After successfully completing treatment at Haymarket Center more than 20 years ago, Loretta Young has dedicated her career to helping others along their own recovery journey as a peer recovery coach.
“My favorite part of what I do is inspiring people,” Loretta says, “With the right encouragement and motivation, you can help clients see something within that they don’t see in themselves.”
On May 14, 1998, Loretta Young entered our detox program. She spent her time at Haymarket learning fulfilling ways to live a sober lifestyle, while also helping our staff and the unit in any way that she could. Eighteen months later in July 2000, a clean and sober Loretta graduated from our program and completed her treatment. After experiencing Loretta’s hard work and personality shining through during her recovery, Haymarket Center hired her to join the women’s treatment team, kickstarting her career in the field of substance use disorder treatment. Loretta completed the CADC program in 2009 stating that the knowledge she gained while working at Haymarket set the foundation for her education as she worked and attended school.
Through her work, Loretta helps clients find their strengths and identify their positive attributes to shift their focus on hope and encourage recovery. Loretta, who has been in the field for over 20 years, works as part of our Care Coordination team and visits local hospitals that partner with Haymarket to assess patients for their needs and refer them to a level of care. Doctors visiting with patients struggling with substance use disorder will recommend Recovery Coaches to encourage the patient to enter treatment.
“My drive and my passion [as a Recovery Coach] comes from my empathy,” Loretta says, “If you can see the spark in a client’s eyes, you can catch it and ignite it, and that is when you’ll see positive change from someone ready for recovery.”
Today, Loretta works among some of the same clinical staff that helped her when she first arrived at Haymarket as a patient. She credits her own recovery and her career achievements to her experience at Haymarket Center.
With a message to our supporters, she states, “I am the byproduct of what you are supporting.” Each gift to Haymarket Center helps us reach individuals like Loretta who are ready to begin their recovery journey. You can learn more by visiting our Donate page.
