Topics discussed in this episode
🟣 2024 Debbie's "Year of Humility" as she was awarded the NAADAC Professional of the Year and
🏆2024 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Idaho Counseling Association
🟣2025 The Walker Center celebrates 50 years in treatment 🎉
🟣Career training engineers and scientists inspired her to study addiction to help boost their productivity.
🟣Being asked to lead the board of directors of The Walker Center, a non-profit CARF-certified 47-bed treatment center
🟣Ropes challenge course, family program, and an addictionologist
🟣 Spanish-speaking counselors for adolescents and adults with culturally specific service
🟣Opening an innovative 8-bed staffed sober living house
🟣Walking Sober alumni support with online meetings and monthly activities like painting
🟣A continually learning team worth bragging about.
🟣Communual garden and teaching how to can vegetables
🟣Idaho will pay part of sober living costs
🟣Giving the sober living community a voice when an individual member relapses
🟣Extending care with a SAMHSA grant
🟣Supporting pregnant women and mothers with dependent children
🟣NAADAC Executive Regional Director of the Idaho Association of Addiction Professionals
🟣 Harm reduction initiatives supported and not allowed in Idaho
Debbie’s leadership has transformed countless lives. In addition to guiding The Walker Center, she has served on the Idaho Behavioral Health Advisory Committee and led numerous initiatives to improve mental health care, reduce stigma, and advocate for better systems of care in Idaho.
Addiction Podcast Guest:
Debbie Thomas, CEO, The Walker Center
🔗https://www.thewalkercenter.org
🔗LinkedIn Profile https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbie-thomas-63520242/
📞800-277-4190
📍Guest location: Idaho
Addiction Podcast Host:
Chris Langley, Co-Founder | Addiction Recovery Place
