THE WILLOWS CELEBRATES THREE YEARS!
Photos from spirit week & the anniversary celebration can be found on our social media pages.
This October, The Willows at Red Oak Recovery® celebrated their three year anniversary of being at their expansive, 38- acre campus where young adult women, ages 18 to 35, are recovering from trauma, substance abuse, and mental health issues in the safety of a healing sanctuary. Located just outside of Asheville, North Carolina, we are situated in the perfect backdrop filled with beautiful pastures, ponds, and walking trails that help our young women become whole again. The Willow’s team and clients celebrated with a Spirit Week filled with fun activities, delicious treats, and fellowship.
Lynn Wadsworth, MS, LPC, LCAS, CTT-I Executive Director
The Willows at Red Oak Recovery® is excited to announce the promotion of Lynn Wadsworth, MS, LPC, LCAS, CTT-I to Executive Director!
Lynn is a Masters-level clinician who is dually licensed in the state of North Carolina as a professional counselor and an addictions specialist. She has served in several different capacities while with us, including developing our Family Program and being the Clinical Director at The Willows. Prior to working at The Willows, Lynn has held a variety of leadership and management roles throughout her clinical career in a broad range of settings. Her personal journey, combined with her therapeutic training and knowledge has contributed to her deeply held belief in the extraordinary healing possibilities within a holistic setting which often lead to life-long benefits. Lynn brings a deep understanding and empathy for individuals and families in crisis.
“We are delighted to see Lynn take on this role,” explains the President and Founder. “She has played an integral part in the growth and clinical development of The Willows since the beginning.”
EXCITING NEWS!
The Willows at Red Oak Recovery® is adding a second home to our campus to reach more women in need of healing and wellness. Our hope is to continue to be a starting point for women to find the strength to begin a life of recovery with grace and integrity. We understand that recovery is a life long journey; one that will have many highs and lows as we find our meaning and purpose in this world. We are so grateful to welcome more women on the journey to self-discovery in 2020.
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Nothing is Impossible
Becoming a parent is one of life’s greatest blessings and, in turn, one of its biggest challenges. When our children were growing up, we thought that the trials of raising them couldn’t be harder than when they were small. Little did we know that our toughest days lie ahead.
When our youngest daughter neared the end of high school, she began drinking and using recreational drugs. Every effort we made to address what was happening over the years ended up making the situation worse. The downward spiral revealed itself again and again in lost jobs, lost opportunities, and lost self-esteem. Oh, how we wish we would’ve done something sooner! But the truth is, even though we were ready, she wasn’t.
When the time came where she would even consider getting help, we wanted her to drive the process and have ownership. Drugs and alcohol were not her only issue and, as the other addictions became more escalated, she developed an eating disorder as well. Given her dual diagnosis, it was very challenging to find a facility that could treat both conditions. She became angry, frustrated, and doubtful that things could really change. Unable to find adequate services, our daughter became very agitated and frustrated, to the point of giving up and feeling that she was destined for a life of addiction. The breaking point came when we had to tell her that she couldn’t come home unless she sought help. We endured four horrific days of not knowing where she was, if she was safe, or if we would see her again alive. Finally, came home, surrendering and ready to get help. She returned to us, frail, sick and hopeless. We had reached out earlier at the advice of a counselor with whom we have an acquaintance and she recommended that we call The Willows at Red Oak Recovery given the complexity of our daughter’s needs. At the time, we didn’t think that this would be an option but felt that we could, at the very least, call the facility for some guidance.
About a week later, one of the staff called us back just to ask about our daughter and how she was doing. We were completely in awe that they would take the time and care to do this as we hadn’t called to see what the prospect of her being admitted would be, but to only, seek advice. In retrospect, this turned out to be a divine appointment as that opened the door to what would become the most significant healing experience in our daughter’s life and in our family.
Her experience at the Willows was much like that of a butterfly. At first, she was in a dark cocoon, unable to let any light in and then, with the passage of time and the resources of a wonderful counselor and staff, she began to emerge and spread her wings. Today, our daughter has a different and renewed perspective on where her life is and where she wants it to go. Are there hard days? Yes. Is she fearful about what comes next? Sometimes, but she also has hope that she has never had before. Her victories belong to no one else and she claims them proudly, recently having received her 6-month chip! She is taking control of her life, knowing that the challenges will be there but also knowing that she has the tools needed to navigate whatever comes.
Looking back to where we started, we never could’ve imagined where we would be today. Our days now are filled with joy and promise, rejoicing that we have a relationship with our daughter that is healthy, tight knit and full of love, along with a fervent hope that she will use this life experience to help other young women on their own journey to sobriety and that they will find their way just as she is doing…one day at a time.
CATCH US ON THE ROAD
November
11/1 Capital Networking Group Washington, DC
11/4-5 School Connections | Atlanta, GA
11/6-8 IECA | Atlanta, GA
11/7-10 National Association of Drama Therapy Conference | Philadelphia, PA
December
12/4-6 2nd Annual Women’s Wellness & Recovery Conference: Emerging Trends & Clinical Strategies | Charleston, SC
REGISTRATION IS STILL AVAILABLE FOR OUR 2ND ANNUAL WOMEN’S WELLNESS & RECOVERY CONFERENCE: EMERGING TRENDS & CLINICAL STRATEGIES
Click here to register
