Brandywine Counseling: Success Stories

For BCI staff, the reward for our hard work is seeing the successful outcomes for clients. Each individual story is inspiring in its own way, whether it is the homeless couple who had a healthy, drug-free baby during their stay at our Transition House, or the elderly man who overcame his addiction and found renewed faith through our case management program. Below are a few of our recent success stories.

Stigma In Our Community: The Methadone Patient Next Door

- Meet some BCI patients who have achieved several years of clean time thanks to methadone maintenance treatment, including "client number 1" and a married nursing student.

The Yellow Brick Road to Recovery - When Trisha thinks about her recovery from drug and alcohol addiction, she thinks of "The Wizard of Oz."

This Time - Each time something made him walk away. Would things be different this time?

When Trisha thinks about her recovery from drug and alcohol addiction, she thinks of “The Wizard of Oz.”

At 20 years old, she is a young lady much like Dorothy. Not long ago, she found herself in a troubling place, surrounded by confusion and uncertainty. She set out on her own journey to find the better life she was seeking.

Trisha started using drugs when she was 11 years old. At first it was “drinking here or there,” then she moved on to smoking pot. In high school she was smoking dust and taking ecstasy pills between classes. She used cocaine for two years, and on top of that, “all kinds of prescription pills and alcohol — whatever I could get my hands on.” After graduating high school she developed a serious addiction to heroin. She eventually served prison time for possession of three bundles of heroin.

Looking back today, Trisha clearly recalls the different stages of her recovery. She likes using descriptive words as symbols of each obstacle and each accomplishment. Words like “moderate,” or “apply,” or “progress,” speak volumes. Words that were familiar to her before, but took on a new meaning, now serving as reminders of a point in time, like signposts along a road. Words like “stagnant.”

Stagnant means: Not flowing in a current or a stream; long disuse; not advancing or developing. Stagnant is the word she uses to describe the life she left behind.

Before she came to Brandywine, Trisha had sought help for her addiction several times. Beginning at age 15, she had tried detox, rehabs, and treatment centers, but none of these had worked. “I just wasn’t ready to give it up. In order to help yourself you have to want it more than anything, like the way you want that drug.”

Just as Dorothy feared the pursuit of the Wicked Witch, Trisha feared that her problems would catch up with her unless she found a program that would work. What she most needed was an effective support system. “I was tired of being sick and tired. I got out my yellow pages and came upon BCI. I made an appointment and met with staff and knew this was the place for me.”

Brandywine Counseling’s Project Renewal is a treatment program for homeless and near-homeless substance abusers in Sussex County. Here, Trisha found the support she was looking for. Since it began in 2003, Project Renewal has screened over 500 individuals, linking 75% of them to substance abuse treatment.

Crux: A puzzling or difficult problem; an unsolved question; an essential point requiring resolution or resolving an outcome.

Project Renewal clients learn to change behaviors and lifestyles so they can remain drug free and live productively in the community. With the help of her counselor/case manager, Trisha was able to identify the changes she needed to make, eliminate sources of stress, and work toward achieving her goal. In time, she saw these changes take shape. She was going to Alcoholics Anonymous/Narcotics Anonymous meetings regularly. She developed a strong sense of responsibility. Her confidence and self-esteem rose.

Trisha had found new qualities in herself, just as the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion each found what they were missing. Once these changes had taken hold, she was finally able to stop using drugs. “I have learned to live life sober and clean and have fun doing it. I feel I would still be using if I didn't go to BCI.” Trisha is one of the 50 percent of Project Renewal clients who had no alcohol use after six months, and 75 percent who had no illegal drug use.

Progress: To move forward; to develop to a higher, better, or move to a more advanced, stage.

Trisha now feels she has her whole future ahead of her. “My goals to continue doing well are to keep up what I'm already doing, like meetings and communicating about how I feel to my support system. I just finished school and I will be designing houses on the AutoCAD program.”

Gratitude: The state of being grateful; appreciative of benefits received; pleasing by reason of comfort supplied or discomfort alleviated.

Trisha is grateful to everyone who supported her in her recovery; first and foremost, to her family. She acknowledges that her addiction took a toll on her loved ones and her relationship with them. “My family is learning to trust me all over again because I have lied so much. I put them through a lot of stress, but they are still here for me, and if it wasn’t for their determination to get the real me back, I wouldn’t be here. Without my family I have nothing.”

She is grateful to her treatment program as well. “I feel BCI has helped me further in my recovery than any other treatment center. This place truly has saved my life, and it’s because they are so dedicated and real about their job. They understand and treat you like a person and don’t judge you for anything you’ve ever done.”

Before leaving BCI, Trisha presented us with a wonderful mural she created. It is brightly colored and covered with the definitions of the words that remind her of the journey she took, from “stagnant” to “progress.” The title of the mural is, “Follow the Yellow Brick Road… the Path to Recovery!” Trisha has learned that the best way to keep her new knowledge is to pass it on. The mural will be proudly displayed as a reminder to any client who walks in the door that they, too, can find what they’re looking for, if they just follow the path.

For more information about Project Renewal, contact Shay Lipshitz at 302-856-4700.

When Robert explains why he decided to give treatment another try, you can hear the certainty in his voice. After 33 years of heroin addiction and its destructive effects on his life, after several failed attempts to get clean, he realizes that the power to change rests with him alone.

At 51, Robert can no longer treat his health problems lightly. Severe arthritis has limited his walking and standing ability, forcing him to leave his career as a landscaper and go on disability. He has been awaiting a hip replacement for years. In addition, he has high blood pressure and Hepatitis C, and is HIV+. Despite receiving veterans’ benefits and food stamps, Robert struggles to make ends meet.

This time, “I’m willing to face the consequences of making the wrong choices.”

Also weighing on Robert’s mind is guilt over the devastating effects of his addiction on his family. His grown children find it hard to trust him anymore. His oldest daughter has become estranged and hesitant with how to approach him. He feels her resentment at the pain he caused her by constantly fighting with her mother. Even greater distance has grown between Robert and his son. While his father wasn’t around, he turned to selling drugs and served a 3 year jail sentence for a drug-related shooting. Robert hopes he can regain his family’s trust before it is too late, so he can build a relationship with his grandchildren, but he understands it will take time to heal these wounds. Entering treatment again, he is prepared to do it without their support.

Robert believes his purpose in life is to always be there for others. Growing up, his family taught him to try to be the best he could. When he felt he couldn’t earn their respect, he felt rejected and ran away from home. He hung around with the wrong people and became involved with drugs. He began using alcohol at age 10, and drugs at age 17. By age 27 he was shoplifting to support his habit. He has served time in prison 12-14 times and is currently on Level 1 probation.

Despite three failed treatment attempts at BCI, Robert did not hesitate to come back again. He feels like part of a family here. He speaks highly of his past counselors. His attendance was good and his counselors remarked how committed he was to treatment. One counselor saw in him a genuine desire to recover and a high level of understanding of his disease, evidenced by his honest disclosure of key life stressors and interest in learning positive coping techniques. But each time something made him walk away. Would things be different this time?

“Before, I was being uncertain about myself, and I fell on my face each time.”

Staying in treatment had not been easy before. Robert’s arthritis pain was worsening, and his hip surgery was delayed again and again. Legal problems once led to a week-long absence from the clinic. Perhaps the biggest challenge he faced was that his wife was not supportive of his being in treatment. Though he wanted to involve her in his recovery, she was demanding and impatient with his progress, and refused to come to sessions with him. They were fighting constantly. Despite his efforts to mend his ways and get help, Robert feared things would get worse and made plans to move out of the house. With his marriage breaking up, Robert’s attendance declined and he once again left treatment after a few months.

Around Christmas 2003, Robert entered BCI’s HIV/AIDS case management program to get assistance with medical and daily living issues. His case manager Kyle helped him find housing. Two months later he decided to enter the addiction treatment program. He made up his mind that he would get in, even if there was a long wait like the last three times. Robert knew from experience it would be several days from the time of his intake until he could attend orientation and be medicated. What he didn’t know was that Brandywine had recently made changes that allowed us to complete the admission and orientation process the same day as intake. Robert was pleasantly surprised when he received his intake, a much shorter orientation, and his first dose all on the same day. And he is just one of many. At BCI, where clients used to wait an average of 2 days from intake to admission, most are now admitted the same day.

Being admitted quickly gave an extra boost to Robert’s positive outlook, and he surprised his intake counselor Lynette with his progress. Initially recommended for intensive case management, he was engaging so well that she decided he should stay at the outpatient level of care. Robert was transferred to the treatment unit, where he continued to keep his appointments and pick up his medication. He has cut down his drug use and tried to remain abstinent, resulting in his most recent drug screen being clean. His counselor Caite says he is putting a good effort into sustaining his recovery. At a recent counseling session, Robert brought along the new woman in his life, Crystal, so she could hear about his progress and get information about methadone. They are now supporting each other in recovery.

Having taken control of his life, Robert is optimistic about the future. He is focused on maintaining a healthy lifestyle, maintaining his new house, and building a relationship with his family and with Crystal. He would like to join a church choir, and do volunteer work with senior citizens, as well as with younger men, sharing his stories to provide hope. He would like to write a book about his life. “I’m gonna do it, not just talk about it. I did enough of that – talk, talk, talk.” Despite all the hardships and setbacks, Robert has proven to himself he can act on the goals he sets. He knows why this time is different.

Commercial sex workers are a population at very high risk for infection with HIV, due to unprotected sex and injection drug use. They are one of the populations most in need of intervention and prevention services, but also one of the most challenging to reach. They are unlikely to leave their neighborhood to access services in an office setting, and are reluctant to receive information from outsiders.

Along Routes 13 and 9, two of the main routes leading into the city of Wilmington, prostitutes and exotic dancers frequent a cluster of strip clubs and motels. The community refers to this area as “the two tracks.” Since 2002, BCI has conducted an innovative outreach project here, targeting women who trade sex for money or drugs. The project began with two outreach workers renting a motel room two nights per week, providing refreshments, education, and referrals. Later we expanded the project using our mobile outreach van. Since then, 124 outreach contacts have been made, 9 individuals have been tested for HIV, and 13 individuals have used the referrals they were given. In November 2003, we offered a special dinner and retreat as a reward for women who consistently utilized our services.

Rochelle Booker is one of the outreach workers working on this project. In the following story, she tells about the night of the retreat in her own words.

We started setting up at 12:00 p.m. and getting everything ready for the ladies. We hung up the pajamas and the clothing we had for them. The rooms at the hotel were wonderful. We had two double beds and one king size bed. The hotel manager and housekeeping were great.

As we began to set up, we also were having fun, knowing that the ladies would appreciate all this. We outreach workers were discussing how, when we were out there, this kind of intervention was not available to us, offered by someone who cared about our safety, health or just our well being. Therefore, before going out to search for the women, I went into prayer that maybe one woman would show, because in your addiction, it is hard to trust anyone, or believe anyone cares. In addition, I knew that we had to catch them before they started getting high or it would be hard.

So we started our route searching for them. We drove through all the target areas, but no one was out. So we started all over again, going through Governor Printz Boulevard and Claymont Street. One client approached us about the retreat and got in the van with us. We had seen another sex worker, who had just purchased some crack, who did not want to go right now, so we told her that we would come back for her later. We saw other women, who knew about the retreat, but did not want to come because they were tired, just brought drugs, or were busy making money. Some were with their pimps, who would not let them come.

It was a real joy to see the ladies happy. We went out on Dupont Highway and found a client who uses crack cocaine. I had phone numbers for several of the ladies and made calls, but they were not at home. I talked to family members who would relay the message. I left my cell phone number for them, if they wanted to come.

We then went to Riverside, looking for a client who was pregnant, who I really wanted to come. However, she had gone to the hospital to have her baby. I found out later it was a little girl, who had to stay in the hospital because she was born addicted to heroin and crack. Later, I prayed for them both to be safe and asked God to answer my prayers, because there were rumors of her having the baby in a vacant house.

We kept riding around, calling houses and going to houses, but we could not find anyone else. The two sex workers we had picked up stayed with us the whole time while we searched for others to attend. Finally, we went to pick up the food at Boston Market and went back to the hotel.

Once we got back to the hotel, upon entering the room, the surprise on their faces brought tears to my eyes. They were so happy to receive the items we gave them. They were like kids in a candy store, choosing pajamas, slippers, and then opening the leather duffle bags full of items. They had a comb and brush set, phone cards, toothpaste, toothbrush, panties, socks, bras, a manicure and pedicure set, nail polish, body wash, lotion, powder, body spray, make-up, shampoo, conditioner, tampons, razors, and hair items.

We had two rooms, one set up for food and fun, and the other set up for groups or discussions, with candles to be lit. Pajamas and slippers were set up in the closet in one room, the clothes in the other room, with the choice of what they wanted. I had brought perms for the ladies. The food was great from Boston Market. The fruit and vegetable tray was from Acme. The desert was chocolate cake, apple pie and brownies. There also was coffee and tea.

It was a real joy to see the ladies happy. They kept thanking us and giving us hugs. They could not believe it to be true. After the excitement of the gift, we all kneeled around for prayer. We ate and talked. They begin taking showers and putting on pajamas. The outreach workers and my boss also got comfortable. After eating, we sat around watching T.V., doing facials, and we took a couple of pictures.

Three female sex workers stayed with us, which I believe to be a blessing. There were so many reasons for them not to have shown up. Being addicts, they typically believe we outreach workers are only trying to take them to treatment or talk about treatment. They do not trust anyone. We also expected they might be high, or their social security checks had come out, or they were tired from the night before, doing the only work they know how to do at this point in their life.

The groups were emotional, trusting, and very real. Many doors were opened among us. There was also some bonding, hugging, laughing and crying. Most of all, this was a big start. There were issues of sexual abuse, drugs, homelessness, family, loss of children, self-esteem, behaviors, and recovery.

Having a good time doing facials For me it was a wonderful feeling to see the ladies happy, just knowing that I was a part of giving this retreat. The Division of Public Health (DPH) made it happen for me to give a part of myself to this project. I love working with the ladies, hearing their stories and telling mine, and letting them know that they are not alone. When I talk to the ladies, I see so much pain in their eyes. When I give them a hug, I can feel them within that hug, saying “do not leave me here” or “please help me.” I want so much to do more for them, wishing I could sweep them into a home for women, maybe an overnight shelter or six month program, I do not know. That is a goal I have for the future. The name would be “HEAVEN HERE ON EARTH.” If I continue to do my part and stay in prayer, God will see me through.

Again in all, I love my job, I love this project. I thank Brandywine Counseling and Division of Public Health for this opportunity to work with the ladies. If this project continues, I pray that I’m able to work on it again. Also I pray that someone takes time out to read these reports, because they mean a lot to me, because there are lives out there that are hurting. I know there is only so much one can do, but I feel at least someone will know what is happening.

For more information about this program, contact Basha Closic, Manager of HIV Prevention Services, at 655-9880, ext. 22.