Grayson: Celebrate Recovery Program Founded On Faith

Celebrate Recovery, a program designed to help people recover from addiction and other issues affecting their personal and family life, has a specific source in mind when referring to a higher power.

“This is a 12-step program developed at the Saddleback Church in California in 1991,” Ken Beck explained as he discussed development of a Celebrate Recovery chapter in Grayson.

The program was created by a recovering alcoholic who worked with his pastor after becoming separated from his own family and receiving a conviction to help himself and others.

“It parallels the 12-step program of Alcoholics Anonymous, but when it talks about the higher power – the higher power is Jesus Christ,” Beck said.

The new Celebrate Recovery chapter meets at 6 p.m. every Tuesday at First Church of Christ in Grayson, with support from a number of participating churches, Beck noted.

A Meal First

Meetings begin with a free meal, followed by a large group session which then divides into smaller groups “to deal with individual topics including addictions, family dysfunction, anger and PTSD, food and body image disorders …” Beck said, adding sessions for teens and children are set to start this month (October 2020).

“The meals will also start in October. We had to jump through Covid hoops,” he said with a smile. The menu will vary from week to week, he said, depending on what supporting churches are able to provide.

“It will probably range from things like Sloppy Joes to vegetable soup,” he said.

Just Show Up

Newcomers are encouraged to attend, and do not need a referral or any money.

“Just show up,” Beck said, clarifying that while there is no cost to attend, “participant guides” are offered for $15 per set of four books.

The Grayson chapter is one of 15,000 Celebrate Recovery programs in America, Beck said, and it is also used in the prison systems of California and New Mexico.

Those who might most benefit from Celebrate Recovery include “Those with any concerns about negative patterns forming in their lives that could use a support group to help them discover alternatives and solutions.”

For more information about the Grayson chapter of Celebrate Recovery, call 606-474-5464.

Center 4 Change & Jenkie's Journey: "We are not a methadone clinic."

The people at A Center 4 Change and Jenkie’s Journey are trying to let the community know what they do, and don’t do, at their clinics in Carter County – including a new recovery center and an outpatient clinic set to open soon in Olive Hill.

“It is not a methadone or suboxone clinic. It is a behavioral health service organization that treats both mental health and addiction disorders,” said Kieara Judd, a Certified Social Worker who will serve as the program’s administrator.

Medically Assisted Treatment

She explained clients do have the option of using different medications as part of their individual recovery program, with pharmaceutical options also including antidepressants or mood stabilizers, as well as Vivitrol, which causes extremely unpleasant side effects if the client ingests drugs or alcohol.

Every aspect of their operations are “highly regulated” and follow strict treatment standards, including peer review and policy compliance with CARF accreditation – “the gold standard.”

“Medically assisted treatment – It’s one tool in the toolbox. It’s not everything,” said Licensed Psychological Practitioner and Clinical Director Nicolette “Nicki” Lowe. The clinical based treatment utilizes multiple components of other well-established recovery programs.

Residential Substance Abuse Program

The “Jenkie’s Journey” program will be centered on a 28-acre property with the first Amish-built structure called Stafford House. Judd, along with Lowe, noted both are named for local people whose lives had an impact upon themselves and others.

Between the two of them, their daily duties will include therapy with individuals and groups, classes, court concerns and agency referrals – among others.

“Basically what it is, is a residential women’s substance abuse program,” Judd said, explaining the program “tries to treat the whole person,” including often-related challenges including mental health conditions.

Stafford House will open with a staff of eight, working with eight women in recovery. The program will eventually be expanded to house a maximum of up to 24 women, and plans for a men’s shelter are in place for the future.

Clients will stay at Stafford House between 30 and 180 days, with “a lot of time for family” in an atmosphere which also provides a support system to help resolve family conflicts. There are no bars on the windows and outside contact is encouraged.

“We want to help them be amazing mothers and daughters,” Lowe said.

Finding Help

The phrase “We meet people where they are” is repeated often during a talk with Judd and Lowe as they discussed the ways people find their own paths to sobriety. The journey often begins when a person has “hit rock bottom” or has “a moment of clarity” about their addiction.

“Sometimes they will express ‘It’s just too big’ or ‘If I don’t do this now, I’m going to die,'” Lowe offered.

“These are people who need help. They are not worthless, dirty addicts or junkies. Society tends to stigmatize and dehumanize people who have addictions,” Judd added.

Anyone who needs help with mental health issues or addiction recovery is encouraged to call (606-780-1111 or 606-928-5116, 606-475-0334), or walk into one of the A Center 4 Change facilities in Grayson, Morehead, Ashland, and Russell as well as the soon to open space in Olive Hill and simply say, “I need to talk to somebody.”

A Center For Change also provides services including help with children, couples and family counseling, grief and depression, PTSD and DUI assessments, as well as make connections with community resources.

Services are billed “in network” as well as via Medicare and Medicaid, or clients can self pay based on a sliding scale according to income.

“It’s not about money for us. That’s not our first priority. We won’t turn anyone away because they can’t pay,” Judd said.

Story and Photos by TIM PRESTON

Carter County Post