No stranger to high-stress situations, Addison brings years of hands-on experience to CuraSouth, where she works as a counselor with the clinical team. Before she moved into her position at the Tampa, Florida detox and residential treatment center, she worked in crisis intervention, helping those in dire need of emergency mental and behavioral healthcare services.

“My previous experience prepared me for my current role by opening my eyes to the lived outcomes of continued substance abuse and severe, persistent mental health issues without appropriate intervention,” she says. “When someone is actively overdosing it is a terrifying experience for them; for their families. Working so closely with people living out the severe consequences of addiction helped contextualize why it was so important to do the work I’m doing now.”

A Day in the Life of a CuraSouth Clinical Counselor

When asked what an average day in her role at CuraSouth looked like, Addison explained, “I come in and meet with those who have less serious needs first. I’ll participate in the triage meeting, then identify those who have more detailed needs and meet with them throughout the day. Daily clinical contacts, helping people recognize the depth and severity of their problem and translate that into motivation to change. I also work with continuing care to develop discharge plans for each client.”

Addison noted that prior to CuraSouth opening the residential portion of its treatment program, roughly 40 percent of clients moved to a higher level of care following discharge from medical detox. With the new residential program in place, continuing care will be much more accessible to those already engaged in the program. The hope is that clients will choose to transition directly into residential care following the completion of detoxification, ultimately reducing the risk of relapse and improving treatment outcomes.

The Role of Family

Family involvement is a fundamental part of the CuraSouth clinical program. “We contact family members on a daily basis to provide them with updates on how their loved one is doing,” Addison explains. “We have looped families in for intervention-style conversations when we feel doing so would be beneficial. This allows the family members of our clients to share how their active addiction has affected them and provides them with a safe, controlled environment to set boundaries.”

Her personal experiences better equip her to guide clients and their loved ones through the early recovery process. “Addiction is a problem quite unlike any other problem in its complexity,” Addison shares. “It is simultaneously universal and so incredibly unique to the individual. Personally, my father struggled with addiction and lost his life as a consequence of that. It is important for me to do something that feels aligned with my purpose and my personal, lived experiences.”

Addison has been a part of the Guardian Recovery Team for roughly a year, and notes that the culture of the organization is one she feels confident participating in. “Guardian Recovery Network and CuraSouth as an individual facility are on the same page about the fact that people who struggle with addiction are just that — people,” she says. “People first. It is important to address clinical needs in a way that honors dignity and remains kind and empathic. I am aligned with this organization’s goals and missions, and I feel very strongly connected to the program as a whole.”

In her free time, Addison enjoys reading and taking long walks with her dog. When she takes time off she enjoys traveling, and recently spent several weeks in Egypt.