Video Transcript:
Announcement: [00:00:00] Welcome to Healing With Human Connection, where we have encouraging conversations about tough topics such as substance abuse, drug addiction, and mental health issues for those in the Northwest Indiana area. Our hope is to share information that will guide you to resources that can help you change your life so that you can live the life you were meant to live.
Announcement: Check out our website, www.healingwithconnection.com to find a full transcript of today's conversation along with the list of any resources or links mentioned in this episode. Enjoy the show.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Hello everyone. Welcome, welcome, welcome. Uh, I'm Jeanne Ann Cannon with Healing with Human Connection, and of course my cohort, Lisa Scheller.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: I'm a therapist and life coach and really focusing on relationships and couples counseling and life transitions. Lisa, on the other hand, is a life and health coach [00:01:00] specializing in individual coaching and family coaching. She and her husband have written a book. Lisa, you wanna talk about that for a minute?
Lisa Scheller: Yes. It's a, a book from, it's called From Fear to Faith, A Family's Journey with Addiction, Recovery and Grace. So it tells our story of going through, um, addiction and what kind of different steps we had to go through as a family. Um, a family unit still together, but we know it's a family disease and, um, we wanted, we wrote the book to just give people hope that, you know, they do not walk alone in this journey.
Lisa Scheller: And now that things have opened up with the pandemic, we know that, you know, people have, you know, different issues. And, um, that is, you know, why we put this podcast together so that we can lift the stigma and let people know that this is, you know, there's help out there for you.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Right. Thank you. Thank you, Lisa.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: And of course, we're so excited to have from North Shore, Allen Grecula, am I saying that last? No?
Allen Grecula: No, that's, that's okay.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: What is it, Allen?
Allen Grecula: That's to be expected. Grecula.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Grecula.
Allen Grecula: Yeah.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: [00:02:00] Grecula. Okay.
Allen Grecula: It's just a soft "C".
Jeanne Ann Cannon: And Allen is the substance abuse Director for North Shore Addiction Services. And Mike, Mike, why don't you tell us what you do?
Jeanne Ann Cannon: You're..
Michael Plebanski: I'm, I'm one of the counselors there. Uh, Allen's the director. I'm one of the, the counselors amongst the great team that we have of, uh, licensed clinical social workers, licensed mental health counselors. Um, Licensed clinical addiction counselors. So I mean, we have a pretty strong team.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Great. So not only substance abuse, but the whole emotional aspect of things too.
Michael Plebanski: Most definitely.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Great. Allen, why don't you to start and tell us like how did you get into this and what's your background?
Allen Grecula: Sure, sure. So I think it's been about 14 or 15 years now. And, um, it was actually my mother and I started a program called Frontline Foundations and, um, just saw a real need for it within the community.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Mm-hmm.
Allen Grecula: Um, we started in Porter County and then we ventured out to LaPorte County. Um, and so we have, it's been about three [00:03:00] and a half years now. Um, we started working together with Northshore, just seeing the client needs.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Mm-hmm.
Allen Grecula: And so we started working with Northshore just as a referral source, and we saw that our emissions were really in line together.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Mm-hmm.
Allen Grecula: Uh, to be able to help people regardless of their ability to pay and just meeting people where they're at. And so there, there's a few things that I remember, uh, that were just kind of light bulb moments for me. Uh, we had, um, we had a few clients that we would refer to Northshore for Vivitrol, um, for either alcohol or opioid, um, use disorders.
Allen Grecula: And we had a few of them that had very serious physical health issues.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Mm-hmm.
Allen Grecula: Ranging from, you know, being HIV positive or even things, you know, untreated diabetes. And for me it was light bulb moment that we need to make [00:04:00] sure that these folks are getting all of these services.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Right.
Allen Grecula: Because as, as you both know, rarely does substance abuse sit in this nice little neat box.
Lisa Scheller: Yes.
Allen Grecula: Right, right. That'd be great. You know, every once in a while you get one of those clients that come in. You're like, okay, you know? And so, um, so we merged together to really be able to offer a lot of different services. My background is, um, in social work as well as, um, you know, licensed addictions counseling.
Allen Grecula: So it's a little bit of, little bit of both sides of that. And, um, you know, as far as a personal connection with it, because I think that at the end of the day, it's, this field is a calling. Uh, if you're here to make a lot of money or something like that, you've, you've entered the wrong field.
Michael Plebanski: Oh, student loans, that's another podcast.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Yeah.
Michael Plebanski: [00:05:00] Okay.
Allen Grecula: Um, but, you know, I've had my own personal struggles as well as, um, just kind of navigating different components of, um, you know, the system and really seeing the impact that it's had. I, I can't count the number of people that I went to school with. I went through my yearbook one time and was just like..
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Wow.
Allen Grecula: Overdose, overdose, overdose. And when we started this, there weren't a lot of other treatment providers.
Lisa Scheller: Mm-hmm.
Allen Grecula: Here. And, and so we said we need to give people more options. We need to give people different perspectives. And so that's, that's what we've done. And with the merger with North Shore, it's really been a huge variety of services. I don't know if that's, if that's a good time to get into the, that now.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: That, that is wonderful. First of all, I just want to say, um, and I wanna hear from you, Mike for a minute.
Michael Plebanski: Sure.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Because I, I think listeners are interested to know not only about the programs at Northshore, [00:06:00] you know, some which originated with, um, frontline, but not only about services, but why we get into the field.
Allen Grecula: Mm-hmm.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Lisa, myself included. Why we get into the field is because we've kind of been there, done that on some level or another, and when you see that there's help out there, For those of you listening, struggling with addictions or a family member struggling or mental health, it, it's awful. Awful beyond words, gut wrenching.
Lisa Scheller: Yeah.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: So when you've been there, done that, or yourself or a family member, um, to see that there's help is uh, everything. So that's what we're gonna talk about next. But before we get into that, Mike, maybe tell us a little bit about your background.
Michael Plebanski: Yeah, so I mean, a little bit of the same thing. You know, I've been touched by it for sure in my own life.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Mm-hmm.
Michael Plebanski: My own journey is in recovery.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Mm-hmm.
Michael Plebanski: Um, and, you know, I started with really my career started with frontline foundations.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: That's nice.
Michael Plebanski: We always laugh about it. I think my first credential was a A C I T.
Lisa Scheller: Oh.
Michael Plebanski: A counselor in training. Um, you know, now I'm a [00:07:00] licensed clinical social worker, and..
Jeanne Ann Cannon: That's good for you.
Michael Plebanski: I've got to walk the journey with Allen and Frontline Foundations, and then the transition to North Shore, which was like Allen said, we all saw it like..
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Yeah.
Michael Plebanski: Substance abuse was only one component of all the needs we saw for all these clients.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Right.
Michael Plebanski: It was constant light bulb moments of, man, we're doing this, but they need this, this, and that.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Oh, right.
Michael Plebanski: And so it kind of all came together with North Shore. And, and of course I just wanna touch on, uh, the programming that we do.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Yes, please.
Michael Plebanski: Cause we, we use the art, the music.
Lisa Scheller: Yeah.
Michael Plebanski: We use a clean cooking program. And, uh, I think it's just really awesome that we do, because it pulls people in and I think what we see more than anything is that the art, the music, the cooking program that we just started back up, which had a huge...
Michael Plebanski: uh, we had big numbers come out for that. We see that they want something they're looking for that..
Lisa Scheller: Community of people.
Michael Plebanski: They're looking for that engagement, that connection. Um, and the more we give 'em that, and now with all the other services we could offer through North Shore, it's pretty exciting.
Lisa Scheller: [00:08:00] And I just wanna say, um, as, um, we're talking, Hans, my husband, when he first admitted that he had a problem with alcohol, he went to Frontline. And I think that was earlier on when Frontline first opened.
Allen Grecula: Okay.
Lisa Scheller: He didn't know anywhere else to go.
Allen Grecula: Okay.
Lisa Scheller: So he reached out to Amber and said, what do I do? And she pointed him in the right direction where he needed to go to get, um, detoxed.
Allen Grecula: Mm-hmm.
Lisa Scheller: And he's like drove there 45 minutes or an hour way, wherever that.. Michiana, you know? But she knew exactly where to point him in the right direction because back then, 10, I guess 15 years ago, where do you go and who's, what kind of resources do you have? If it wasn't for Frontline, I'm not sure. You know, we don't know what that was gonna look like.
Allen Grecula: Mm-hmm.
Lisa Scheller: But that was like the first step in the right direction.
Allen Grecula: Yeah.
Lisa Scheller: And he felt very confident, and comfortable taking that advice to go and get that help, so.
Allen Grecula: Yeah.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: That's great, Lisa. Thank you.
Michael Plebanski: And those are the stories that keep us [00:09:00] going.
Lisa Scheller: Mm-hmm.
Michael Plebanski: Because we hear so many of those stories, especially early days of frontline stories.
Lisa Scheller: Yes.
Michael Plebanski: Of just like, Hey, uh, they reached out, they at least listened, they gave us a place to go, they gave us some direction, and that more than anything meant the world and changes lives.
Lisa Scheller: It changes lives because as a family member and a wife to my husband, it was like back in the day you didn't Google, because back then we didn't have all this like, whatever, you know?
Michael Plebanski: Yeah.
Lisa Scheller: And it was like, you know, oh, where does he go get help? And you're like, with the finger in the yellow pages.
Allen Grecula: Right.
Lisa Scheller: Because it wasn't something I was accustomed to.
Allen Grecula: Right.
Michael Plebanski: Sure.
Lisa Scheller: So, um, it really opened up a new, um, community of people that we could reach out to and say, now what?
Allen Grecula: Mm-hmm.
Lisa Scheller: Now what?
Lisa Scheller: Because you already walked, you guys had already gone down that road to know what was to happen next. So I know that was huge in our, um, recovery story.
Michael Plebanski: Yeah.
Allen Grecula: Thank you for sharing that.
Michael Plebanski: Yes.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Thank you, Lisa, really. And so why don't you start, Allen and Mike tell, uh, tell us about, uh, Northshore and the [00:10:00] programs that are there now.
Allen Grecula: Sure.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: For those listening.
Allen Grecula: So, Northshore is a federally qualified healthcare center, which is a lot of words. So it's an FQHC. So, um, and uh, through that we're offer, we're able to offer just a huge variety of services, so substance abuse is one component. We have optometry, we have chiropractic, we have dental, we have primary care.
Allen Grecula: We have um, we have a pharmacy which provides what's called 3 40 B pricing, which is a significant discount.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Savings.
Allen Grecula: I can think of one individual who came in who was on antidepressants, and he's like, I can't afford it. And we look it up and like, what, you know, it's like $30 a month and to some people, $30 a month, they're like oh, you know?
Allen Grecula: But if you don't have $30 a month, it's, it's...ya know?
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Right, especially in today's economy.
Allen Grecula: [00:11:00] Absolutely, absolutely. And so he wasn't taking it. And so we were able to link him up with one of our providers who wrote that script. He went to the 3 40 b pharmacy. Got it for like $3.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Oh, amazing.
Allen Grecula: You know, I mean, it's, it's, it's remarkable.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Life changing for him.
Allen Grecula: Yeah. But, um, did I miss any of those services, Mike?
Michael Plebanski: I mean, yeah, I just, you touched on a lot of 'em. It's just amazing too, cause we see it like our clients will come for group in the evening and before they come to group, they see a dentist, a chiropractor.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Wow.
Michael Plebanski: If they're having any ailments, they could go downstairs, see Urgent care, primary care.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Right.
Michael Plebanski: Uh, and that's just a, you know..
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Some of.
Michael Plebanski: Endocrinology.
Allen Grecula: Mm-hmm.
Michael Plebanski: I mean, but we're seeing more and more. It's just really..
Allen Grecula: Yeah. Yeah. Northshore really works to just listen to the clients and what, and really see where those needs are. You know, a couple of things that, that we didn't mention is, uh, we do have a psychiatrist as well as uh, a couple of psychologists as well, so, truly, you know, tried to provide as much under [00:12:00] one roof.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Right.
Allen Grecula: Why that's so important is because when you talk about the, you know, the substance abuse journey.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Yes.
Allen Grecula: A lot of it has to do with... with value.
Lisa Scheller: Mm-hmm.
Allen Grecula: You know? And I can, there's just, there's so many stories that I think will just always resonate in my mind. But there was one individual who, uh, they had, um, from prolonged use and just not taking care of himself, they had a lot of dental damage.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Mm-hmm.
Allen Grecula: Um, and this individual had a very nice smile, but they would hide it. Continually. You know, like, you know, they'd, they'd joke and group or, and they'd laugh and they'd, you know, they'd kind of do one of this, you know, and they came in one day and they were able to get enrolled in insurance cuz we're, we have, um, folks that can enroll folks in insurance.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Wow.
Allen Grecula: Um, and, eventually they were able to get, you know, the dental work done and they came in with just this big smile.
Michael Plebanski: Yeah.
Allen Grecula: And people think, well that's not substance abuse treatment. It absolutely is.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Right.
Lisa Scheller: Absolutely. [00:13:00] Self-esteem.
Allen Grecula: Yeah, absolutely. Self-esteem and value.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: It's what you.. Right. Value. Um, really what you said, Allen, is so important and Mike, that it, it's so, is so multifaceted.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: You know, there's the physical addiction, the emotional addiction, and the spiritual addiction. Spiritual being life purpose.
Allen Grecula: Mm-hmm.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: And if they're embarrassed every time they go to laugh or, you know. So I, I guess what I would say to our listeners when we, we know it's messy. If you or a loved one have a, has a problem, we know it's complicated, we know it's messy.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: There's history, there's fear of future, but begin the process of finding out what Northshore has to offer. So what does that look like? Do they call and do they have to come in? Can they get evaluated on the phone?
Allen Grecula: Well, one of the things that we've seen is, um, that's really been a big change since the, since the merger is we get a lot of internal referrals.
Allen Grecula: So let's say someone comes to the dentist.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Mm-hmm.
Allen Grecula: And they see, [00:14:00] you know, what they suspect may be, you know, uh, damage from long-term substance abuse.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Uhhuh.
Allen Grecula: You know what? You can, you know, we offer this service. You know? One of the biggest barriers to substance abuse treatment is people think they can't afford it.
Lisa Scheller: Mm-hmm.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Mm-hmm.
Allen Grecula: Um, and so when we look at that, and then they're like, well, hold on. My, my insurance covers this?
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Right.
Allen Grecula: You know? I know Mike had talked recently, if you want to expound on that a little bit, even chiropractic, you know.
Michael Plebanski: Yeah. But no, I mean, just the, I mean, like, I think goes back to the value of what we're offering of that holistic approach. The whole person. Um, and even like people were talking about the psychology and like, man, I remember when, when clients would come see us at Frontline, we would refer 'em to psychologists for the assessment. A different psychiatrist would have to schedule an appointment. So, and you're talking about people who are in the midst of early recovery, can't put, you know, or just trying to put the pieces together.
Michael Plebanski: And I'm like, well, here's an appointment in March and then we'll do an assessment here. And then you... [00:15:00] What? And now we can do it all here. We can do it here.
Lisa Scheller: It's like a one stop shot. And they start to build relationships, feel more comfortable. They're not being sent here, they're not being sent there. And they have to be talking to each other and re-explaining things where people already know. Like together.
Lisa Scheller: It's a community.
Michael Plebanski: Yes.
Allen Grecula: And with that communication, I mean, you know, I'm sure you guys have dealt with this before, you refer someone out to a service. And then we all get it. You know? I mean, it's like, when do I have time to communicate about this referral? And then we don't hear anything. It's like, okay, they may have showed up to that service, but we don't get that back.
Michael Plebanski: Yeah, how do we even know?
Allen Grecula: Now it's all under one roof. Not that we can do everything.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Right.
Allen Grecula: But there's a lot of bases that we can cover.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Right. Because as you say, the recovery journey is very, uh, challenging. So just getting to one appointment.
Allen Grecula: Mm-hmm.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Let alone..
Michael Plebanski: Multiple.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Yes. Those doctors and counselors talking to each other.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: So what you offer is fabulous, that, as you say, Lisa, is a one shop, one stop shop.
Lisa Scheller: Mm-hmm.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Yeah.
Lisa Scheller: And [00:16:00] holistically, because we know it's just not one, it's just not the mental part of it. We know it's physical and we know that it's emotional and you know, all of that, so.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Again, to go back to your person, hiding.. That, that causes anxiety and that anxiety can be a big part of why they're using.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: I'm not saying their teeth are everything, but it could be like..
Allen Grecula: Well Or shame.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Yes, shame.
Allen Grecula: You know, shame. Shame is such a big one in our population.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Right. Could we, um... another topic is for listeners listening. Why is it that people don't generally, when you talk barriers, um, Allen, why is it that people don't go for help?
Michael Plebanski: I know. You just mentioned it.. Shame.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Yeah.
Lisa Scheller: Mm-hmm.
Michael Plebanski: I mean, uh.. That is a big one. And we, and I think in our program, we talk about that all the time. The difference between..
Jeanne Ann Cannon: And what would you say to, Mike, someone listening that is.. What does shame look like? Like what are the thoughts about..
Michael Plebanski: The shame is that you're not.. You, you get to a point, uh, in that cycle of addiction that you [00:17:00] truly don't believe that you're worth it anymore.
Lisa Scheller: Yeah.
Michael Plebanski: And when you get to that point, that you don't feel that you're worth it, um, it makes everything that much more difficult, that much more impossible. It makes it that much harder to pick up the phone. Versus when you get past that, Hey, you made some bad choices. It's a disease. Let's get you on track. And that holistic approach, you see a lot more engagement from them.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: What, what do you think, and I know it's not a one thing thing, everyone is different, but how do you get someone who feels so shameful that they don't think their value is worth getting help? What would you say to them? Say, go ahead and make the call?
Michael Plebanski: Yeah. One, just make the call. But I think what we do, and they can expect to be treated like a person.
Lisa Scheller: Yeah.
Michael Plebanski: I mean, not to be treated like, uh, a criminal.
Lisa Scheller: Mm-hmm.
Michael Plebanski: You know, what's your background? Anything. But that, hey.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: No judgment.
Michael Plebanski: No judgment. This is a judgment free zone.
Lisa Scheller: Mm-hmm.
Michael Plebanski: We just wanna help and how can we help?
Lisa Scheller: And meet them where they're at.
Allen Grecula: Mm-hmm.
Lisa Scheller: Like what happened in the past.. Yes. We don't know where you're going, but let's make sure where you're [00:18:00] here and let's keep moving forward and more positive.
Allen Grecula: And building off what Mike was saying, it is just, that goes from that first phone call, you know, I mean, across the board to treat people with a high level of respect. And you know, sometimes it's seeing the value in them that they don't see themselves.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Right.
Allen Grecula: You know, and then understanding the difference between guilt and shame.
Allen Grecula: Guilt is this is, this is what I've done. Shame is this is who I am.
Lisa Scheller: Mm-hmm.
Allen Grecula: And that's, you know, that's, that's when people get stuck in it. I think, you know, we do a, a variety of group and individuals. Um, and I love, I love groups. Um, and one of the things that I think is so important in the group process, Is them seeing that they're not alone in this journey.
Allen Grecula: Shame is so isolating. It makes you want to not be around others, not connect.
Lisa Scheller: To hide.
Allen Grecula: Absolutely, yes. To [00:19:00] hide. And then it, it's so cool, and Mike can probably speak on this, you know, um, he does a lot of groups, but seeing someone share their story, I mean, maybe it's just a little bit further in the journey.
Lisa Scheller: Yes, exactly.
Allen Grecula: And, and, and someone's, oh wow. They were where I was at once. Even if it was three weeks ago.
Lisa Scheller: Yes.
Allen Grecula: You know?
Michael Plebanski: And, and to speak on that, one of the coolest things that we haven't touched on too is that we do programming in the jail.
Allen Grecula: Mm-hmm.
Michael Plebanski: And uh, what we've seen now is we've seen people do well in our programs in the jail, come out,
Michael Plebanski: they wanna stay plugged in. And then their voice in group means much more than what me and Allen could say. Cause this is somebody who just got out, is trying to stay clean and sober and is saying, Hey, I'm here cause I want to be here.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Right.
Michael Plebanski: And, and kind of, you can see everyone kind of gravitate towards that motivation of,
Michael Plebanski: you know, like whether it be a camaraderie, a sense of belonging, but, uh, yeah.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Right. The same shame and guilt and fear that someone in jail felt, even [00:20:00] though someone wasn't in jail, they can understand.
Michael Plebanski: Totally relatable.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: And you're saying the, the beauty of being in a group is those same feelings are, whether no matter where you are in life, social, economic, age.
Allen Grecula: Absolutely.
Michael Plebanski: Yeah.
Allen Grecula: Because at the end of the day, you know, I say, you know, we talked about, you know, substance abuse, addiction, it's, it's an equal opportunity destroyer.
Lisa Scheller: Yes.
Allen Grecula: It is, is what it is. And, um, it's, it's so wild to see these folks as, as you said, with such diverse backgrounds from.. It crosses all borders and them connecting.
Lisa Scheller: Mm-hmm.
Allen Grecula: You know, people that.. They, they wouldn't have connected in any other way and like, oh wow, we can understand each other. You know, seeing that.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Well, that's wonderful. So one of the barriers big is the shame. Is there anything else our listeners might, uh, need to hear about what they can break through or have the courage to call because..? Other [00:21:00] barriers? Cost. You said shame. How about they won't understand my..?
Lisa Scheller: Mm-hmm.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: I'm unique.
Lisa Scheller: Mm-hmm. Yeah.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: No one's been through what I've been through.
Allen Grecula: Right.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: I'm not fixable.
Allen Grecula: Yep. Yeah. I mean, and, and I think that they're, yeah, all of that is, is true. And yeah, everyone does have their own unique journey for sure.
Allen Grecula: Um, but there are those things that we can, you know, that, that we can connect with. You know, I think that's one of the things that I really, uh, love about the group of staff that we have is like, I think that at the end of the day, the connections that they built, you know, is, they're so strong. You know what I mean?
Allen Grecula: We see people, uh, come to us that are court ordered and then..
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Mm-hmm.
Allen Grecula: They end up staying with us for a couple of years, you know, post court ordered.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Sure.
Allen Grecula: You know, all of that stuff. But I think, I think one of the things, as far as a barrier too, it's just people still don't realize the help that's out there, you know?
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Mm-hmm.
Allen Grecula: And [00:22:00] people do feel at times, like.. We, we did a campaign, um, in LaPorte that, you know, addiction is not a, a life sentence, you know?
Lisa Scheller: Yeah.
Allen Grecula: To where it's like they're, you know, this is not... this does not have to be the end of your story.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Right.
Lisa Scheller: Exactly.
Allen Grecula: You know..
Jeanne Ann Cannon: There is help out there and you don't have to live in this pain.
Allen Grecula: Right, right, right.
Allen Grecula: Any other barriers?
Michael Plebanski: I think, I think really the biggest barriers too are that stigma and misinformation. You know, we have, we have clients who come in all the time who think therapy is either... uh, the Sopranos.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Yeah.
Michael Plebanski: Always just sit down and they're like, is this like the Sopranos? I'm like, no.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Oh gosh.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Isn't that funny.
Michael Plebanski: Um, or they're looking for a couch.
Lisa Scheller: An easy fix.
Michael Plebanski: So just kinda, I think just navigating and helping them understand the process. Like, Hey, when you call, the first thing you do is you can talk to someone who cares, wants to hear your story, get you an appointment.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Right.
Michael Plebanski: You're gonna talk to a professional who..
Michael Plebanski: That's what we do. We deal with this on a daily basis.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: And there is no.. Mike, would it be important to say [00:23:00] there's no commitment? You make that call, you're gonna hear what you have, you're not committed to do anything.
Michael Plebanski: No commitment at all.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: But because you are so talented and so passionate, and as you say, Allen, people who work in the field, there's a reason they work in the field.
Allen Grecula: Mm-hmm.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: They want to help you.
Michael Plebanski: Yeah.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: So that trust and gentle spirit is probably what helps the average person see the light.
Michael Plebanski: Yeah, I think so.
Allen Grecula: And, and that reminds me of something too, is, you know, um, a lot of these folks.. We see more and more self-referrals, which is..
Lisa Scheller: Mm-hmm.
Allen Grecula: You know, a, a good thing.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Yes.
Allen Grecula: In, in some regards.
Allen Grecula: You know, you always say, you know, oh, our numbers are up. It's like, well that means people are suffering, you know, but, you know, but we we're grateful for those opportunities that we have cuz that's really what it comes down to. Um, Sometimes people have this preconceived notion that this is what treatment looks like.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Yes.
Allen Grecula: You know..
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Could be good or bad.
Allen Grecula: Everything is, you know, intensive outpatient and this and that. And [00:24:00] when these folks are coming in, you know, we're gonna work with you.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Right.
Allen Grecula: To meet you again, where you're at and what your needs are.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Right.
Allen Grecula: That's, that's really important cuz sometimes I look at it as Mike was saying, you know, okay, go here for this appointment.
Allen Grecula: Go here for that appointment, you know, and, and then you're gonna see us four times a week. And I'm like, I stepped back once and I said, could I do what I'm asking this client to do?
Lisa Scheller: Exactly.
Michael Plebanski: It's a full-time job.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Yeah, recovery.
Lisa Scheller: And have to get on with your life and go to work.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: And balance.
Lisa Scheller: And it can become very overwhelming for someone that's in that situation because they're, they're not used to balancing these things.
Allen Grecula: Mm-hmm.
Lisa Scheller: They need to take baby steps.
Allen Grecula: Right, right.
Lisa Scheller: You know?
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Right.
Michael Plebanski: Which is again, important. Which like what Allen was speaking on, that we meet you where you're at.
Lisa Scheller: Yes. I just love that saying because, you know, we try to go back and try to fix something when we can't fix that right now, we have to fix what's happening here and get them going in the right direction.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Navigate their everyday life.
Lisa Scheller: Mm-hmm.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: With recovery.
Lisa Scheller: Mm-hmm.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Very [00:25:00] good. Well, I wanna thank you both, honestly, and Lisa. Allen for your, all you and your mom starting frontline.
Lisa Scheller: Yes.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Bravo. And then, You know, navigating that whole transition with, honestly with North Shore. That is wonderful. And Michael, thank you Mike for being here today and um, sincerely, we appreciate all that you do.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: We know it's not easy on days.
Allen Grecula: That's for sure. That is very true. Yeah.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Yeah. Not everyone gets healthy, but most do. And at least it's, you know, planting the seed for future health and, uh, gosh, if there is ever a time we need it, it's now.
Allen Grecula: Yeah.
Lisa Scheller: And I think education is the biggest thing, because I know when we were going through this, it helped to have people that had already known what we should do and educate us.
Lisa Scheller: So it's not scary, it's not a scary situation.
Allen Grecula: Mm-hmm.
Lisa Scheller: And so educating, letting people know it's, it's gonna be okay. You know?
Michael Plebanski: Yeah.
Allen Grecula: Yeah. So the best way to reach us, I don't know if you guys are gonna..
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Yes, go ahead, Allen.
Allen Grecula: Put something on the bottom of the screen or what, [00:26:00] but you know.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Please.
Allen Grecula: Um, and our main number is 219- 763- 8112.
Allen Grecula: And that's gonna, you just have to tell them, you know, what location you're looking at, what services you're looking for. Uh, and you know, even we've got tremendous front desk staff for that, that will take care of you.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: I know I referred and called and they're very good. So again, North Shore, uh, Recovery Addiction Center.
Lisa Scheller: Frontline.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Yes.
Allen Grecula: Federally Qualified Healthcare Center. That covers all of it. It's all under that umbrella. All the different services.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Right.
Lisa Scheller: And what I like about the North Shore too is when I had reached out to ask for guests to come on, um, I got a real person, you know, which I really liked because I didn't have to feel like I was getting transferred here and there.
Lisa Scheller: So yeah, it was nice to get a, a real person that could get me directed to who I needed to talk to.
Allen Grecula: And I think Denise is the one that's that set all this up. So thank you Denise.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Yay, Denise!
Michael Plebanski: And last but not least but that North Shore [00:27:00] you can call if you have no money, no insurance.
Allen Grecula: Absolutely.
Lisa Scheller: That is awesome.
Michael Plebanski: If you're just walking off the street,
Michael Plebanski: uh, you can be seen. And that's the most important thing that everybody can be seen.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Mike, thank you for saying that.
Lisa Scheller: Yes.
Lisa Scheller: Thank you bringing that up.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: So thank you all again. Cassie, thank you always for doing our tech behind the scenes, and our wish for all of you is to be kind to yourself. Love yourself enough.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Uh, if you're struggling, reach out to Northshore or Lisa or myself, um, just to get some answers to your questions about where do you begin.
Allen Grecula: Yep.
Jeanne Ann Cannon: Um, so be kind to yourself, love yourself and others, and have a really good week. Thank you.
Lisa Scheller: Thank you.
Allen Grecula: Thank you.
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