01/30/2026
One of those transparent posts that involves emotions and vulnerability ahead...divert your eyes if necessary...
There's a good chance none of this needs to be said. But...regardless...I (Lacey) would like to say something that's been weighing on me pretty heavily for awhile. I know CRC has changed this past year. The office door isn't open as many hours as it used to be. I don't have as many openings as I used to for outpatient counseling. Peer Support and Care Coordination is present at the office less days a week than in past years.
But...we are still here. We are just changing. And change is pretty damn hard, honestly. Sometimes it can feel like operating on blind faith.
I made a choice about 2 years ago to pursue a mental health license and am in the deep of it. This comes with a lot of 'stuff' internally and externally. The reason for that degree and license is that I no longer believe I can only provide substance use counseling to effectively treat people seeking recovery. I believe wholeheartedly that trauma also needs to be addressed in order to treat the mind, body, and spirit. In order to do this adequately, it is necessary to obtain those skills in a 110% legit way. I now spend 20 hours a week at ConnectUs Therapy for my internship for Clinical Counseling, which has probably (although I hate to admit it) been a godsend for my professional and personal growth. It's no secret that I'm a bit antisocial and stay pretty focused on my small circle. ConnectUs's environment challenges that in a beautiful way.
I love CRC and what I believe it has represented for a long time. It's a sacred space for me, and I can never describe what this agency represents to my whole being. That includes anyone in the CRC family. I hope it remains a soft place to land for anyone and everyone who has ever come here. I will work my hardest to make sure it is ALWAYS here. I've experienced a deep type of grief lately in my knowledge of how it is changing. Groups are smaller. It's a little quieter around here. And knowing that my availability here at the office is going to remain less than optimal for longer than I'd like. After graduation and licensure, I will continue to work outside of CRC for a few days a week, which will continue to benefit my personal and professional growth until I eventually land back at CRC full-time. This doesn't mean that CRC goes away...and I believe that it will continue to grow in availability in other ways through that time. The peer support programs we have right now are stable and will continue to grow. We will be able to spend more time in the jail locally VERY SOON (ironically one of my favorite places). We will have food and hygiene resources available anytime the door is open. Myself and the other ladies working here will be stable in our own self-care routines...which means we are fully present and available for you. I hope it can be recognized that less time at the office means more time for necessary self-care that some of us have mistakenly neglected previously because of our previous over-availability. While the majority of this change is completely intentional and focused on a long-term goal...I understand that there are unintentional losses associated such as open office hours and staff availability. Despite those growing pains...there are open evaluation times, a scheduled DUI seminar, open slots for FTR/Community Connect participants, and our trusty Tuesday night discussions.
In closing, please don't hesitate to call, text, email, or inquire about open services. Despite some of the limited hours, I am 100% confident we are one of the most dedicated and heartful crew you will work with. We know change...we live it and offer it openly to everyone we work with. Thanks for the continued support and love. Thanks to those of you who answer my self-doubting texts and offer encouragement. Thanks to ConnectUs for making space for me and providing me with opportunities that most interns would never get. Thanks to Lisa and Jo for literally saving the FTR and CC programs exactly when it was needed. And...that's all.
