What's New at CBH
The Power of Recovery: A Service Provider’s Perspective
My office at CBH isn't really different from any other office.
It has a desk, chairs, computer, papers, books on bookshelves,
pictures on the wall (including family), a clock, etc. - the usual
stuff. However, there is one item, a small picture frame holding a
coin in place, a picture that tells a story I never tire of
sharing.
I was born and raised in the south central portion of Virginia,
and had the privilege for 14 years to work at the local Community
Services Board (CSB) in that area. There, I worked with several
different populations, but none so much as those persons with
substance use disorders. We had thousands of persons come through
our programs during those years, each with their own unique
individual struggles. As a Division Director, I did not have the
opportunity to work with most of those we serve very closely, but I
did often get involved in our most troubling and difficult
situations. Such was the case with Jeremy (not his real
name).
Jeremy was a young adult from our area that had developed a
full-blown addiction while in college, and had returned to work in
a professional field - but as a "functional addict," meaning he
could hold a job and "keep up appearances" for others to see. That
didn't last long, and Jeremy ended up losing almost everything. He
received an education both in the classroom and on the streets. His
addiction progressed, and he became involved with services at the
local CSB.
Over the years, Jeremy failed treatment many times, and the local
CSB invested many thousands of dollars into those services. His was
a case that many would say was hopeless, and more than a few
persons expected Jeremy to die at an early age. However, a mixture
of perseverance and circumstances came together for Jeremy, and he
began the road to recovery - with a vengeance. He got clean,
dedicated himself to repairing the damage he had both suffered and
caused, and became a strong advocate for recovery. In a few years,
he actually came to work for that CSB and immediately began
impacting others (consumers and staff alike) as an amazing staff
member.
I left that position to come to Colonial Behavioral Health in
2004. In my last few days there, Jeremy's mother hosted a farewell
luncheon for us at her home. There I received one of the greatest
surprises and honors of my life. I had not known that Jeremy had
been giving away his anniversary recovery "chips" from Alcoholics
Anonymous (AA) each year to someone that had made major
contributions to his recovery. I was surprised, but never so
surprised as to be handed his Seven-Year chip.
This AA chip is the framed coin in my office, and it is my most
treasured professional possession. It rests in my office, but both
the chip and the recovery still belong to Jeremy. After all these
years, that chip and Jeremy still remind me every day of the power
of recovery.
David Coe serves as Executive Director of Colonial Behavioral Health, providing mental health, intellectual disability and substance use disorder services to the counties of James City and York, as well as the cities of Williamsburg and Poquoson. David has been employed at Colonial since March 2004, and previously held the positions of Clinical Director and Director of Planning & Development before assuming his current position in 2007. David holds a MA in Counseling from Liberty University and a MBA from Old Dominion University.