Northstar Recovery Center

09/05/2025

September is National Recovery Month. What has recovery restored in your life? Share in the comments below!

09/04/2025

The first three months of sobriety are a delicate transition period that can make or break a person's recovery.

If someone you love has recently decided to pursue sobriety, check out this article for ways to provide the right kind of support while taking care of yourself and setting healthy boundaries.

https://northstarrecoverycenter.com/blog/first-90-days-of-recovery/

09/03/2025

Meet Jared, MSW and Clinician at Northstar Recovery Center 🤝

Jared has a decade of experience supporting individuals through mental health challenges, substance use disorders, and dual diagnosis. At Northstar, he provides both one-on-one therapy and group sessions, helping clients find stability, growth, and meaningful connection in their recovery journey. His approach is rooted in person-centered, trauma-informed care, with a specialization in narrative therapy—empowering clients to reshape their stories and discover new paths forward.

Jared brings more than professional expertise to his work; he also draws from his own lived experience with substance use and mental health challenges. This perspective deepens his empathy and allows him to meet clients where they are, with authenticity and understanding. His primary focus is simple but profound: to help people discover what it takes to be okay and navigate the inevitable challenges life presents with resilience and hope.

Outside of work, Jared is a self-proclaimed nerd with a love for storytelling and imagination in all forms. He enjoys Dungeons and Dragons, books, video games, and long walks in the forest—spaces where creativity, reflection, and connection come alive.

09/02/2025

Between mental health challenges and substance use disorders, more than 80% of employees experience personal struggles in the workplace. Did you know that anxiety and depression contribute to $1 trillion in global lost productivity each year?

Read our latest blog for ways that HR and management teams can build systems that reduce stigma and provide accessible pathways to care.

https://northstarrecoverycenter.com/blog/mental-health-in-the-workplace/

09/01/2025

Please join us in congratulating Northstar Program Coordinator, Ashley, on 3 YEARS of continuous sobriety! Ashley works directly with clients, delivering evidence-based group and individual therapy grounded in lived experience. She also leads our West Springfield Family Support Group, where loved ones are given their own space to heal.

Her message of hope:
"After years of fighting with addiction and trying to do life on my own terms, true recovery began the moment I surrendered and admitted I couldn’t do it alone. Over the past three years, my perspective on myself and the world has been transformed. Doors continue to open because of the humility my recovery has taught me and because of daily work I put into my spiritual condition. For me, this milestone isn’t about numbers—it’s about waking up each day with gratitude and choosing to live one day at a time."

08/29/2025

Today at Northstar, we came together to honor International Overdose Awareness Day. 💜

Clients decorated ribbons with names, memories, and affirmations — each one a tribute to lives lost, a reflection of grief carried, and a commitment to healing. As the ribbons filled our group room wall, they became a symbol of hope, resilience, and the promise of recovery.

08/28/2025

International Overdose Awareness Day was first launched in 2001 and has grown into a global movement. Its goals are threefold: Remembrance, Education, and Action.

Everyone has a role to play in preventing overdose and supporting recovery. Read our latest blog for some meaningful ways to get involved:
https://northstarrecoverycenter.com/blog/international-overdose-awareness-day/

08/27/2025

Meet Ashley, Program Coordinator at Northstar Recovery Center 🤝

Ashley specializes in addiction recovery, mental health, and family systems. She facilitates the Family Program at Northstar, where she guides loved ones in understanding substance use disorder, setting healthy boundaries, and supporting recovery without enabling. With experience in group therapy and individual counseling, Ashley designs and delivers evidence-based curricula that integrate the 12 Steps with therapeutic modalities such as CBT, DBT, and trauma-informed care.

Her work emphasizes making complex concepts approachable and practical. She helps clients and families gain insight, build resilience, and strengthen their capacity for healing. Ashley’s approach is both professional and deeply human: clear and direct when needed, but always rooted in empathy, authenticity, and respect for each person’s unique journey.

Outside of work, Ashley is a mother who treasures spending time with her children. She enjoys antiquing, art, and creative expression, which inspire her both personally and professionally.

08/26/2025

Cross-addiction isn’t simply about swapping one habit for another—it’s about the brain’s ongoing search for balance and relief. Sometimes, those same patterns shift onto behaviors like rigid dieting, obsessive exercise, or disordered eating.

Learn how cross-addictions happen and get resources for support in our latest blog:

https://northstarrecoverycenter.com/blog/cross-addictions-eating-disorders-in-recovery/

08/25/2025

One of the greatest rewards of recovery is turning your pain into purpose. By sharing your story, you become a power of example—and you never know who needs to hear it. Your scars can light the way for someone else to find hope.

08/21/2025

When it comes to recovery, access to care often hinges on a single factor: Medicaid eligibility. Any barriers to care can put lives at risk, but the outlook may be better than you think—especially in Massachusetts.

Learn more in our latest blog:
https://northstarrecoverycenter.com/blog/medicaid-eligibility-for-addiction-treatment/

Explore how policy changes impact Medicaid eligibility for addiction treatment nationwide, with a focus on MassHealth protections in Massachusetts.

08/20/2025

Meet Abram, Behavioral Health Technician at Northstar Recovery Center 🤝

Abram plays a versatile role supporting clients through group facilitation, case management, and day-to-day care. As an alumnus of Northstar’s IOP program himself, Abram brings a uniquely personal perspective to his work, viewing every interaction as an opportunity to give back to the community that once supported him. His favorite part of the day is connecting with clients — listening to their stories, sharing ideas, and helping them feel understood.

Whether leading therapeutic groups, assisting with case management needs, or stepping in on administrative tasks, Abram approaches his work with compassion and dedication. He values the trust clients place in him and strives to create an environment where growth and healing can flourish.

Outside of work, Abram is passionate about music, photography, and videography, often finding creative ways to capture the world around him. He also loves to travel and dive into books on spirituality and esoteric thought, bringing curiosity and open-mindedness into every area of his life.