“As an intern at Hedgerow House, I gained confidence in myself as a professional seeking to work in substance use recovery.”
RISE Housing and Support Services offers an internship program for undergraduate and graduate students majoring in social work, social science, human services, or psychology. The internship program offers students clinical and administrative rotations for a macro and micro view of the philosophies of harm reduction, trauma-informed care, and person-centered planning.
Nicole Orologio, a recent graduate from Hudson Valley Community College, shares her experiences as an intern at Hedgerow House and her journey into chemical dependency counseling and substance use recovery.
During my field experience as an intern at Hedgerow House, I gained a lot of confidence in myself as a person and as a professional seeking to work in substance use recovery, including a very well-rounded perspective and hands-on approach to working in the chemical dependency and substance use recovery field. I experienced everything from counseling to crisis intervention, the referral process, consulting with other professionals, and how to utilize community resources. The team at Hedgerow House is phenomenal! They all work so well together and create a family atmosphere among the staff. All the staff members – especially Julianne Thomas, Program Director, and Nicole Smarro, Program Supervisor – are extremely helpful and provided me with a wealth of information and resources that allowed me to grow as a professional.
“My experience at Hedgerow House confirms my beliefs in the importance of community residences in the recovery process.”
My experience at Hedgerow House gave me firsthand knowledge that confirms my beliefs in the importance of community residences in the recovery process. It is a setting I would love to work at once I am finished with my schooling. When someone is in a rehabilitation facility, there is insulation from everyday triggers and problems. But once they are out in public, trying to re-establish their life, they begin facing stressors and the difficulties that often led to their use of alcohol or other substances in the first place. It is here where the real work begins, and the most support is needed. Being in a community residence is often key to success in recovery. It provides a safe and supportive atmosphere in which healing and recovery are normalized, allowing them to apply the learned skills and healthy coping mechanisms to the real world’s problems and pressures – employment, balancing finances, health, relationships, life in general.
While working at Hedgerow House, I learned the importance of having a good relationship with the Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS), the program’s oversite agency. Shadowing Julianne allowed me to understand how OASAS’s regulations function and implement them into practice. Julianne exemplifies the necessity of strict adherence to the rules and regulations and how they govern every aspect of the work at Hedgerow House.
At the beginning of my internship, I shadowed the staff, helping me gain insight and guidance on applying what I learned in the classroom. As I grew comfortable, I began working with the residents myself, with intense supervision, of course, validating my passion for being in this field, and providing me a good foundation for who I am becoming as a professional. As I began counseling and working with the residents on achieving their recovery goals, I developed relationships and guided them in achieving their goals.
“Working with the residents at Hedgerow House gave me a good foundation for a career in this field.”
The tasks I performed at Hedgerow House and working with the residents gave me a good foundation and helped me improve the tools and skills necessary for a career in this field. I put what I learned about counseling theories and client-centered approaches into practice, establishing my own counseling style. More importantly, I became a better listener per feedback from the residents, boosting my confidence as a professional. As Julianne says, being a good listener is 80% of the job. Often people in recovery do not have supportive family members or friends to encourage them in their recovery, so it is crucial and enriching to be that person to believe in them.
At times working with individuals in recovery can be challenging. I am very empathetic and want everyone to overcome their difficulties and succeed in their recovery. I am very empathetic and want everyone to overcome their difficulties and succeed in their recovery, but I take extra care to be mindful when working closely with individuals in recovery. I have learned that I can only want their recovery as much as they want it. When counselors exert superfluous effort, it only leads to frustration and possible burnout. The staff at Hedgerow House emphasizes the importance of self-care and work/life balance. Outside of Hedgerow House, I enjoy spending time with my family, especially my five-month-old nephew; he is such a happy and playful baby and brings much pleasure into my life. I enjoy participating in activities to destress and relax, listening to music, and engaging in mindfulness exercises.
“My passion derives from my own personal recovery experiences.”
This passion derives from my own personal recovery experiences. I have a family history of alcoholism – my mother passed away from liver failure due to alcoholism and I want to help others not go through the pain and loss involved with substance use disorders. My sobriety date is February 7, 2019, and I know firsthand what it means to work a strong recovery program.
While working on my recovery, I realized there is a need for good counselors in this field; this influenced my realization of wanting a career in chemical dependency and substance use recovery counseling. I was fortunate because I have an amazing and strong support system. My family is my life. My two sisters and my brother were the captains of my support team and still are; they are my best friends. Without them, I would not be where I am today.
This spring, I will be continuing my education at SUNY Empire State, pursuing a Bachelor’s in Community and Human Services with a concentration in substance abuse. With my Associate’s in Chemical Dependency Counseling, and after completing my required clinical hours, I can obtain my certification as a Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor Trainee (CASAC-T). My eventual goal is to obtain a Master’s in Human Services and Addiction Counseling to obtain my Advanced CASAC certification. I appreciate the opportunities I had at Hedgerow House. It is an experience I will bring with me as I continue to grow and develop in my professional career and for the rest of my life.