Ashely Thompson, Alumni Care Coordinator for Center for Older Adult Recovery
What brought you to the field of addiction treatment? What brought you to Hanley?
I’m in recovery myself, and I want to help people. Several people who worked at the places where I went to treatment were very helpful and impactful. I wanted to be able to help people in the same way. I came to Hanley because I knew several people who worked at Hanley Center who kept telling me I should come work with them as it was heavily 12-Step. Because the 12-Steps saved my life, I wanted to work at a treatment program that believed in them as much as I did.
What is your favorite part about working with alumni?
I love the fact that I’m blessed to be a part of their journey and can watch them grow. I also love the 12-Step conversations I get to have with them. When I was a Recovery Advocate here at Hanley Center, I always wondered what happened to patients after they left treatment. Now I get to hear first-hand how they are doing. I also get to share their success with other staff members and show how their hard work makes a difference.
What have you learned through your experience working in treatment?
I have learned about myself and how to be a better person. Working at Hanley around such supportive people has helped me go to college and continue to learn how to help people struggling with addiction. I have also seen how to interact with other people. I have always been a little too blunt at times, limiting my impact on some people. I have learned how to meet people in their recovery and that sometimes, people need more love and kindness and less of a tough-love approach. This lesson has helped me with patients and my personal life. Through the last four years working here at Hanley Center, I feel I have grown into an adult.
Do you participate in any professional activities outside of work?
I’m currently going to college for a degree in social work. I try to attend training to improve myself as a professional as I’m working on my degree. This fall is my last semester for my associate degree before getting my bachelor’s in social work.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
I love spending time with my daughter, dogs, and friends and family. I love relaxing and binge-watching Netflix when I have extra time between work and school. It’s so nice to just cuddle with my baby girl and watch TV. My fiancé and I just bought a house, and we spend a lot of time doing things to make it ours. I also really love to read, try out new restaurants, and find new places to explore around where I live.
Hanley Center is a well-known care provider offering a range of treatment programs targeting the recovery from substance use, mental health issues, and beyond. Our primary mission is to provide a clear path to a life of healing and restoration. We offer renowned clinical care and have the compassion and professional expertise to guide you toward lasting recovery.
For information on our programs, call us today: 561-841-1033.