How We Are Helping Address Texas’ Shortage of Mental Health Professionals

Texas is facing a worsening shortage of mental health care professionals, including licensed social workers, therapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists.

Now, 98% of Texas’ 254 counties are wholly or partially designated by the federal government as mental health professional shortage areas. While the number of mental health professionals state-wide slightly increased last year, it does not make up for the number of people leaving the profession due to financial and emotional strains. The state also faces a dwindling number of providers who will train individuals working toward the licensures that are required for practicing mental health care, which will only worsen the shortage.

This workforce shortage is a crisis that is already compounding another crisis.

Texas ranks last in access to children’s mental health services, and 33rd for adult behavioral healthcare, according to Mental Health America. To make matters worse, the demand for mental health care has increased since the COVID-19 pandemic began, as substance use disorders, anxiety disorders, depression, and related mental health conditions increase at alarming rates. If we do not address this workforce shortage immediately, Texans will continue to struggle with long-term and potentially life-threatening mental health conditions.

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How does The Council help address this crisis?

Our priority is to get people impacted by substance abuse the help they need, whether that’s at The Council or elsewhere.The shortage of available mental health professionals is now one of the biggest barriers keeping them from getting help. Here are three ways The Council is working to diminish that barrier:

  1. We train mental health professionals. The Council offers multi-disciplinary training for undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate interns seeking licensure-hour fulfillment. Our Mary Bell Behavioral Health Clinical Fellowship has been a pillar in our efforts to train the next generation of clinical behavioral health professionals for more than a decade. We also provide continuing education workshops for licensed professionals employed at The Council and across Houston. Through these, we hope to retain skilled and compassionate professionals to help effectively address Texas’ mental health crisis.
  2. We train other professionals. Since its inception, The Council’s Center for Co-Occurring Disorders and community education efforts has trained hundreds of medical and public health professionals to recognize the signs and symptoms of substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders and recommend appropriate courses of action.
  3. We partner with organizations to recruit new professionals. We’re working with the Network of Behavioral Health Providers to reach a behavioral health workforce that can serve diverse communities by supporting their recruitment and advocacy initiatives across the Greater Houston area.

Announcing Jodie Sweetin as Keynote Speaker for our 38th Annual Spring Luncheon

The star of the classic 90’s sitcom “Full House,” Jodie Sweetin, will share her story of recovery at The Council’s premiere fundraising event on Friday, April 21, 2023 at the Hilton Americas – Houston Hotel.

The Council on Recovery is excited to welcome Jodie Sweetin to Houston as the keynote speaker for our 38th Annual Spring Luncheon! Actress, producer, host, author and activist Jodie Sweetin garnered the love of millions in her role as Stephanie Tanner on ABC’s long-running, hugely popular sitcom “Full House” and the widely popular Netflix spinoff “Fuller House.”

She previously pulled double duty as co-Executive Producer and star in the rom-com Just Swipe and just wrapped production on “Craft Me a Romance” where she once again stars and serves as co-Executive Producer. Jodie also co-hosts the popular parenting podcast “Never Thought I’d Say This,” which is currently in its fifth season. She is a published author of her memoir UnSweetined, in which she chronicles her struggle with substance use disorder until becoming sober more than a decade ago. She is now a passionate advocate for substance use prevention among youth and young adults.

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Since its inception 40 years ago, The Council’s speaker series has promoted a message of hope and healing, and helped to reduce the shame and stigma of substance use and related disorders in the Houston community and beyond. The Council provides treatment and recovery support to individuals affected by substance use and other co-occurring mental health conditions, regardless of their ability to pay. Funds raised through our annual luncheons ensure that no family in need is ever turned away.

For more information about our Speaker Series, visit our speaker series website. Tables and individual tickets will be sold at a later date.

The Council and Recenter Partner to Expand Access to Addiction Treatment Services

The Council on Recovery is excited to announce that we are providing our Discovering Choices outpatient treatment program at Recenter’s campus in the heart of Houston! This partnership will expand access to world-class addiction treatment services to those who most need them.

What is it?

Discovering Choices is The Council’s outpatient addiction treatment program that serves individuals who may not have the financial resources to afford them. Our dedicated, licensed staff conducts an assessment of all clients to gather information regarding the severity of use and how it has impacted daily functioning, in order to develop an appropriate treatment plan. Treatment will include individual counseling, process groups and psychoeducation.

Recenter is a nonprofit organization that provides programs and services to help individuals who are predominantly homeless recover from substance use disorders.

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Who does this program serve?

Anyone over the age of eighteen and who meets financial and diagnosis criteria can receive these addiction treatment services. They do not have to be a current client at The Council or Recenter. For more information or to inquire about eligibility, please call 713-942-4100, and select option 3.

Why is it needed?

The cost of addiction treatment often prevents people struggling with substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions from getting the help they need to live a life in recovery. Discovering Choices is provided at no cost to those who are eligible. While The Council currently provides this program virtually, providing it in-person at Recenter will benefit those who prefer in-person interaction with treatment providers and peers. People who also do not have their own means of transportation could also easily get to campus, as it is on a Metro rail line and bus route.

If yourself, a loved one, or a client/patient is struggling with substance use, contact us today through our website or by calling 713-942-4100, option 3. Click here to view and download the flyer for this program.

Event Recap: Lauren Anderson Inspires and Entertains at Council Fall Luncheon

Houston Ballet star Lauren Anderson inspired a crowd of more than 800 Houstonians with her reflections on recovery, parenting and the arts at The Council’s Fall Luncheon on Friday, October 21. Presented by The Moody Endowment and co-chaired by Chris Flood and Jenifer & Joseph Matula, the event raised $425,000 to help local individuals and families recover from the effects of addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders.

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Mistress of Ceremonies Melanie Lawson of ABC-13 opened the program by welcoming the crowd of event sponsors, donors, community partners, and people in recovery. Associate Pastor Andrew Johnson of Neartown Church provided the invocation.

The Council’s Board of Trustees Chair Amanda Polich and President and CEO Mary Beck, LMSW, CAI then spoke on the impact of The Council and its speaker series on the communities we serve.

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Board of Trustees Chair Amanda Polich
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President & CEO Mary Beck, LMSW, CAI

Said Beck, “Your presence and support send a message that the work of The Council matters – a message that substance use disorders are preventable and treatable and that recovery is not only possible, but that in recovery there is hope for renewal, and an amazingly fulfilling life.”

The event’s co-chairs, Chris Flood and Joseph Matula, then gave impassioned testimonies about their experiences with addiction and how The Council was crucial to their recovery journeys.

“I have found a new peace, a new freedom and a new happiness,” said Flood. “None of this would have been possible without the services of The Council on Recovery.”

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Luncheon Co-Chair Chris Flood
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Luncheon Co-Chair Joseph Matula

The program continued with an emotional video featuring Council clients and their stories, as well as Lauren Anderson’s involvement with the Cradles Project, which serves new and expecting parents who are at risk of substance use disorders. Anderson and her longtime friend Lawson then took the stage for an entertaining and inspirational conversation about addiction, recovery, parenting, and the arts.

Celebrating 13 years of sobriety this year, Anderson said, “This disease can happen to anyone. Even a little black girl from the Third Ward in Houston who became the Sugar Plum Fairy. The good thing is that there is help at The Council.”

The luncheon also celebrated other artists in recovery by featuring an exclusive gallery in the foyer of the ballroom. Curated by Linda Moffitt of the Jack Meier Gallery, this gallery dazzled attendees with its eclectic collection of paintings, costumes, sculptures, photographs and interdisciplinary works.

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For more information about the history of The Council’s speaker series and upcoming events, visit www.councilspeakerseries.org.

Common Bond Creates Specialty Macaron to Support National Recovery Month

During National Recovery Month, Common Bond will offer a specialty macaron benefiting The Council on Recovery. A nod to the end of summer, the macaron features a vanilla shell, cherry limeade ganache and nonpareils in our brand’s signature colors. The limited-time macaron will be available at all Common Bond locations for $3, with $1 benefitting The Council’s programs and services that help people to recover from addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders.

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Common Bond is a long-time supporter of recovery efforts through a personal connection of CEO & Owner George Joseph. Before becoming a restauranteur, Joseph’s entrepreneurship began in the drug and alcohol rehabilitation industry. For over 20 years, Joseph has dedicated his career to helping others overcome addiction. He serves as the CEO of Positive Recovery Centers which operates two residential and medical detox centers in Houston and Austin, and volunteers with many recovery-centered organizations, including The Council on Recovery.

“Common Bond is more than just a gathering place for good food. Our restaurants exist to give back to the community we serve. We hope to use our platform to spread the word about the incredible work The Council on Recovery does and to aid their mission of providing affordable services to those suffering from addiction.”

George Joseph, CEO and owner of Common Bond

“This National Recovery Month, we celebrate and honor our friends, family members, coworkers and colleagues who are in recovery from addiction and other mental health disorders. We are so grateful to George Joseph and Common Bond for promoting awareness of this cause and supporting The Council’s mission.”

Mary H. Beck, LMSW, CAI, President & CEO of The Council on Recovery

The Council on Recovery Macaron can be purchased September 1-30, 2022 at Common Bond’s four Bistro locations, seven On-The-Go locations and its Downtown Brasserie & Bakery.

Grief and Addiction

This blog post is contributed by Lori Fiester, LCSW-S, ADS, CIP, CDWF, Clinical Director of The Council on Recovery

Grief is an often overlooked feeling in clients who are on the path of recovery. Research indicates unresolved grief can lead to addiction as the person searches to numb the feeling associated with grief.  If a person doesn’t have the coping tools to deal with the grief, they may search for a drug to decrease the negative feelings.

What is grief?

Grief is the natural reaction to loss. Grief is both a universal and a personal experience. Individual experiences of grief vary and are influenced by the nature of the loss. Some examples of loss include the death of a loved one, the ending of an important relationship, job loss, loss through theft, or the loss of independence through disability. 

When I think about grief in recovery, it’s often compared to an ending of an important relationship.  Substance use or other risky behaviors become our best friend or our lover. They are with us during the best and worst of times.  So when we start the journey of recovery, it’s important to deal with the feeling or we will find further issues down the road.  Grief is what you feel, mourning is what you do.  Grief can pass more quickly for those who are experiencing it if they take active steps to mourn the loss.

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How do we deal with grief?

It’s been thought previously that if one is grieving, then they have to go through all the stages of grief, which are denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.  What we have seen over the years is that grief is not a linear process. Those stages can happen at any time, and can and will be different for each individual. Grief can include sadness, depression, anger, fatigue, anxiety, isolation, increased irritability, numbness, not sleeping or oversleeping, digestive issues and headaches.   

If you are struggling with grief and addiction, it is essential to ask for help.  The Council can be that first step in this process.  And if we can’t help you, we can connect you to someone who can. Contact us today through our website, or by calling us at (713) 914-0556.