PACE Recovery Center ~ Addiction Treatment For Men

Dreams that you dare to dream…

From the Catalina Mountains in the Sonoran Desert…

I would like to tell you about my dream. It is a dream born out of my personal recovery from substance abuse some 14 years ago. Not long after finding the gift of recovery I had the epiphany that I wanted to give others this gift and spend my life working with those struggling with substance abuse and co-occurring issues. I am often reminded of one of my favorite quotes, “Help others achieve their dreams and you will achieve yours.” Sobriety allowed me to not only mend fences with my family and loved ones, but inspired me to continue my education in social work and business, achieving a Masters Degree in both Clinical Social Work and Business Administration. For ten years I was privileged to be part of an amazing clinical team at the nationally respected Cottonwood Tucson Treatment Program. It was serendipitous that I got sober at Cottonwood and would go on to work there as a primary therapist helping those who once walked in my shoes.

Tucson was my home for many years, and it was there that I dared ask the question: “Why shouldn’t my dream of developing a new extended care program for men struggling with chemical dependency and behavioral issues become a reality?” As I’ve told my clients many times, “you’ll never find peace of mind until you follow your heart.” Then, as I thought more about my dream…I knew this dream could only come true by taking one step at a time. 

The dream of PACE Recovery Center was built with collaborative effort…

Most things in life that are substantive and meaningful, like one’s own personal recovery, are a collaborative effort. In collaboration you can find growth and inspiration. And so, I realized that I would have to reach out to many others to set my dream in motion. Here’s a brief history of how the dream of PACE Recovery Center became reality:

• Sharing my dream with a few close friends was the first step. I received encouragement to set out on my journey.
• Deciding on an appropriate geographical location would allow me to provide an environment that would enhance recovery and the healthy lifestyle that I had envisioned. I focused on Orange County, California. More specifically the idyllic seaside community of Huntington Beach. Huntington Beach is a picturesque community with a strong recovery fellowship to draw upon. Interestingly, Huntington Beach has a clear view of Santa Catalina Island, so I felt at home. Of equal importance, I was able to find a comfortable, safe home where men would be able to continue their journey of lifelong recovery.
• Selecting a respected consultant who possesses a proven record in program development for behavioral healthcare and addiction treatment program was vital. Over the years I have had the privileged of knowing and working closely with many addiction professionals, so again I shared my dream and sought counsel of one such addiction professional. Together, he helped me create what I had conceptualized, eventually turning my vision into the reality that would become PACE.
• Choosing a name for my recovery center was truly born from how I try to live my life every day, which is with a positive attitude. I knew from my own recovery that a Positive Attitude Changes Everything. So the name PACE Recovery Center seemed apropos.
• Conceptualizing a logo that would be easily recognized and would also make a strong, simple statement. Remember, “Keep it Simple.” I will admit that this process took a bit of time. That said, I am very happy with the logo I chose to symbolize the strength and serenity PACE Recovery Center offers.
• Inviting our associates and friends to share in our dream of PACE Recovery Center via FACEBOOK, we launched our Facebook page on June 21, 2012.
• Engaging and developing a treatment team is one of the most important steps. Our staff brings decades of clinical expertise and personal recovery experience. More importantly, they shared in my dream and in the philosophy that would define our program.
• Licensing PACE Recovery Center was accomplished by working with the California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs (ADP). The licensing procedure allowed us to better understand what is expected from the State and to modify and finely tune my vision. I am happy to say, that we passed our licensing inspection with absolutely no deficiencies (which is rare in the licensing process) and on August 23, 2012, we received our license from the State of California which I proudly display at PACE and on our website. 
• Designing an intuitive website for PACE Recovery is an evolving adventure. Website design is a vitally important process. Unlike hard-copy marketing pieces, you can have an idea, modify the website, and then see it live in minutes. We are proud to launch our ever evolving PACE website today and we hope you will visit and take the tour.

So follow my dream, our dream…

As we prepare to open PACE Recovery Center on September 17th, we feel it is only fitting that PACE will open during National Recovery Month. We will join with the countless others who celebrate their recovery, along with their families and friends, who honor their daily commitment.  People can and do recover. Dreams can and do come true.

Here’s to dreams…we hope you will stay in touch

As part of our effort to stay in touch and to continue to share our dream, today we are launching our PACE blog. We will use our blog to keep you abreast of news at PACE, news about the disease of addiction, and news about strength, hope and recovery. We hope you will subscribe to our blog; it is easy to do. Just enter your email address in the subscription box on top right margin and remember to verify your subscription when you receive your verification email.

It’s going to be an exciting journey…

Regards,
Lenny

Your dreams can come true at PACE