Ep43 Addiction Treatment More Community Outreach. Less stigma

Ep43 More Community Outreach. Less stigma.

Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom.

[00:00:01] Chris Langley: Hi, welcome to the Addiction Recovery Place Podcast, the podcast championing addiction treatment professionals around the world. I'm your host, Chris Langley, and I'm very pleased to introduce today's guest, Brittany Santillo from Nevada. Brittany is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, a Licensed Clinical and Alcohol and Drug Counselor, and an EMDR Trained Therapist.

Brittany is licensed in Nevada, Utah, and Idaho, and she also has her own private practice called Holding Hope Counselling, which is also located in Nevada. Welcome to Addiction Recovery Place Podcast. Brittany, it's great to have you with us today.

[00:00:33] Brittney Santillo: Yes, thank you for having me.

[00:00:35] Chris Langley: No, I really appreciate it. And obviously you're very, busy, so we're just going to get straight in.

so can you tell us about yourself and your journey to starting your practice and your, your career?

[00:00:45] Brittney Santillo: Yeah, so I am born and raised in Las Vegas. So I am like, an OG here. I think I'm like a fourth generation Nevadan at this point. So I've been here, my family's been here for a long time, on my mom's side anyway. so I'm really involved in the community here, and I really believe in mental health and we could do a lot better obviously.

We're getting there as a state, but not as great as I'd like to, think. But anyways, but so I did all my schooling here. I went to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. I got my Master's degree in psychology. I minored in Family Studies and then I went on to my master's program, and I did the marriage and family program there for two and a half years.

I graduated, okay, let's see, 20, 20, oh, okay. It doesn't, 2015. I can't remember anyway. It was quite, quite a few years ago. After that I decided to do my internship at a nonprofit agency, Bridge Counseling and ended up being there for 10 years, actually. So I did, I got. I did like my three year internship.

I got licensed. I became a clinical alcohol and drug counselor as well. And they helped me through all that licensure and did all that. I got EMDR trained under their roof. so they, give me a lot of really good headway start into, into, kind of starting my practice, my journey into private practice.

So I, really thank them for everything that they gave me and a really good footing. I feel like. I encourage all interns to work at an agency at some point, because I really do believe in if you can see clients in that capacity, you can pretty much handle and tackle anything. working there for 10 years, in my last three years of working there, I started to titrate into doing private practice.

So I just slowly started taking clients like in the early week morning and the way, late evening after I got off. and I just started building slowly over those like couple of years. and then finally I left the agency, I went down to like lesser hours and I finally left the agency, in June of this year.

and I finally fully launched my full private practice. And so I've been doing that now. It's been three years, but I've only been doing it full time for, a little bit of time, but it's been amazing. And I'm really having a good time doing that.

[00:02:55] Chris Langley: Firstly, congratulations. That's, that is an incredible journey. And the fact that you're now starting your private practice and you're, you're branching out of your own, that's incredible. So how long has this all taken you? How long ago did you start and what made you decide to go into this field?

[00:03:12] Brittney Santillo: t I think like everybody gets into the field for a reason, right? We're usually all in mental health because we all have our own stuff usually typically, right? but I am really driven by psychology I always was I took an AP course in high school and there was just something about it They just like when all the things that happened to me as as a child and I should child like middle school age into high school And then it was like one of those like whoa, there's like a field for this kind of stuff I didn't really know anything about it until I took my first like high school course around and surrounding Psychology and things like that, but and I was just always curious about the why and like Why people did what they did.

And I feel like people were always drawn to want to talk to me anyway and open up and tell me their stories without me even didn't ever understand why or why people would approach me for those certain things, but they would anyways. other backstories. So like the real reason why I've probably gotten into the field most of the time.

so my father struggles, like struggles, I think still struggles with addiction. Not quite sure. He's not in my life currently, but, so he struggled with Meth use alcohol, gambling, I grew up. I didn't really know till later, but like domestic violence. So my mom used to get beat by him and stuff growing up.

finally, my mom left him when we were like starting in high school and things like that. He just completely disconnected from the family and kind of always felt like he's picked his addiction over the family and us and things like that.

I've worked through a lot of that stuff. so like it doesn't really affect me like it used to. But, so I really think that's the reason why I was always just motivated and like wanting to understand like why people did what they did, like why maybe people would get into that realm. And I didn't even know that studying addiction was even a thing until I got to Bridge Counseling.

So then once I figured I could do the mental health part and then also help people with addiction, it was like, Oh, wow, that's like amazing. So I love the fact that I was able to pursue both. and I just, I don't know, inherently, I probably just feel Have like just empathetic qualities and maybe just my energy and like what I can bring into the room I've always felt like I can really connect with a lot of people and so I think maybe that's the reason why too I've just always been able to really just like connect with individuals on a personal level not so much in big crowds I really don't like big spaces and things like but on an individual basis I've had a really like just special connection with people My, supervisor used to say who, she's still my mentor actually, I get to talk to her every now and then still frequently.

She's always used to say to me like, Oh, if a wall could talk back to you, it would. I'm like, I didn't, I don't know, I just I think my inability to join with people has gotten me this far and I think continues to grow me in my private practice. So I think that's been a really beautiful journey to be able to meet all certain people, different walks of life.

It's just, what a great, thing that I get to do every day.

[00:05:55] Chris Langley: You've certainly got the right energy. There's no doubt about that at all, Brittany. I've seen that you work with families and couples. So what is it you most enjoy about working with this client group?

[00:06:10] Brittney Santillo: Yeah, so families, I did a lot more, in like in Bridge work just because we worked with people who had their children taken through CPS, they would get like their children taken away. So we would help with the reunification process and things like that. So I did a lot more family work there. I do a lot I know like a lot of MFTs actually, believe it or not, don't actually like to see couples, which is sad. I get referred for couples all the time. Cause like a lot of MFTs don't want to see them. So MFTs, see your couples. They're fun. but, I love working with that group. I think that they are, I don't, the dynamic is just so rich and just it's beautiful to see two people come together, even at their worst, but even then to get them to their best, I think it's such a great journey.

I have worked a lot with, in my private practice, I think maybe being in Vegas, I don't know if we just get, the ability to have all people from different walks of life and lifestyles. But I work with a lot of couples that are like alternative lifestyles. So maybe like polyamory or open relationships and things like that.

to help create like a really safe environment for them to talk about those things openly and honestly, and be able to hold space for each other in that regard has been really great. I've worked with a lot of couples with like infidelity, obviously addiction, right? Because since my background in that too, I get, I get a lot of referrals for couples, maybe one, if one is struggling with something or alcohol use, or maybe it's smokes too much or does, whatever it may be, plays video games too much.

Is it a complaint that I hear a lot about the video game world? Um, so I've helping couples navigate through those kinds of things too. and conflict, obviously like basic communication and those kinds of things too. It's been really great and a lot of fun.

[00:07:56] Chris Langley: That sounds incredible Very interesting work that you're doing. so one of your specialists Specialities is EMDR. So how successful is using this therapy or when do you suggest using this for your clients?

[00:08:11] Brittney Santillo: Oh man. EMDR for individuals, is my, Go to approach. So the great thing about EMDR is, I know that it's been coined really for the people who have PTSD and like, more severe trauma, but I really use it for, anything like super small stressor to anything like really big.

So the, measure for EMDR, what we've been able to do with it as a field, incredible from where it used to like, just pause and stem from. but I use it for, clients who have little tease, right? So little traumas depending, but obviously I don't want to minimize anybody's trauma.

So that's always dependent on how the client views it. immediate crisis. Cause I did work with like first responders for a kind of a little bit of time. So like maybe if they saw like a big traumatic thing, you could they could book a schedule and you could reprocess and do that, like for them right then and there, people who even have anxiety, So replacing some of those maybe negative narratives and negative thoughts, you have to do EMDR. a lot more to create those new neural pathway connections, but you can do it for anxiety. even with addiction, believe it or not, there is, I'm not trained in this. I know that EMDR has its own like little protocol for addiction, but you can get trained and more certified, like more ingrained in it.

But I've done it for some addiction work as far as like in that regard, like creating different narratives and different pathways or learning how to like. Break that mold of addiction, but I'm not trained, especially trained in that. but you can do it in that realm too. but trauma is really where we're inherently where you want to mostly obviously advise for clients to take it.

And, like it can heal from like past experience to something that happened like yesterday to even sometimes repressed memories come up to EMDR. So sometimes you might have a protocol for the day, but then something else floods and it's let's just switch to it and that's why it's important to do it with the. Licensed therapist who's been trained in it. Because if you don't like, sometimes you can inherently like not really harm a client, but it can definitely bring up like other things. If you're not ready prepared for that, how to ground the client back to to groundedness or like, switch and do it on the fly.

It can be a little bit damaging to the client. So you want to make sure that you're actually trained in it with somebody who actually specialized in EMDR.

[00:10:23] Chris Langley: Absolutely. So it could, be used for a whole wide range of, issues from not, as you said, not trying to, discount trauma, but something that's considered small to something quite major. okay. It's really interesting stuff. I've spoken to some, I've spoken to some other therapists on the podcast about this and it's something that's, quite, I'm finding out about it as well.

So I find it fascinating. So, thank, you for answering that. That's, great. I

[00:10:49] Brittney Santillo: therapists, don't be afraid to get don't be afraid to get, I know it's a little bit expensive in the beginning, but I really encourage, I think every therapist should be trained in it, or at least know a little bit about it to be able to guide them for like their client to go like seek out other therapists who then formerly trained in it, because I really do think it, it really helps heal the mind and the body to be more congruent.

And I think you, not to say you can't get that with talk therapy, but you can get there a lot faster with EMDR for clients who struggle with trauma. Yeah.

[00:11:17] Chris Langley: Yeah, so so anyone listening to this podcast that's going into this field you would recommend looking into training for this as well

[00:11:24] Brittney Santillo: If you're going to put money into any training, I think that should be the one that you should do it for.

[00:11:27] Chris Langley: There we go. Excellent. All right. Just so you know, anyone's listening.

[00:11:33] Brittney Santillo: Not

that I, don't even get paid by them or anything, but maybe they should start thinking, I'm just kidding, but I think it's great.

[00:11:39] Chris Langley: Excellent stuff. your previous work worked in the criminal justice system as well, Brittany, with some clients facing felony charges. Can you explain how this works and how, do you get felonies reduced to a lesser charge in, the criminal justice field here in America? I'd love to know.

[00:11:55] Brittney Santillo: Yeah, so while I was working at Bridge Counseling, we, collaborated with a lot of court system and a lot of just judicial systems of so like felony courts, like misdemeanors, like DUI specialty courts. We worked with federal programs and probation departments, right? But this specifically one that we worked with was the felony DUI program. so it was clients who had three. Or more possible DUIs, maybe, in Vegas? Yeah, we're gonna, we're strict, but not so strict here, because I don't know. typically, but these are clients that have definitely three. instead of, instead of getting the felony and maybe facing prison charges, they would enroll in this program, right?

so it was three years long. So I know, it's a long, it's a long program. They were enrolled in treatment the entire time, but they would titrate down. So they would start like three times a week where they would engage in group and then individual. They're being drug tested now the entire time that they're in this program randomly through the court.

So we don't have anything to do with that, but they call a number and they get called in to go do drug testing and things like that weekly. so their, treatment titrates down over time as long as they don't get any. Slip ups or any kind of in trouble, they're on probation the entire time too that they're in the program So once they successfully complete they go back to court.

They close out their case The felony then is reduced to a misdemeanor.

[00:13:13] Chris Langley: That's what we're three year program

[00:13:15] Brittney Santillo: Oh, yeah,

and most of them, I you know in my work They're for the Bridge for 10 years I stopped seeing some of the felony just because it was it's like it's hard to work with the court system Sometimes you know, you don't get as much Freedom, you have to do things like their way, which is fine and everything like that But I had like way more success than I ever did Like I hardly had ever clients like that had to get like fully terminated or didn't want to do it anymore or whatever Like there was way more success in that now.

I don't know what it looks like after they finish the program I don't know how many studies and things that they've done for clients You know who have left the program and how well they do with their continuing sobriety or if they enter or if they bring alcohol back in their life, like what that looks like, I don't really know about those studies, but while in the program, most clients seem to do very well.

[00:13:59] Chris Langley: Wow. so people stayed in the program for three years. That's incredible. that's great. That's testament to your work.

[00:14:07] Brittney Santillo: yeah. I think too Vegas is not very felon friendly despite what a lot of people may think. so I think for clients to know, like how hard it is to get housing here or jobs, Cause we're a very entertainment, like heavy industry and things like that. So you have to do a lot of background checks and most casinos and things like that, or, and They're not gonna hire you a certain way when they can just hire somebody who has no problems or issues, right?

So I think for a lot of clients if they could want to stay here and live here like it's really important not to have That felony on the record.

[00:14:34] Chris Langley: Yeah, definitely. Most definitely. just going to talk about your state for a little bit. Because obviously in the United States we've seen a massive fentanyl opioid crisis. It's affecting every community. So how's Nevada coping with this? Are there any harm reduction services available? Such as fentanyl stations or even needle exchanges that are available in your state.

[00:14:54] Brittney Santillo: Yeah, I had to do some research on this actually because Where I used to, where I worked, Bridge used to be able to give out like Naloxone and certain things like that with syringes because we had like a grant in funding. I don't know where they're currently at with that. They might still have it actually, I'm not quite sure.

but like we, there is like in Nevada, there is do a lot of harm reduction programs. I'm not quite sure about the northern areas and things like that. But, I know that like Nevada has like a website. It's like the Nevada DHHS. And they have all of the, all the facilities and things like that, house, like needle exchanges or not yeah.

And have like certain things like certain, like Desert Parkway, obviously is a big one here. They're like one of the major hospitals here for mental health and substance abuse. So a lot of people get a lot of things through that. I know there's a, there's, we have a health center out here. We have one for the LGBT community. I think they're, I think they're just called The Center, which I know seems like a strip, but I think that's the name of it, and they have a lot of things for HIV and medic and certain things like that, that you can get. The health district we have out here has a lot of things too, but I'm not quite sure about rural Nevada, up in the northern states, but I know that, I think they probably have a lot more, actually, probably, up there, probably because they just get a lot more funding than we do down here in Vegas, cause, I know, cause, Unfortunately, there's only certain things that Vegas cares about when it comes to funding and mental health is probably Not on the tippy top of their list, but we do have a lot more as far as like agency work and things like that Like clients can go and get like help and support in that regard but as far as like maybe finding services for like safe places to get it or needles and things like that or like things like syringe exchanges programs Probably not so big in that regard but as far as like being able to set up for like For treatment in IOPs and like inpatients and certain things like that, like we have a little bit more probably than they do up north in that regard.

[00:16:52] Chris Langley: So Nevada isn't really, is not running away from the problem. it's actually trying to deal with it

[00:16:57] Brittney Santillo: think they are.

I think they are. I think, obviously we could always be doing better, but I think probably every state and major city could probably say that too.

[00:17:05] Chris Langley: yeah, I've been hearing different answers to that. It's nice to hear. Yeah, it's been quite interesting that this is a question I ask everyone on the podcast because it's interesting to find out what's going on.

[00:17:14] Brittney Santillo: I also think, because of a lot of the crisis with opioids and stuff, and I think since it started so much more in the East Coast, I think they probably have a better handle on it and like how to deal with it because they've had it over there for a lot longer than we've had on the West Coast just because I think we've had other Problems and issues.

You know how like drugs, unfortunately, some substances are like, they're like, they're coined to certain areas for some, I don't know why that is or how that works or whatever, but, so I think the opioid crisis has started so heavily on the East Coast, I think they probably have a lot more funding and resources and things available than probably do out West, just because I think we have a different drug problem or, crimes and, I think it's just different depending on where you're at in the States.

[00:17:53] Chris Langley: Yeah, that makes total sense. you, mentioned earlier about drug testing, Brittany, and on the, on these podcasts, I've heard time and time again about clients being tested for drugs and finding out that they're testing positive for fentanyl, even when they've just used something like marijuana. Is this an issue in Nevada, would you say?

[00:18:12] Brittney Santillo: Yeah. So currently, luckily I don't have to collect P anymore. that's

not job description anymore. Thank goodness. but when it was, cause we did have an IOP program at bridge. So sometimes we'd have to drug test clients or for CPS or certain things like that. And, even state probationers, and since marijuana is legal here in Nevada, There's some core entities, People who like have their children like CPS and things like that or say probation They can't really say that they're not allowed to use right within reason, right? So if they test positive for marijuana, we can't really say oh you have to be sober from like everything, right?

Even though that's our policy as an agency, but if we have If even probation or CPS is like, we don't really care what they do. Like we don't really have much say in that. So clients will continue to use, Or even if they come in on their own will, marijuana is like the, well, the one besides alcohol, like it's probably the one that we see the most.

so like during certain like settings and things like that, yeah, I would have clients that would come like heavy marijuana users, They would always test positive for marijuana, but every now and then they would get a spike in something. And I think sometimes that just depends on Maybe where they're getting their marijuana, where they're getting that and like some people probably don't always go to dispensaries and things like that because it's a little more expensive possibly.

But yeah, I definitely have seen it a lot, in, the, my agency work and things like that. And that's like really sad to know the clients don't even know sometimes what they're getting. And, sometimes too much of that can unfortunately, create an OD and certain things like that, which is really devastating, but it happens a lot.

And they know a lot of people too that are like suddenly OD'd and things like that, people that they've known for years, then that tends to happen, which is really sad.

[00:19:53] Chris Langley: It must be a bit of a shock for clients to come back testing fentanyl when you've been smoking just some pot.

[00:20:00] Brittney Santillo: For sure, because they're like, that's a huge, that's they're like, what? I've never, I don't even know. So most clients don't even know what it is either, right? some people don't, aren't even educated to even know what that is and like what that means or what that's even made for.

I think people don't even, because they change the compound all the time. So who knows what's in it, right? Because they try to dodge certain things all the time. So they're constantly changing the compound so that it can you Be undetected or whatever the case may be in certain drug testing environments so the fact that it's constantly changing too and things like that I think sometimes clients don't understand the like the gravity of the situation if they were to even use just a little bit

[00:20:35] Chris Langley: I had a guest on the podcast who described the dispensaries as harm reduction now because of what's going on and that was a real turning point for me as well when I realized that, this, the legalization has some real benefits as well. Obviously, there's a lot of negative press around it, but when we got a fentanyl crisis where people are smoking cannabis and, They're testing for fentanyl.

It just seems a bit of a no brainer, really. Um,

So how's legalizing marijuana in Nevada helped with funding schools and addiction services, as well as reducing incarcerations for simple possession? How, has this, helped? Has money gone back to where it's supposed to be, would you say?

[00:21:13] Brittney Santillo: So I did a little bit more research on this too because I was curious after we chatted a little bit about it. so it was legalized back in like 2017. and since then they, I think report, I don't know how recent the study was, but it was, it's nearly been a billion dollars in tax revenue from marijuana use since 2017, which, I mean it's a hefty, it's a hefty price tag. so there has been some things that have been funneled into addiction work. they didn't really have numbers because they said like it, it varies from year to year probably just from whatever they have. Maybe like leftover or maybe whatever has gone to other things, right? But for schools it's been about 60 million. that they've distributed over the time since 2017, to help with like new programs and improvements in it. Cause Lord knows we need, I still think we're 48th or 49th in education. I'm not quite sure. so yeah, whatever money we can get will probably help. and then, it has helped definitely with incarceration though.

We do definitely see like less people in jails and things like that for for, Like little small possession or whatever the case may be related charges So it definitely does help with that in regards to like the jail system as well

[00:22:19] Chris Langley: Yeah, it's good. It's good to know that the money is at least being pumped back into some good causes that's

nice to hear

[00:22:24] Brittney Santillo: I sure hope it continues.

[00:22:26] Chris Langley: Yeah, most definitely especially in a state like Nevada. We have other vices should we say

[00:22:31] Brittney Santillo: This is the adults playground here

[00:22:34] Chris Langley: Sure is

Dear me, So I just like to ask I asked people about this because stigma is such an effect on people Who want to access services for their drug use? This has been a time tested You problem. So why do you think in this day and age this still is a problem? Why is stigma still a barrier to people accessing services?

[00:22:56] Brittney Santillo: Yeah, I still think societal views on addiction. I think that a lot of people aren't still educated about it, right? and maybe just don't understand like how addiction can come about, right? And I think nowadays, I think everybody's probably been touched by addiction to a certain degree, right? You probably know a family member or a friend, right?

I think everybody's been touched by addiction to some degree, but whether or not you learned about it, is a little bit different, right? but I still think there's very like negative perceptions on drug use. and I think a lot of people still feel that, and I still get this even in Nevada's, as. As like like open minded as a, city, as we are. but I still think it's tied to like people who use like, maybe as they're like, they're weak, maybe. Or there's moral failures in that regard. they, succumb to addiction and other things or things like that.

But also. There's just a lot of shame in, in seeking help, I think, still, right? knowing that, you have to actually ask for help, or knowing where to go to even ask for help sometimes can, can definitely, reinforce somebody to just stay in their addiction instead of maybe getting harassed.

Or maybe they have, and maybe it didn't go well, or maybe they got the, or maybe they, it wasn't help in the right ways, or maybe what they needed, or maybe they got judged in some kind of passing or along the way, so it's hard to know. exactly why, but I think that, I think it's because we don't have enough compassion in the field to like really help people in the ways that they need it.

And I think that this work is still very new. I think, like as far as like how to really help people through these things, I think we're still learning and growing as a community and really what is the best recipe because it's not a one size fits all kind of thing, unfortunately, so we try to be cookie cutter and things to set things up, but it's not always going to work for everybody, so I just think that we just need more community outreach and less stigma around it, and I think We have to get away from labeling people and being like judgmental around and about it because everybody has a story and there might be, there's, I think there's always a reason and a why, somebody might go down that avenue and I think it's just important to understand, that maybe that's the only thing that they knew. How to go to, or maybe they saw parents do it or friends do it or who met. So there's a lot around it. And I think people just want to close those people out and not really help them, but just be like, Oh, that's not my problem kind of thing. And shun them more from society and then bringing them in and figuring out how to help them in the best way possible.

[00:25:26] Chris Langley: Yeah, you just,

you said something, more community, less stigma.

That's, I love that. That's,

that pretty much sums it up. It

really does. It really does. Thank you for that, .

[00:25:37] Brittney Santillo: You're

[00:25:38] Chris Langley: last couple of questions. I ask all my guests this because I get some really interesting and varied answers, but can you tell me what your opinion of harm reduction is and how it can play such a role in recovery?

[00:25:48] Brittney Santillo: Oh, okay. So I didn't mention like in the one before, right? So it's harm reduction is not a one size fits all model either right in this approach So I do believe in harm reduction, right? Even though the agency that I worked at like right with court mandated folks like they had to be so great They didn't get a choice to titrate drought titrate down right on certain things but like they had to like Just stop and and figure it out. but with some substances, I really do think it can be really effective, right? I'm not gonna say probably like methamphetamines and like more like hard, right? Like I think, I've never met like the occasional meth user, right? So it's like one of those things where it's just they're either all in or like they're not at all, right?

So harm reduction in those kinds of spaces where oh, I'm just gonna use like, A little myth today, like mentor, I, I don't think that's necessarily, yeah, that's probably not going to be helpful, but with, I think with marijuana, I do think with like alcohol to a degree, as long as they're not like to the point where, you know, like maybe they're like, some people need the alcohol in order to like function, cause for the, they get the shakes and certain things like that.

But, but I think you can do it with marijuana. Yeah. depending on like the ability of like pill use. I'm like a little worried about that, but even like with heroin and opioid like use addiction and things like that, I think you can you have to be very monitored, And really have somebody come alongside you in that program, And to hold your hand through that process. Cause withdrawing from any kind of, especially like an opioid or like a heroin can be very

deathly sometimes you have to be really careful with how you do that process and what that looks like. So I do think it, it can be done. But I think it has to come with a lot of support, a lot of people around you, and a lot of will and determination to actually titrate down over time. And I think we see it a lot with Cigarette use, like tobacco and things like that too, or even even something as simple as like caffeine, like that can, I think harm reduction can be great for that, but it takes time and you have to be patient with yourself and everyone around you and learn what's best for you over time and how to do that effectively, and even medication management in between, if you could get something to help with aiding cravings and certain things like that, like you want to, you really have to have a whole team around you, I feel like, if you're going to do harm reduction,

[00:28:02] Chris Langley: most definitely. Most definitely. That's a perfect description. Thank you for that.

[00:28:06] Brittney Santillo: Yeah. Yeah.

[00:28:07] Chris Langley: do you have a message for anyone who's listened to this podcast who is going through addiction or a mental health trauma at the moment?

[00:28:13] Brittney Santillo: Yeah, I thought about this and I like, I was like writing some things down cause I was like, I don't want to read it like a letter, but I did anyway. So I was,

cause .I was like, I don't know what people need to hear, but, I just put like to anyone who is struggling with addiction, I want you to know that you're not alone. Addiction can feel like an isolating and overwhelming experience, but there's always hope. There's always a path forward. No matter how far you may feel from it right now. What you're going through does not define you. And there are so much strength in taking even the smallest steps towards healing. Every moment is an opportunity for growth and you have the power to change your story. It's okay to take it one day at a time, even one step at a time. No one expects perfection. Recovery is not linear. It's okay to stumble, take a few steps forward, take a few steps back. But what matters is that you continue to find the courage to keep rising again. I encourage you to lean on support around you, whether it's a therapist, family member, a friend, or a community that you can feel safe in that understands what you're going through. There's no need to face it alone. There's always many resources and people that are willing to walk alongside you, you just have to be able to find them. Above all, be kind to yourself. Addiction is a struggle. You're deserving of compassion, respect, and care. No matter where you are in your journey, know that you're worthy of love and support and the future filled with possibility. Keep moving forward even when it's hard. Your story is still being written. And that one can be filled with hope, healing, and transformation.

[00:29:45] Chris Langley: Wow. No, that was incredible. No,

that's, a, lovely message. I really was. So thank you for that. Thank you for your time today. last question. Can you tell our listeners how to best to contact you and to find your service online, Brittany?

[00:30:00] Brittney Santillo: Yeah, so like I said, so I just started my LLC this year. I don't have a website up and running, but I am on Psychology Today. Um, so you can always find me through that. You can just type my name in or whatever and I'm, I will pop up. and yeah, really psychology today is probably the best way to be able to find me currently, but

[00:30:19] Chris Langley: Excellent. Yep. We'll, we'll make sure we have the links in the podcast so anyone can contact Brittney.

[00:30:24] Brittney Santillo: Perfect. Love that.

[00:30:25] Chris Langley: Brittney, thank you so much for joining me today. It's been fascinating speaking to you. It's lovely to hear that you've branched out in your, very early in your, new journey to your, with your service yourself and congratulations on everything you've achieved and for helping so many people.

It's been a real privilege talking to you today. Thank you so much.

[00:30:44] Brittney Santillo: Thank you for having me. I really appreciate it.

[00:30:46] Chris Langley: Thanks Brittany.

Do, do, do, do, do.