in that because within my recovery and even prior to using, I took pride in how I held myself as a person. When I was using, that was something that I couldn’t stand about myself anymore. To be able to evolve from that and regain my own morals and principles is very important to me. I want to see that happen for our clients, too. I want them to understand their addiction doesn’t define them. They are capable of getting past it and thriving once again.
What Behavioral Health Techs Do
Like nurses, techs are on site 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and we’re very hands-on with client care. When a client comes in, we typically do their intake, which can include belongings searches, skin assessments, and urine test prep. We do rounds regularly and check vital signs every four hours. If a client is sick in bed because they are detoxing, we are the first point of contact, cleaning up if they are physically ill and providing general support.
We also do a lot of de-escalation when clients are feeling their worst and want to leave. We try to remind them that they walked in here for a reason and that detox can be uncomfortable, but there is a greater good they need to think about.
We get to know the clients on a very personal level. And we try to show clients that they can trust in us, and when they do, we’re capable of making a difference in that person’s life.
What Helps Clients Most
Medication management and other aspects of care are important, but I think what helps clients most is our gentle reminders. We delicately mention that there are other worthwhile things they could do other than their hobby of getting high or drinking. We recommend that they not only attend support groups but also participate in yoga, meditation, and music appreciation activities to name a few.
Myself and several other health techs are becoming peer recovery support certified, which allows us to run groups on whatever topics we are comfortable with or to fulfill a need we see in our clients.
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About Me
- The best part of this gig is … Changing people’s lives.
- When it comes to work accomplishments, I’m most proud of … Overachieving.
- What makes me want to go to work every day is … I love the people I work with. I get such satisfaction out of working with clients and staff. I love it when a clinician or tech says, “You’re such a good supervisor. I’m so happy you’re here. You make me laugh.” It validates me how I hold myself and whether I am doing this job correctly.
- In my personal time I … I like to be artistic. It helps me with anxiety and getting out of my head. Over the past year, I decided that I was going to start watching YouTube videos and teach myself how to tattoo. So I bought the materials and just started practicing on myself. My legs are covered. The next thing I want to try is making jewelry out of silverware.
- My Secret Talent Is… I’m a good writer and very articulate.
- The motto or quote I live by is … Always be kind because you don’t know who you’re impacting.
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.
Immersion Recovery Center
Delray Beach, Florida
Princeton Recovery Center
Princeton, New Jersey
CuraWest
Denver, Colorado
Tampa Addiction Center
Largo, Florida
Pine Tree Recovery Center
Portland, Maine
The Plymouth House
Plymouth, New Hampshire
New Pathway Counseling
Pine Brook, New Jersey
Dallas Addiction Center
Plano, Texas
Saddle Brook Counseling Center
Saddle Brook, New Jersey
What Would I Say to Someone Who’s Hesitant About Recovery?
I deal with this all the time, as many clients walk through the door and then second guess their decision.
First, I commend people and remind them to be proud of themselves for having the courage to walk through our doors. Even though they’re not sure how to help themselves, they knew enough to say “I need help.” That takes a lot of moxy.
Second, I always let people know it’s not the miles that you do, it’s how you try to get there day by day. Those little milestones help grow that journey. Before you know it, you’ll be able to be grateful and say, “Wow, I did that myself. I never knew I was capable of doing it.”
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.
