National Recovery Month: The Power of Community in Recovery

National Recovery Month is here, and in recognition of this, we think it’s important to highlight a crucial aspect of recovery: Community

Humans are at our best when we are connected to others through community. We are social beings that are “hard-wired” to be part of a group. We can live a disconnected, isolated life in this modern age of society and all our technologies. Think about it: We order food from our phones, talk to strangers online, log in for a full workday all from our computers, etc. We could go days without having much face-to-face interaction with anyone.  But behind the scenes, we have people cleaning the streets for us at night while we sleep, firemen and police on standby ready to swoop in and support us at a moment’s notice, and doctors at hospitals ready to care for us in a crisis. Whether it be through our neighborhoods, towns, cities, work, or other groups we might be involved in, we are always on a team and benefit from participating in a community.

The same is true for those in recovery. Addiction is often about pain… and you can’t treat pain with more pain. That’s why consequences for people in active addiction rarely work and have a long-lasting effect. What is often most helpful to someone trying to recover is being a part of a group where they can connect, contribute, and collaborate. People trying to recover don’t need more pain or punishment; they need connection and community.

One thing that seems clear is that people heal in groups. This may be because a unique bond forms between people who have experienced similar challenges but have also found a similar solution. Having a supportive community offers a safe place where one can go to share, listen to others, offer help, and be helped. This formula inspires and has a powerful impact by creating permanent change.

As part of Feinberg’s process, we create a custom team for the families and individuals we work with. This effort resembles what a small community offers: a dynamic approach that is connected and collaborative. Our multidisciplinary team, consisting of mental health and addiction professionals, social workers, and nurses, ensures that we offer the most comprehensive service.

We also utilize the community by locating resources to meet our clients' needs. We truly believe that it takes a village, and we specialize in finding and creating that village.

An old African proverb comes to mind when thinking of the power of community. “If you want to go fast, go alone. But if you want to go far, go together.” Join the Feinberg community and see how far you can go!

This article was written by Thatcher Shivley, CCAR, Trained Interventionist, B.A.

Thatcher Shivley, CCAR, is a Trained Interventionist and certified Recovery Coach who has been in recovery since 2005. His passion lies in helping individuals access the support they deserve and showing them that change and recovery are possible, particularly through interventions. With a bachelor’s degree in Performance Communication and a minor in Music Performance from the University of South Florida, Thatcher combines his formal education with lived experience to guide others professionally.