Alumni Success Stories

Center Point has changed my life in so many ways that I didn’t even realize were possible. Prior to my time spent at the in-patient program for women and children, my life was beyond unmanageable, it was dangerous. I knew that I wanted to be a good mother to my son, and a successful woman, but I just didn’t know how to get out from under the power of my addiction. When Child Protective Services and Drug Court entered my life simultaneously it was a blessing in disguise. I was referred to Center Point, to begin a new life. While in the program, I learned so much about myself, my addiction, and how to plan my future. Parenting, trauma core, relapse prevention, vocational training and art therapy were some of the most powerful groups that I experienced during my inpatient program, although every group was of great help to my recovery process.

I completed my inpatient program successfully and moved on to transitional housing with my son. I had obtained a full-time job and was beginning to experience life as a sober woman who was capable of anything. I feel that I learned the most during my time in transitional housing. I don’t think that I would have gotten to where I am today without the experiences I had while living at transitional housing. The benefits for me were: being able to save money in order to move into my own home, experience life with other single women and their children; all who were living life sober, and the biggest benefit to me was the after care group that I attended regularly and the support I received from my peers.

Today I know that I have become that self-sufficient woman that I aspired to be while I was in treatment. I have a beautiful apartment, a job that I am passionate about and two healthy and phenomenal children that are my whole world. Also, I will be completing my degree soon as a paralegal. I continue to attend Center Point’s Alumni group and I am an active participant of the fellowship as well. I continue to set and achieve life goals for myself that at one point I never thought were possible. I am so grateful for the life-long gift that Center Point has given to me. Words would never be enough to express how wonderful I feel with what I have learned from Center Point. My family, my children and I owe so much to Center Point for being the guardian angel that I so desperately needed.

Emily Wimmer, Graduate and Alumni

On June 27th 2007, I entered Center Point a broken young man with a desperate hope of changing my life. I honestly felt very little hope for myself due to the many failed attempts I had suffered before; however, I knew things had to change or else I would soon be dead or in prison for a long time. I began to work hard, leaving many of my issues out on the floor hoping to rid my emotional closet of all its skeletons. I held onto my seat for dear life all day every day, because I had a constant battle between my heart and mind. My mind screamed at me telling me I was no good and that I might as well leave because I only know how to quit and get high, because that’s what I had been doing my whole life. My heart told me that I was good enough and that with a little bit of hard work and dedication I could become the amazing sober man I always dreamed of.

For the first time in my life I chose to close my ears to my mind and direct my attention to what my heart was saying. I stayed, when it came time for me to confront my darkest and most painful demon, I stayed. When my character defects came out and I was punished or corrected, I stayed. As I finally left treatment I could hear as people shook their heads and said that I didn’t stand a chance. I took that and I ran with it, I took what Center Point taught me about integrity, and perseverance and working hard to get what I want. I dove into the world head first, going to a ton of meetings, getting a sponsor, applying the structure of Center Point in my new, free life. I flourished. It was by no means easy as I fought my demons daily, but I flourished.

Today I am a son, brother, good friend, boyfriend, sponsee, sponsor and, against all expectations, a Center Point Alumni. I try to live my life by the solid concepts and principles I was taught by Center Point. Like my sobriety I have worked extremely hard at furthering my education and career by entering into College of Marin. I have surprised even myself by getting a 3.85 GPA in three semesters and a 4.00 last semester. I have aspirations of attending UC Berkeley, and much to my surprise, it is well with in my reach. I am who I am today because of hard work and dedication, and because Center Point believed in me before I could believe in myself.

Aaron Smith, Graduate and Alumni

When I was growing up I was a good kid. I read comic books, I was an artist, I sang in the church choir and went to church on Sundays. I was an average student who always smiled and kept a good attitude. I went to a good high school and had a small circle of friends. On the outside looking in, my life was normal. My father was an alcoholic and an addict, for as long as I can remember. He was physically abusive to my mother since before I was born, but only once laid hands on me while drunk. He left the home early and my mother raised me all by herself.

I swore I would never touch drugs or become an alcoholic. My goal was to become a social worker and help kids that were runaways. I had some idea why kids ran away from home. To get away from the dysfunction of a house plagued with the insanity caused by drugs and alcohol. What I could not understand was why anyone would choose drugs or alcohol over their family. This was a baffling mystery to me. I was twenty five when I fell into my addiction of methamphetamine, and I spent thirteen years there. I became a thief, a liar, homeless and everything I swore I would never become. One day I had enough and I ask for help, in the form of a prayer. I was an addict and I didn’t know how to stop.

My friend gave me the number to Center Point, and said “if you really want to get your life back, you should call”. I did call and I started my journey October 10, 2007 at Center Point, Inc. I completed in 2008, and graduated in 2009. Center Point, Inc. came into my life just when I needed it. I learned many lessons throughout my life so far. I believe everything happens for a reason. Since my graduation from Center Point, Inc. I have become an Alumni of Center Point, Inc., I have gone to school to educate myself in the studies of Drug and Alcohol treatment. I have taken the state’s certification test and passed. I am now a Registered Addiction Specialist. I believe all the experiences that I have can best be put to use helping others that may be struggling. Center Point, Inc. saved my life and I am truly grateful.

Michael McLain, Graduate and Alumni

I never felt a part of. I could isolate and feel alone in a group of people. I started experimenting with drugs and alcohol at the age of twelve. Instantly things changed. Alcohol and drugs broke down the barriers I had built around my feelings of fear, anger and insecurities. I was who I thought you wanted me to be. When I hung out with rockers I was a rocker, when I hung out with gangsters I was a gangster, when I hung out with people who drank, I drank.

Eventually I was smoking speed and in the first month, I was homeless, jobless and arrested. That started a five year journey in which I crossed almost every boundary there was to cross, culminating in my arrest.

Saved of going to prison I was offered an opportunity to enter a Residential Treatment Program. I didn’t want to get clean when I came to Center Point, but I was tired of the direction my life was headed. It didn’t take me long to buy into the program, I saw it working for others and I pictured it working for me too. Center Point changed my life and the doors it has opened for me keep me grateful for the opportunity. It ‘s been over two years since I masked my feelings with a drink or drug and I have Center Point to thank for that.

Travis E. Carter, Graduate and Alumni

I’ve got my life back!!

I’m a proud Alumni of Center Point, also an employee. If I were to tell you everything Center point has done for me I could write a book and maybe will someday, but for now I will try to summarize it. I’m a 43 year old woman, who for many years used methamphetamine to help me feel inferior to abuse. I was raised in an abusive family and went on in my adult life to marry the same type of man as my abusive stepfather, went on to raise my son in the same environment I was raised in. (The cycle)

I discovered drugs when I was 13 years old, immediately that was my escape. Soon to be my excuse for being abused, because I had no self worth at all, and was convinced that I needed someone to take care of me and control me as negative and scary as it was it would all be okay if I just stayed numb. It finally got to be so bad where I was fearing my life to where one day when he was gone. I took the kids and left got a restraining order, went to court. I had everything in order except one thing, I was a drug addict and knew it wouldn’t stand up in court, but the drugs controlled my life, I couldn’t quit, not for myself not event for my children. So in my mind I came up with the solution my kids would be better off with him and if I was out of the picture they’d be ok, because he abused me, not them!

So I abandoned my children. Went on to lose my job my car, the only thing I didn’t lose was the urge to get high. I started being in and out of jail and the drugs for misdemeanor drug charges, to where going to jail was no big deal, except I’d get sober enough to feel that knot trying achy feeling in my stomach of missing my children. One day was enough and I knew of this place I could go from 16 years previous that would help me, that I know if I applied the tools, the concepts that they taught me. I could become a self-sufficient woman with my dignity, respect, I would be able to get a job with benefits, housing and the courage to do so, that place was Center Point. It seemed like a distant dream but that was a lot more than I had. I went through Center Point’s six month program, applied and internalized the concepts that were incorporated into me. I worked through my emotions in group settings. I went through the vocational group and acquired and acquired a job where I later became manager. I was fortunate enough to go through both transitional housings, until I got my first very own place for the first time in my life! I went through aftercare, continuing care. Four years later I’m not only employed for them, to the place that so willingly gave me hope and strength to live life worth living, I’m also president of the Alumni Association.

Within building all these skills in my life and living with integrity, I was able to believe in myself enough to stand up against my abuser and get full custody of my son. Most importantly realize, that I was only the victim, because I allowed that in my life. Today I’m not a victim, I’m that self sufficient, Independent woman that I admired from afar.

I am living the dream, My dream!

Thank you Center Point with all of my heart! Forever Grateful!

Robin Grimm, Graduate and Alumni

Pain killers prescribed for a back injury sent me into a 2 year downward spiral from which I thought there was no escape. It took me to places physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually that I wouldn't wish on any one.

 Center Point pulled me out of my seemingly hopeless state. They addressed my physical, mental and emotional problems and gave me a firm foundation on which to build my recovery. Center point continues to play an important role in mylife and my recovery. I will be eternally grateful to the Center Point Program and staff for all they've done for me.

David Metzger, Graduate and Alumni