Setting Goals For a Brighter Tomorrow

In 2002, the Women’s Recovery Residence found its home among the Lynchburg City Skyline at Horizon’s Wellness Center at Court Street. Since that time, the Horizon Wellness Center at Courtland has served approximately 450 individuals each month for 19 years without interruption, even expanding during the high peaks of the COVID pandemic in 2020. In February of 2022, Horizon will be relocating the Women’s Recovery program to its very own home in Bedford, VA.

This eight-bed residence is staffed 24/7, offers transportation to and from treatment at Horizon and provides residents with a highly structured environment designed to promote sustainable, long-term recovery by eliminating major barriers to successfully initiating and completing treatment.

Like many of the strong and persistent women who have come through the program over the years, Timia Williams started her recovery journey with a determined mindset. “I was willing to do anything and everything to get my recovery. I was desperate for a life other than what I’ve always known.” So she began reflecting upon her life choices and setting goals like finding a sponsor, maintaining sobriety, finding a job, getting a driver’s license, ID and social security card, and completing Intensive Outpatient Therapy (IOP). “The main thing that helped me was the explanation of how the brain works, what addiction is, and where it comes from” said Timia as she talked about her experience in IOP. She shared a memorable moment in her journey when “Sitting in IOP one day, I learned there can be many underlying issues that can spark tendencies toward drug use. We discussed abandonment and feelings of ‘you’re not good enough’. In that moment, a lot of things clicked for me. After everything you go through, your self-confidence is at an all-time low and the shame you feel is real. But hope can take it’s place.”

Timia quickly learned how to use tools such as self-care, self-honesty, and selfmanagement to rebuild the confidence she had in herself. Today, Timia is working hard to continue achieving her goals so she is able to be a great mom for her children. Tomorrow, she will be sitting in the audience for graduations, spelling bees, and sporting events, taking in every moment of the special memories she knows she will no longer miss.

Pictured above, Timia Williams stands by Barbara Lyons, Certified Substance Abuse Counselor at Horizon.

Timia expressed that “Barbara is always excited about my growth. She reminds me that it’s okay to feel bad or a certain way, is always encouraging, always professional, and always there to listen.” Horizon also recognizes the patience, professionalism, and sacrifice displayed by many of our staff as well as the courageous community partners and peers in this field. It is their passion and commitment day in and day out that allows us to serve our community well. Thank you, to the Women’s Recovery team who has supported over 108 clients this year, accepted 61 referrals from hospitals, and supported the achievement of 3,217 days of recovery earned by our clients in the women’s Recovery Program since January, 2021.