More often than not individuals find themselves working in the addiction and counseling fields because they have been affected by the disease in someway or another. If you were to take a look at Sante’s staff bios you would find people who are in recovery themselves, people with family members in recovery and those who have lost loved ones to the fatal disease that is addiction. The founders of Alcoholics Anonymous understood this concept of “helping others who suffer” when they created sponsorships. Being a part of someone’s journey toward sobriety, although often challenging, can be one of the most rewarding adventures one can experience. It reminds us every day why we are on this path, and why we must continue. Below are some testimonials from our staff about why their work at Sante means so much to them.
Ron Arrington, MS, LCDC – Clinical Director
I was given the opportunity to join the Santé family in 2004 to expand services by creating outpatient programs through our newly created Community Based Services. I had known Deb and Rip Corley for several years and referred regularly to Santé Center. What I did not fully appreciate at that time was the intimacy of a relatively small, family owned treatment center and the opportunities created for staff and patients alike. To have a treatment philosophy centered on patient care rather than managed care or investor driven profits is an increasingly rare blessing in our field today. I will never forget the first time we had a patient whose insurance quit paying, our CEO asked me if the patient was clinically appropriate to step to a lower level of care and if not how much time he needed. His emphasis was not on the patient funding treatment at that moment, but was he stable and clinically ready to change levels of care. This is very much in line with what we ask of our patients, “what is the next right thing to do”. This is the heart of Santé Center for healing.
Rick Gordon, LCSW, CSAT-Candidate - Director Outpatient Services
My journey to Sante started 20 plus years ago when I “made a decision” to turn my will and life over to my Higher Power as it suggests in the Third Step. It became clear that I was being lead from the business profession into the helping profession. This was one of the first times that I had to “live” Step 3 and begin trusting my Higher Power. I went back to school, got my Masters Degree and started working as a therapist in a program that treated sex addiction in a city outside of Philadelphia, which is how I got to know about Sante. About six years ago Sante contacted me about a position in their new Intensive Outpatient Program. They were looking for a therapist who had experience in sex addiction, chemical dependency and family therapy. It seemed like a perfect fit. However, I had never lived outside of Delaware and coming to Texas was a little, well maybe a lot, scary. Again, it was matter of putting my faith in my Higher Power and strapping myself in for a big change. What made it easier was that I felt supported by the staff here and impressed by Sante’s commitment to patient care. The staff was and is trained at a level that provides patient care that is truly cutting edge. I am proud to be part of a team of highly dedicated professionals and I get the privilege of having patients share their lives with me. That really is “as good as it gets.”
Bridget Jaecks, MS, LPC, LCDC, CSAT-Candidate – Case Manager
There is a reason this facility is called Sante Center for Healing. It truly is a place where healing happens. I am so grateful to be working in a place where my passion is lived out everyday. I have worked in other facilities and work settings, but none have topped my experience here. It is my life’s work to be a therapist working with addictions. I learned once that in order for me to keep something, I must give it away. Sante provides me that everyday that I am here. And everyday recovery, peace, gratitude and real “healing” come back to me tenfold.
Erica Sheley – Aftercare & Alumni Coordinator
This summer will mark the end of my second year at Santé. Time flies. I remember being something close to terrified before my first Alumni Retreat as I had only been here a brief two months. I kept thinking to myself, ‘How am I going to pull this off?’ Of course, everything worked out just fine (most of the planning had been done before I started), so for the most part, I just sat back and observed. Not only did I observe, I absorbed. I began to understand a little bit more about this new place I was now working, the spirit it holds, what it means to so many and the legacy that the alumni carry. As an adult child of an alcoholic, recovery is something I believe in simply because I’ve seen it work miracles. My father got sober when I was 16 years old, and I watched him change in front of me. He was never a bad man, I knew that, and while he never seemed especially unhappy, I believe that he had never truly been at peace either. If you knew him then and you saw him now, you wouldn’t be able to recognize the man in front of you; it was quite awhile before I did, and I’m still getting to know him. My point is that I appreciate everything I learn from Santé, but more importantly, from our alumni. They make believers out of those who don’t, starting with themselves. Now, I believe in recovery because I see it continue work time and time again.
