Kathleen Boutin works as an outreach professional for those who are recovering from addiction and struggling with homelessness. In the following article, Kathleen Boutin discusses the invaluable role of recovery advocates in providing empathetic and relatable support for those on the path to recovery.
Alcoholism and addiction can wreak havoc upon every aspect of one’s life. The life of an addict in recovery can be a lonely one, and it can be tough to stay accountable when alone. This is where recovery advocates can make all the difference through invaluable peer support.
Kathleen Boutin on Empowering Lives with Recovery Advocates
Recovery advocates guide those in addiction treatment through their regimens and programs, often while they are in a residential facility or outpatient program. They are part of the certified clinical staff and it is their job to closely track a patient’s progress to make sure they are advancing, achieving their goals, and getting the support they need outside of the recovery regimen.
Kathleen Boutin explains that what sets recovery advocates apart from other clinical staff is that they are often former patients themselves. These outreach professionals know first-hand what it is like to battle addiction, and they bring that knowledge and experience to the work that they do. They are in a unique position to empathize with patients in addiction recovery, having experienced both sides of the battle themselves. They understand what works, what doesn’t, and can be a trusted mentor to someone who is in an extremely vulnerable state.
Guiding the Healing Process
Kathleen Boutin notes that recovery advocates get intimately involved in all aspects of the healing process, from preparing materials for group meetings to keeping records of patients’ progress, guiding patients through the standard 12 steps of addiction recovery and developing individualized therapy programs.
Patients first entering a recovery program are often in a state of shock. Not only are they possibly experiencing the physical and psychological symptoms of withdrawal, they are also forced to adjust to an entirely different lifestyle, reams of new and foreign information and lingo, and are staring down the barrel of a brand new life without substance abuse which – while it may be the ultimate goal – can be a scary prospect for someone who has come to rely on drugs or alcohol to face the challenges of daily life.
Kathleen Boutin notes that the pressure from the outside – work, family, and friends can be discouraging. Having an advocate to guide patients through the earliest days of their treatment programs can make a tremendous difference in the overall outcome. These mentors understand the unique challenges and, many of them are living proof that the arduous recovery process is worthwhile and can lead to success.
Outreach professionals are also on high alert to keep patients safe during treatment. They check for threats around the facility, conduct check-ins on patients, and make sure all rules are being followed, everything from curfews to behaviors to visits to what items are allowed on-site. Kathleen Boutin also explains that they are trained to recognize the symptoms of withdrawal and relapse and ensure that the patients stay healthy and safe during the entire process.
The Power of Peer Support
Kathleen Boutin explains that recovery advocates provide emotional support for patients and keep them accountable – even after their treatment program has concluded. The advocates often stay in touch with patients during the outpatient portion of their treatment and beyond, after they have left the treatment facility and returned to a more “normal” life in the outside world.
The peer support from recovery advocacy is invaluable, providing a home base of like-minded, sober-living peers who understand one another’s struggles and can help each other stay on track. Kathleen Boutin says that volunteering is a great way for a recovering addict to be of service (one of the tenets of 12 step recovery) and build a new, healthier community for themselves in their new, sober life. These volunteers and mentors can rejoice with one another in their triumphs, share their insecurities, and discuss their individual challenges in an environment that is free from judgment or stigma.
In Conclusion
Kathleen Boutin reiterates that recovery advocates provide a unique form of mentorship and guidance in a drug recovery program, drawing on their own experiences to guide a new wave of patients through their addiction recover journey. By volunteering as an advocate, a person in recovery can build a new community of like-minded sober-living peers while also giving back to their community.
