Choices Resource Guide

“We’re all human, and we’ve all made mistakes. But we can choose to get better. I tell my clients if they give me 100 percent effort, I’ll give them 110 percent effort.”

Since I’ve resumed counseling and started working at CHOICES, I’ve been able to share with my clients some of the biggest triggers that tempted me to use again. I feel like I can better identify those struggles in my clients, and we can directly address them. I believe because my clients know my story they’re more willing to trust me and know that I’m here to support them in their new lives. As recovering addicts, we’ve essentially blown up our lives and are attempting to sort through the wreckage of it. I want them to understand that I know where they’re coming from and that I empathize with them. One thing I stress is accountability. We let our situations get out of control, but I don’t want the thought to stop there. We’re all human, and we’ve all made mistakes. But we can choose to get better. I tell my clients if they give me 100 percent effort, I’ll give them 110 percent effort. Show me you want this, and I’ll do everything to make sure you get it. ‘I’ll walk with you,’ I tell them. identify with some of their situations. I know what to look for. Having so much experience in counseling, I thought there wasn’t a lot I didn’t understand. But being an addict myself made me realize there’s a lot I may not have understood that I now can include in my perspective. Before dealing with addiction, I had everything. I had my dream, my house, my kids. But during those two years of abusing drugs, I blew up my life. When my prescriptions ran out, I went seeking them outside of my doctor. I went to jail for two months. That was a humbling experience to be on the other side of everything. I was arrested by the same police officers I previously worked side-by-side with. I was doing drug screens at the same place I was once licensed. Accountability is Key

- CARRIE TORRES

I also understand and have a great desire to help them through the stigmas that are often attached to people in recovery. Addiction can affect anyone. No one’s immune to it, but there’s often a negative perspective attached to people struggling with addiction or in the process of treatment. I want to help take that away. The part about this program that makes these aspects of my job doable is the attention I can give to my clients. Throughout my 15 years in counseling, I’ve worked at a lot of different agencies. Many of them aren’t able to provide their clients with one-on- one attention like we do here. I have a small group of clients I can individually tend to and uncover what’s going on. I think that’s what makes this program different and makes my work more valuable both as a counselor and someone in recovery.”