Recovery is a long journey that affects everyone a little differently. Learn more about what to expect and what resources are available to everyone involved.
We all need that extra boost sometimes on our bad days. Recovering from addiction is a great accomplishment, but it is not always easy. There are going to be days when relapse feels impossible to avoid and you’ll need to find a distraction from these feelings.It is...
Driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or narcotics is incredibly dangerous. It leads to many driving-related deaths each year. Unfortunately, many Americans still choose to get behind the wheel when they're under the influence of various substances. They...
Those who enter recovery at a step-based treatment center will often be handed a copy of Alcoholics Anonymous (also known as “the Big Book”) almost as soon as they are admitted and processed. This will become a staple of their foray into sobriety, and they will be...
One of the worst parts of getting drunk is inarguably the hangover. You think that you’re having some fun night out on the town, but then you wake up to a hangover that just won’t quit. You may have methods of trying to get rid of it, but these methods will usually...
Waiting can be difficult. Everyone finds themselves wanting a new job, a new place to live, or just a general change in life. The problem is that no matter how much we want these things, we cannot always make them happen as quickly as we would like. Sometimes, we have...
We all lose things. Even people. These things and people may be quite dear to us, or they may be things without which we can live quite happily. But no matter what the circumstances, each and every one of us will encounter loss at some point in our lives. To expect...
We talk a lot about alcoholism and drug addiction, but there are inevitably those among us who played a somewhat more active role in the drug world. While others were simply buying and using their drugs of choice, some of us were actively dealing drugs and keeping...
What were your favorite activities when you were drunk or high? Most people don’t drink or do drugs and then just sit there in the darkness. We all have at least one activity or another—likely several—that provided us some sort of experience we found enjoyable when...
Addicts and alcoholics aren’t generally accustomed to living a life of routine. We may have certain rituals, getting high in the morning or drunk at certain events. We may be used to taking a swig when we first wake up to try and cure our hangovers. But in general,...
Everyone feels a little bit lonely from time to time. We discussed this briefly in our article on HALT (Hunger, Anger, Loneliness and Tiredness). But with just a few short paragraphs, we could not possibly dive into the full depth of emotion experienced by those who...
When entering recovery and undergoing aftercare counseling in order to try and stay sober, you may occasionally come into contact with HALT. This acronym has a simple meaning, yet is ever so important to the maintenance of all we hold dear. If we fail to heed the...
There is a quote about resentments which gets bandied around in recovery circles from time to time. You’ve probably heard it before, at one point or another. “Resentment is like taking poison and waiting for the other person to die.” There are several variations of...
Over the years, those of us who have struggled with alcoholism and addiction have had more than one occasion to present ourselves as dishonest. This has often done great harm to those we love, as well as to ourselves. But when we were intoxicated, dishonesty never...
Even when we know that our addictions have gotten the best of us, we usually have several reasons for believing that we are better off in the throes of alcoholism and addiction than we would be in recovery. We convince ourselves that it helps us think more clearly, or...
sober.
Whether you or your family member is struggling with addiction, you are not alone in this journey. Explore our expansive addiction resources, including our guides for teens, parents, and spouses, as well as relatable recovery stories from Amethyst Alumni.
Call our 24/7 helpline to speak with an admissions cordinators and get the support you need when you need it.
Laurel McGinnisLaurel, as the Director of Corporate Compliance for USR, is responsible for ensuring that the facility follows all federal and state regulatory requirements, accreditation standards and industry best practices. Laurel has over twenty years’ experience in legal and regulatory affairs in both the public and private sectors. She attended the University of Kansas where she studied political science, and she is designated by the Council on Licensure, Enforcement and Regulation (CLEAR) as a Certified National Investigator and Inspector (CNII). Prior to joining Amethyst, she served as the Director of Enforcement for a state regulatory body.
Brie RodriguezBrie joined the Amethyst Recovery team in 2017 as an HR assistant. Her over 15 years’ experience working in healthcare administration and management quickly launched her into a leadership role. Now serving as the Director of Human Resources since 2018, she leads our organization through the intricate requirements of recordkeeping, recruitment, staff development as well as compliance. While also directing all aspects of HR including payroll, benefits administration, performance management, and compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws, as well as licensing and accreditation standards.
Brie graduated as a high school valedictorian with a major in Health Technologies and continued her studies at Springfield Technical Community College with a focus on healthcare. She served in Operations and HR for a finance company for ten years, before returning to healthcare and eventually arriving at USR.
Brie works closely with the leadership team to develop and implement effective HR strategies that support our organization’s goals and values. As an HR professional, Brie’s primary focus is on ensuring that our organization attracts and retains the most talented and qualified individuals to help us fulfill our mission of providing compassionate care to those struggling with addiction. With a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by those working in the substance abuse field, Brie is committed to creating a positive and supportive work environment where employees feel valued, respected, and empowered to make a difference in the lives of others.
Brie is known for being compassionate and empathetic as well as for her ability to navigate complex and sensitive situations and find solutions that benefit everyone involved. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and their fur babies!
CORI BAIZACori’s key responsibilities include supervising financial operations, and daily financial reporting and account management. Cori’s goal is to ensure all patient’s needs are met in an accurate and timely manner. She is a Certified Recovery Residence Administrator with The Florida Certification Board and licensed Notary Public in the state of Florida. Her experience includes accounting and finance training.
JOHN GAUJohn’s key responsibilities include maintaining the day-to-day operations from both a clinical and housing perspective. John’s goal is to monitor every department to ensure proper policies and procedures are in place and client care is carried out effortlessly. John joined Amethyst as a behavioral health technician where he quickly developed strong personal relationships with the clients through support and guidance. John understands first hand the struggles of addiction and strives to provide a safe environment for clients. John is a Certified Recovery Residence Administrator.
MARK GUDIMMark’s key responsibilities include handling day-to-day maintenance matters and oversees our Environment of Care management plan in conjunction with Joint Commission and DCF regulations. Mark’s goal is to provide a safe environment where distractions are minimized, and treatment is the primary focus for clients and staff alike. Mark received a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, with a minor in Economics from the University of Rhode Island. He is a licensed residential home inspector in the state of Florida and relates his unique experience of analyzing a property and/or housing condition to determining any necessary course of action at our facility.
Jeffrey M. Bishop, D.O.Dr. Jeffer M. Bishop was born and raised in Florida. He joined the U.S. Navy while attending the University of Nebraska for this undergraduate degree in Medicine. When he left the Navy, he went on to graduate from e Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1985.
He worked in Family Medicine for 35 years before retiring from his practice. He then went on to be the Chief Medical Officer at Wellington Regional Medical Center for an additional seven years until resigning from his position in 2013 and started Addiction Medicine.
He is a member of over a dozen professional medical associations and in his free time enjoys a number of different activities. Although now retired from racing, was a member of the International Motor Sports Association and Sports Car Club of America. Dr. Bishop is also a certified open water scuba diver, he enjoys fishing, traveling, and hunting.
AMANDA MARINELLI, DNP, BBA, AG NP-BC, PMHNP-BC, CARN-APAmanda Marinelli is a Board Certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP-BC) with over 10 years of experience in the field of mental health and substance abuse. Amanda completed her Doctor of Nursing Practice and Post Masters Certification in Psychiatry at Florida Atlantic University. She is a current member of the Golden Key International Honor Society and the Delta Epsilon Iota Honor Society.