Finding meaningful work supporting others in recovery

Danielle is a Peer Recovery Coach and Certified Intentional Peer Support Specialist from Warren. She is using her personal experience to help others recover from substance use disorder. 

What do you do for work, and what communities of people do you work with?

Right now, I’m a peer recovery coach for the Knox County treatment court. A lot of my work is based on lived experience. I actually struggled with addiction for many, many years. I have been five years sober this month. This is not a nine-to-five job. I can get a phone call at 10 o’clock at night saying, “I really need you right now. I need someone to talk to.” Everybody coaches differently. Some are like, “Call me at two o’clock in the morning.” For me, it’s like, “You can try, but if I don’t answer, here’s another number”—because I do have a family. This work doesn’t happen at an office. We go for walks. We go in a recovery center. One of my recoverees the other day said, “Hey, can we just go down to the beach next time we meet and talk?” I’m like, “Of course.” How can you beat that? It’s a great job opportunity. 

How did you get into this line of work?

I am formerly incarcerated. I was at the Southern Maine Women’s Reentry Center. Back in 2021, I was introduced to college, took classes through MIT and Horace Mann School in the Bronx, and it’s where I did my recovery coaching. Once I was released in February of 2023, I continued my work.  I’m pretty proud of myself from where I was many years ago to who I am today and what I do today. I’m a changed person within. I love the work that I do, and I just like to give back—and be the person to be there for someone, if they need me. 

What do you enjoy about your work?

I know back when I was struggling, I didn’t have anybody to reach out to or just listen to me. I didn’t feel like I had that support system with someone who knew where I was coming from. When I was introduced to this recovery coach training and the peer support training, it fit me because I was always that person who has a lot of empathy and compassion. 

I like to hear other people and just listen. This gives me a great opportunity to do that. I’m just there to hear and listen and express that I’ve been there; I’ve been in their shoes. Maybe me saying that one word—they take that, and they run with it, and maybe they change their life around.  It’s rewarding to see them open up more, just let their guard down. I give them a safe space and let them know what we speak about stays here. It doesn’t go anywhere. 

I lost my brother to addiction in September of last year. I am so grateful to be in a place where I can be there for my parents today. I can be there for my nephews today. That gives me motivation to continue to do the work that I’m doing.

What types of skills and qualities does it take to be successful in this field?

I’m a very compassionate and empathetic person. Addiction is terrible. It’s hard. A lot of people don’t understand, if they’ve never been in it. It’s a disease that we live with every day. 

What advice would you give to someone who is interested in getting into the field?

You really have to be determined and dedicated, but you also have to stop and breathe. You’ve got to have boundaries. You’ve got to be able to balance things out.

Trainings are available quite often. Staff work with you. If you have any issues or any questions, you have their email. They’re also willing to give their phone number. They respond in a very quick manner. Getting into this type of work has become much easier today than it was many years ago. There are so many people who are willing to give you their phone numbers. Help with workforce solutions is also out there. There are just all of these people who are coming together to put the word out there that there is help available.