Today we’d like to introduce you to Burr Cook.
Burr, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I started working in the health care field as a nurse in 1975. After recovery from my own addiction to heroin I started working in the addiction field. I have always enjoyed helping people and talking with people. Through a serendipitous conversation I was introduced to the treatment industry and started a journey that allowed me to work in and learn from various job duties within the industry. I have worked as support staff, counselor, interventionist, program director, detox nurse, program developer, family program developer/facilitator, marketing/business development and executive director. Currently I am responsible for approx. 40-70 clients and 75-85 employees. I continue to do interventions. Early on I became interested in doing addiction interventions as I was greatly involved with family crisis interventions in my nursing career and had a talent for working with individuals and families in crisis. I formally trained in the Johnson, Arise and systemic model of interventions, am a former president of the Network of Independent Interventionists and even participated in the test writing for the “Certified Interventionist Professional” credential-the most credible credential for interventionists to date.
I have a natural talent for team building, motivating people to change or excel, and incorporating holistic solutions to problems. I work in a field that addresses one of the leading health care issues confronting families today and one that is in its own ethical crisis. I am passionate about helping families to recover, and take a systemic approach to dealing with addiction.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has not been smooth, the greatest struggle has been not compromising standards or ethics in an industry that is struggling with ethics and trying to provide services when each year the resources of families and insurances companies are dwindling.
Please tell us about Balboa Horizons Recovery Services.
I oversee the clinical integrity of Balboa Horizons, make final decisions on some of the more complex problems that arise and oversee the clinical staff. I specialize in working with individuals and families in crisis. I also provide clinical supervision, evaluate program content and programming needs and help coordinate detox, residential and intensive outpatient teams so that clients can have a seamless continuum of care.
What I am most proud is what sets us apart from other treatment centers is our team-from support staff to clinical team we are a group of professionals that really care, and are willing to go the extra mile for a client and family.
One of the major things that set us apart is the fact that we are Gender specific. Our programs have separate facilities, staff and programming for men and women. We treat adult men and women with addiction and co-occurring issues. Each client that comes to Balboa receives a very thorough psychiatric evaluation, is assigned an addiction counselor as well as a therapist that will stay with the client throughout their continuum of care. Our program is unique in that it offers many therapies to accommodate our individualized treatment plans. Along with the individual and group counseling, therapy and psychiatric support we offer a host of mindfulness based stress reduction therapies including music, art, Tai Chi, yoga, gong sound and vibration therapies and breathwork. We incorporate CBT, DBT therapies and have a robust trauma program that includes EMDR, Brainspotting, psychodrama and somatic trauma resolution.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
For our program, I would have made some management and staff changes sooner and started the trauma program sooner. I would want to make family participation in the recovery process mandatory. I would have made an effort to collaborate with other centers on community education and outreach. (We currently provide a free family recovery workshop each week to provide education, guidance and support to members of the community impacted by addiction.)
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.balboahorizons.com/
- Phone: (866) 316-4012
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/balboahorizons/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BalboaHorizons/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/BalboaHorizons1
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/balboa-horizons-recovery-services-costa-mesa
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/company/2633412/
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