Motivation & Confidence Make All the Difference

September 8, 2020
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In celebration of National Recovery Month, Fellowship Hall will be highlighting the stories of some of our incredibly inspiring alumni and staff members on social media and here on our blog. It is our hope that in sharing these stories, we break the stigma surrounding drug and alcohol addiction. With knowledge, we can advocate for the proper treatment of ourselves and loved ones that may struggle with the disease. 

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There’s an old saying that goes, “No matter where life takes you, don’t forget where you came from,” and Fellowship Hall staff member Christina T’s story is an incredible reminder of the truth behind this cliché.

The year was 2008, and Christina had been recently released from her third stint in prison. As she returned to life beyond confinement, she began to seek employment through Graham Temporary Services. Whether it was by coincidence or true fate, she was offered a job at Fellowship Hall as the head of housekeeping. At the time, she had no way of knowing that this facility would go on to have such a major impact on her life and career path. As Christina settled into her work and daily routines, things began to look up. However, life happens, and unfortunately—so do relapses. Christina would go on to relapse once more and spend a final time in prison from 2009 – 2011.

After her final release in 2011, Christina had a plan—her sights were set on getting back to the place that had once provided her with a sense of structure and purpose.  “I came back to what I knew. I came back to Fellowship Hall to ask for a job again,” Christina explained.

At the time, no positions were available, but thankfully, she was unwilling to give up on another chance to work at the Hall. “I just wanted to be here [Fellowship Hall] and I was not going to give up,” she said. For eight months, Christina kept in touch with the Hall until one day in August of 2012, she got the call she had been waiting on—one that arguably, would change her life and allow her to begin building a future that she could be proud of. A position in the kitchen as a Dietary Aid (which she described as “a fancy title for a pot washer”) was open. Nevertheless, she gratefully accepted. Her first day back at work was also her first day back to school.

Christina enrolled herself in classes at Guilford Technical Community College to study for an Associate Degree in Human Services. After a year and a half in the program, she decided to go all the way in pursuit of a Bachelor’s Degree. She applied twice to UNCG and once to A&T but was denied all three times. Once again, Christina had the tenacity to not give up.

She researched other opportunities to get her education and was accepted to the Western New Mexico University School of Social Work online program. She earned not only a Bachelor of Social Work in May of 2017, but continued on and earned a Master of Social Work in May 2018. Currently, she is in the process of acquiring her LCAS and LCSW-A License.

As the doors to education were opening for Christina, new job opportunities presented themselves at the Hall as well. She moved from the kitchen to work as a part-time therapy assistant and a part-time receptionist. Finally, in 2015, she was offered a full-time position with Admissions. When potential guests call admissions, they establish the first point of contact with Fellowship Hall. Often, they are reluctant, nervous, and scared—sometimes they’re only calling because they have been forced to seek treatment. Through her own experience and education, Christina was able to provide the guidance and compassion that the individuals deserved. She found her work with admissions to be genuinely rewarding and said that her then supervisor, Randy Carter, supported her tremendously for three years as an admission counselor while she was both working and in school full time.

In 2018, Christina transitioned from Admissions to Therapy as a Social Assessment Counselor, in which she performed in-depth social assessments for guests and helped to build their treatment plans. Christina now serves as a Primary Counselor for those in treatment. As Fellowship Hall admires her persistence, strength, and dedication to treatment, Christina acknowledges the support that afforded her the opportunities she is able to exercise today.

“Everyone at Fellowship Hall has been so supportive, including the board who approved my education reimbursement, HR has supported my changes in positions, and Kelly [Scaggs, Clinical Director] gave me the opportunity to join the clinical team and has been very supportive of my professional growth. It’s a privilege I have been given to use my experience and education to help others suffering from addiction find their own journey. I love Fellowship Hall. I believe in what we do and I believe we do it well.” Christina is now officially a Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist and Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate.

Something that makes Fellowship Hall so unique in the realm of treatment facilities is the staff. Like Christina, many of our well-trained, highly qualified staff are in recovery themselves and have seen the trials and tribulations of rebuilding a life after active addiction. It is not uncommon to hear from Alumni that building relationships with staff such as Christina, gives them the motivation and confidence to actively pursue a life in recovery.

For more information, resources, and encouragement, ‘like’ the Fellowship Hall Facebook page and follow us on Instagram at @FellowshipHallNC.

About Fellowship Hall

Fellowship Hall is a 99-bed, private, not-for-profit alcohol and drug treatment center located on 120 tranquil acres in Greensboro, N.C. We provide treatment and evidence-based programs built upon the Twelve-Step model of recovery. We have been accredited by The Joint Commission since 1974 as a specialty hospital and are a member of the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers. We are committed to providing exceptional, compassionate care to every individual we serve.

 

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