Mental Health & Addiction Recovery Month
Shining a Light During National Recovery Month
Beginning in 1989, during the month of September, communities across the country come together to observe National Recovery Month, a time dedicated to celebrating the strength of individuals in recovery and raising awareness about mental health and addiction recovery. Led by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Recovery Month is a reminder that recovery is possible, and it happens every day.
At Rocking Horse Community Health Center, we see firsthand the courage it takes to begin the recovery journey. By offering compassionate, whole-person care, our goal is to support individuals and families right here in Springfield and Clark County.
Why Recovery Matters in Our Community
Mental health and addiction challenges can often feel overwhelming. Too many people believe recovery isn’t possible, or that treatment won’t help. Rocking Horse therapists work every day to change that perception.
One of our therapists shared, “National Recovery Month matters to Rocking Horse because we want everyone to know that people do recover! Mental health and addiction challenges are often met with a sense of hopelessness, and are often presented on social media as permanent conditions that people must simply learn to live with.
Recovery looks different for everyone. Some people are able to build meaningful lives around their symptoms, while other people are able to experience symptom resolution. And the research is clear- social support is the number one predictive factor for recovery from addiction or mental illness.
At Rocking Horse, we want to build that holistic social support by treating health conditions that are affecting the patient’s quality of life, building a professional support system, connecting them to the wider community, and helping them find their purpose. When people have a purpose and a reason to recover, they can do incredible things that they might not otherwise have thought possible.”
In some areas of Clark County, where economic stress and limited resources can add to the weight of mental health struggles, this message is more important than ever. Recovery Month is an opportunity to share stories of hope and reinforce that no one has to walk this path alone.
A Holistic Approach to Healing
What makes Rocking Horse unique is our integrated, whole-person approach to care. Behavioral health doesn’t exist in isolation, it’s deeply connected to physical health, environment, and relationships. That’s why our providers work across multiple specialties under one roof.
From one of our therapists,
“The wonderful thing about Rocking Horse is that all of our service lines exist under one roof. Every person in our SUD (Subjective Units of Distress) program is assigned to an SUD Care Coordinator whose job is to coordinate services across care silos inside and outside Rocking Horse. Patients in our SUD program are expected to see, at a minimum, a primary care provider, a mental health/SUD therapist, and their SUD Care Coordinator. Many patients also engage with other service lines such as psychiatry, chiropractic, and patient advocacy. All providers on our SUD team meet on a monthly basis to discuss SUD patients in our care and coordinate services.”
This complete care approach allows us to see the full picture of a person’s life, addressing challenges like housing, finances, physical health, and social support alongside treatment for mental health and addiction challenges.
Stories of Hope and Resilience
Recovery is rarely a straight line, but with the right support, small steps can lead to big breakthroughs. A Rocking Horse therapist described the recovery journey of one patient who faced multiple challenges,
“I have been working for several years with a patient with incredibly complex mental health and substance use concerns. In addition to these challenges, she has very limited financial resources, numerous health concerns, and a lack of social support.
It took a long time to engage her and make her feel safe and connected with her care team, but over the last two years she has begun consistently keeping her appointments, significantly reduced the frequency of her relapses, shortened the length of those relapses when they happen, and has begun to build social support outside of Rocking Horse.
She frequently tells me that Rocking Horse is her safe space and that she would not be alive if it were not for the care and support that she has received here”.
Real-life, difficult stories like these remind us that mental health challenges and substance abuse are real, difficult, and heart-breaking. But, recovery is attainable and it’s not just about managing symptoms, it’s about building a meaningful life filled with connection and purpose.
Recovery Pathways: Meeting People Where They Are
Recovery looks different for everyone. At Rocking Horse, we honor that by offering a wide range of options. Some individuals find strength in faith-based or peer-led groups, while others benefit from therapy, medication, self-care strategies, or a combination of multiple techniques.
Our therapists are trained in a variety of approaches, including:
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Multi-Discipline Groups
- Group Therapy
- DBT Skills Groups
- Kid's Martial Arts Group
- Seeking Safety for co-occurring PTSD and substance use
- Men’s Groups
- 12-Step Groups
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SUD
- SUD Groups
- Care Coordinators
- Outpatient SUD Individual Therapy (weekly, biweekly, and monthly)
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Multi-Discipline Therapies
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
- Accelerated Resolution Therapy
- Metacognitive Therapy
- Family therapy
- Compassion-Focused Therapy
- Primary Care Physician/Nurse visits
- Medication Assisted Treatment
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Consultation
- After Care Services
One of our Therapists had this to say:
“The approach that we use is Harm Reduction and Holistic, we offer a range of M.A.T. services for our patients, that can assist them to reduce their use until they acquire complete sobriety, we also offer various support from therapist, doctors, nurses, care coordinators, social worker, and patient advocacy to assist our patients in a holistic way looking at every aspect of their life to support their recovery”.
Each patient’s journey is respected and supported in the way that works best for them.
Local Resources & Community Connections
Recovery isn’t something that happens in isolation, it requires the strength of community. That’s why Rocking Horse partners with other local organizations to ensure patients have access to intensive treatment programs and peer support when needed. We often connect patients to trusted resources such as McKinley Hall, Mercy Reach, Ethan’s Crossing, Woodhaven, and we encourage patients to connect with local AA/NA groups. Together, we are building a community of care that empowers individuals to move forward with confidence.
Looking Ahead: Building a Healthier Future
While we’re proud of the progress being made, we know there’s still more work to do. One area Rocking Horse is passionate about is expanding services for teens, especially around the challenges of vaping, THC, and alcohol use. By focusing on prevention and early intervention, we can help young people build healthier futures before patterns of substance use take hold.
How You Can Support Recovery
Recovery Month is about more than awareness, it’s about action. Here are a few ways you can help:
- Share the message that recovery is possible.
- Support loved ones with compassion and without judgment.
- Get involved with community organizations making a difference.
- Consider supporting Rocking Horse through donations, volunteering, or speaking up.
If you or someone you love is ready to take the first step, Rocking Horse is here. Visit our Behavioral Health page to learn more about services and resources.
Together, we can create a community where every individual has the opportunity to heal, recover, and thrive.
New Patient?
Contact your preferred location today!
Adult Medical (18 & Up) - we ACCEPT new patients
We will take calls for new patients on Monday mornings beginning at 8:30am. Patients may call our new patient phone number (937-328-7259) on Monday at 8:30am each week. Once those time slots are filled for the week, we will stop taking calls until the following Monday.
Pediatric Medical – we ACCEPT new patients
We will take calls for new patients on Wednesday mornings beginning at 8:30am. Patients may call our new patient phone number (937-328-7259) on Wednesday at 8:30am each week. Once those time slots are filled, we will stop taking calls until the following Wednesday.
For Newborn Babies
Call 937-324-1111 during regular business hours for scheduling.
Prenatal Center – we ACCEPT new patients.
New patients who are pregnant or think they may be pregnant can call 937-328-7260 or walk-in to schedule during regular business hours.
Chiropractic Solutions – we ACCEPT new patients, even if they are not current RHCHC medical patients.
New patients seeking chiropractic services can either call the main chiropractic phone number, 937-525-4533, for scheduling during regular business hours.
Adult and Pediatric Medical Patients – we ACCEPT new patients.
People wishing to become new patients in Madison may call the office or walk-in to schedule. Prospective patients can call the main phone number, 740-845-7286 during regular business hours.
Adult and Limited Pediatrics – we ACCEPT new patients.
Our mobile operations typically operate on a “first come, first served” basis. This means that a new patient may “walk-up” to one of our locations. Patients may access our HealthBus schedule on our website or call 937-328-7254.
Accepting New Students and Families of Springfield City Schools.
New patients wanting to schedule for medical visits or vision services may call (937)717-2578 during regular business hours.
