Her Story
About Sandra
I currently work for Abounding Prosperity as a harm reduction counselor serving the unhoused population. If they cannot come to me, I go to them and offer services concerning substance use and mental health. I tailor treatment plans around what they want and give them options, being very open and transparent. I started out with Nexus Recovery Center as a recovery peer LCDC in the DTOP, got promoted to admissions then outpatient counselor, transferred back as residential counselor which helped me become well-rounded. Then I went to be a math counselor for those taking medication for opioid use on the methadone side before coming to Abounding Prosperity as their LCDC counselor. Besides substance abuse and mental health, my main expertise is being able to meet people where they are and walk them through their struggle with compassion.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Sandra
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to God. Just being led by the Spirit of God, reading His Word so that I am in tune with how I need to act, how I need to be, how I need to show compassion, how I need to help the next man up that's down without judgment.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have received is to meet the people where they are, whether they are sleeping on the ground, sleeping in a hot ride, or the person that's struggling with addiction but they got the nice house. Show no difference and just meet everybody where they are.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Have a tender heart and be compassionate because having lived experience with addiction, I experienced being called names and not taken seriously. I want to give to the people where I used to be. Anybody in this field can't do it for the money, they have to do it from the heart.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge for me is just making sure that I am in the place of just a good mental state. I go out in the community and sometimes I am in toxic environments or deal with people that may raise their voice or say mean things. The challenge is not to let that affect my job. For me, it's to win them over with love and kindness, and it tends to work for me.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity at all costs. I try to be integral at work and stand in my personal life. Integrity means a lot to me. I try to make sure that my character is intact so whatever I'm doing at work or personal life, I want my character to be intact. To be dependable, reliable, and most of all, to be a woman of my words.
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