For many, a coffee mug is just a coffee mug. But for clients at Valley Hope Addiction Treatment and Recovery in Parker, a mug represents a turning point in their lives.
“This place is so dear to my heart,” Micki Gallagher said, clinical program director. “Getting into recovery has opened up doors in my life that I never thought possible.”
When patients complete the 30 day program, they decorate a coffee mug that often includes the date of their sobriety. The mugs are then hung on a mantle. After one year of sobriety, the person can come back and pick up their mug.
“They also get the chance to stand in front of the current addiction group and talk about the struggles and success of their first year of sobriety,” said Scott Spielman, executive director. “It’s really powerful to the current group and just a really neat process.”
To honor those who have lost their lives, a black ribbon is placed on a mug handle.
Valley Hope Addiction Treatment and Recovery in Parker, a nonprofit organization and is nationally accredited, that helped adults through drug and alcohol issues since 1989 with an individualized residential treatment program.
With a treatment approach that blends the 12-step philosophy with innovative clinical methods, the program involves medical detox, therapy, addiction education, relapse prevention planning and long-term recovery strategies.
The organization also holds renewal days once a month where alumni of the program – ranging from one year to 20 years of sobriety – come in and share their stories with the current treatment group.
“The kinds of things you can say to people in just a half a minute conversation can impact their lives for the rest of their lives,” said Gallagher.
For Gallagher, those words came in 2002. They were, “Come right now.”
That’s when Gallagher was struggling with addiction issues.
She was often hospitalized and, one of those times, a social worker at the hospital mentioned Valley Hope. Thinking about the day someone at Valley Hope told her to come immediately brings tears to Gallagher’s eyes.
“Coming in the door here, it was the first place I had ever gone that cared for me,” said Gallagher. “They treated me with respect. They treated me as a human being, which I learned later is a core tenant of Valley Hope, that we treat human beings, we don’t treat addicts.”
After recovery, Gallagher became a certified addiction counselor and began training at Valley Hope saying it was the first job she had where it didn’t feel like work. In 2004, Gallegher began to see the organization from other angles as she went on to be an admissions counselor, a residential counselor and an outpatient counselor before becoming the clinical program director.
“I got to give back to people the things that were given to me,” said Gallagher.
Gallagher said since she began working at Valley Hope, there has always been talk of expansion. Nearly 20 years later, the $17 million expansion and renovation project to expand the availability of substance use disorder treatment services in the Denver area is nearing completion.
The expansion aims to improve efficiencies of treatment services, reduce the wait list for admissions, improve safety and help more people.
Due to the demand for services and lack of recovery room detox beds, the expansion will include a new detox wing that will have 16 beds, doubling the amount of beds, as well as a living/dining area and a nursing station. The wing will continue to have 24/7 nursing and a physician.
The average detoxification can take three to five days, said Spielman, but it also depends on what the individual is detoxing off of. Valley Hope provides medically-monitored detoxification as symptoms can be severe.
“It’s an essential first step of healing from addiction that allows the person to focus on treatment,” said Spielman. “To be able to provide everything in one setting, I think is ideal.”
In addition to a centralized nursing station, the Parker location will be adding 14 residential beds, bringing it to a total of 54 beds, in which two rooms are being made to be compliant with the American with Disabilities Act.
Other renovations include the remodeling of the kitchen, dining room area, counseling and therapy rooms, community room, non-denominal chapel and the wellness room will include yoga and fitness equipment. The organization plans to upgrade outdoor and amenity spaces.
The great room will have some leisure and recreation activity, however it is currently functioning as their lecture hall.
“We do cognitive behavioral and process groups, gender groups, but we also do lectures, educational, motivational and engagement,” said Spielman.
After 30 days, patients will get referrals to outside resources such as an outpatient treatment in Centennial that offers intensive outpatient treatment, sober living facilities and more.
Spielman said the organization has discounted rates, contracted payments with insurance and patient scholarships that are often contributed by alumni.
“One of our primary focuses is trying to meet people where they’re at,” said Spielman. “We’ll do everything we can if someone knocks on the door and says ‘I need help and I’m ready’ we’ll figure it out one way or another.”
Valley Hope also has family programs and specialized treatment for women and children or who are pregnant.
“Recovery will change your life in ways you have no idea,” said Gallagher.
