[Noozhawk’s note: Second in a series sponsored by the Hutton Parker Foundation. Click here for the first article.]
Catherine, who is 43 years old, had been drinking since college, but it wasn’t until her boyfriend died from alcohol abuse last year, causing her to spiral downward, that she admitted she needed help.
She also took a bad fall, hitting her head on a rock while intoxicated, and that was a wake-up call.
“I literally hit rock bottom,” she said.
She enrolled in a detox program in Ventura and later a recovery center in Santa Paula before moving into Millie’s House, the nonprofit Casa Serena’s sober living residence in Santa Barbara.
While living with other women in the house, Catherine participated in therapeutic programming offered through Casa Serena’s outpatient center on State Street.
There, she attended Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, received individualized, group and family therapy, and was taught coping mechanisms and life skills, including career counseling.
“Casa Serena provided me with a program, stability and support,” she told Noozhawk. “The outpatient program is well organized and offered stepping stones toward recovery.
“There was always someone I could talk to. I felt well taken care of and now feel stronger and accomplished.”
Casa Serena’s outpatient center opened just as COVID-19 hit, in March 2020, which was unfortunate, yet also beneficial timing. More people were turning to drugs and alcohol during the pandemic and the services that Casa Serena provides were urgently needed.
“The disease of addiction and mental health is already one of isolation,” Casa Serena CEO Lisette Fraser said. “The pandemic made things 100 times worse for our clients.”
Although Casa Serena was considered an essential service and was allowed to stay open, it relied heavily on virtual programming, offering hybrid services that continue today.
“We consider 90 days of continuous treatment the gold standard of care when treating acute mental health and addiction,” clinical director Sandra Mistretta said.
“Many women start at the Detox or Residential level of care, where clients are safely contained from outside pressures and begin doing the hard work toward recovery. Continuing on to the Outpatient level of care after approximately four to six weeks is paramount to a successful recovery process.”
It is at the outpatient level where clients are able to practice responding differently to outside pressures and utilize the tools they received at Residential care to change their maladaptive behaviors, she explained.
“Conversely, some clients are able to treat their subacute symptoms at the Outpatient level of care before it becomes so bad that they need the residential program,” she added.
The outpatient center is open to anyone in the community facing substance abuse.
The flexibility of the program allows women to receive addiction treatment while remaining at home, maintaining regular routines, including work and family responsibilities, while attending therapy sessions throughout the week.
The treatments are trauma-informed and employ a variety of evidence-based therapy modalities, ensuring women receive the best, scientifically proven practices in a compassionate setting.
For Catherine, it was a lifesaver. It’s the first time she’s been sober/in recovery, for more than 20 years.
She is now part of Casa Serena’s alumni program and she recently led her first “Sacred Sisterhood” meeting.
The sisterhood formed at Casa Serena is profound. The women proudly refer to themselves as “Casa Girls,” and this sorority is part of the program’s appeal.
“It’s definitely advantageous to have just women in the program,” Catherine said. “We have similar mindsets and with women we can speak more freely.
“I didn’t come to Casa to make friends but here I found a sisterhood.”
Catherine shared that even her therapist had been in treatment at Casa Serena at one time, so the sisterly support spans generations.
“When I was a resident at Casa Serena more than 30 years ago, I remember older women coming to AA meetings every week, and I knew I wanted to be one of those women,” Nan Schooley said.
Schooley is not only one of those older, wise women, she’s also is a licensed marriage and family therapist who works full time at Casa Serena and is thrilled to give back to the organization that “changed my life.”
“The worst time in my life has been my greatest gift,” said Schooley, a proud 1992 graduate of Casa Serena.
The treatment she received inspired her to return to school, earn her master’s degree and eventually accept a job at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital as lead counselor for 17 years.
She’s now back at Casa Serena, happy to be the face of recovery.
“There’s often so much shame in addiction and I am proud of what I’ve accomplished,” she said.
“The comprehensive treatment programs that Lisette and her team have created are unparalleled. The ability to treat substance abuse and trauma and eating or other behavioral disorders all at the same time is something that’s been needed in our community for a long time.”
If you — or someone you know — suffer from alcohol or substance addiction, click here to contact Casa Serena. Click here to make an online donation.
