Vitals & Voices
Welcome to Vitals and Voices, brought to you by Lexington Regional Health Center — your community, your health, your care. This is your trusted source for health-related content that matters to you.
Each episode, we bring you real conversations with the voices behind the care — from medical experts and wellness champions to community leaders and patients — sharing insights, stories, and tips to help you live your healthiest life.
Whether you're tuning in from Lexington or beyond, we're here to inform, inspire, and connect. Because at LRHC, your health is our priority — and your voice matters.
Vitals & Voices
Alcohol & Drug Counseling: Education, Support, and Local Resources
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In this episode of Vitals & Voices, we sit down with Jamie Roberts, Provisional Licensed Mental Health Practitioner and Provisional Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor at Lexington Regional Health Center, to have an open, honest conversation about alcohol and drug counseling—and why support is available long before someone reaches “rock bottom.” Jamie shares her journey into mental health and addiction counseling, explains what substance‑use counseling really looks like today, and breaks down the stigma that often keeps people from reaching out. Whether you’re questioning your own relationship with substances, worried about a loved one, or simply want to better understand the resources available in our community, this episode offers compassionate insight and practical guidance.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- What alcohol and drug counseling truly involves
- Why you don’t have to be in crisis to seek help
- Common signs counseling may be beneficial
- How substance use can affect mental health, family life, work, and school
- Therapy approaches used in treatment, including DBT, CBT, and multisystemic therapy
- How loved ones and families can be supported through counseling
Why This Episode Matters:
Substance use is a health issue and support can make a life‑changing difference at any stage. Early intervention, compassionate care, and reducing stigma can help prevent bigger challenges down the road. If you or someone you love is struggling, questioning, or simply feeling overwhelmed, this episode is a reminder that help is available locally and you don’t have to navigate it alone.
Vitals & Voices is a podcast powered by Lexington Regional Health Center, offering meaningful health conversations that matter to you. Each episode features authentic stories and expert insights from the people behind the care — including healthcare professionals, wellness advocates, community leaders, and patients — all aimed at helping you live your healthiest, most informed life.
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Welcome to Vitals and Voices, brought to you by Lexington Regional Health Center. Your community, your health, your care. This is your trusted source for health-related content that matters to you. Each episode, we will bring you real conversations with the voices behind the care, from medical experts and wellness champions to community leaders and patients, sharing insights, stories, and tips to help you live your healthiest life. Whether you're tuning in from Lexington or beyond, we're here to inform, inspire, and connect. Because at LRHC, your health is our priority and your voice matters. Hello, everyone, and welcome back to Vitals and Voices. Today I'm excited to welcome one of the newest members of our mental health team, Jamie Roberts. Jamie is a provisionally licensed mental health practitioner as well as provisionally licensed alcohol and drug counselor. She brings a strong passion for helping individuals and family navigate substance and challenges and mental health needs. So today we're going to talk openly about alcohol and drug counseling, what it is, who it's for, and what our community just needs to know about that support that's available right here. Jamie, welcome to the podcast. Thank you so much. So tell us a little bit about yourself. What led you into mental health and addiction counseling?
SPEAKER_01Well, I'll back up uh a long time ago. So 2005, I have I graduated with my undergrad in music. Uh you know, shockingly enough. So um then I got married, had a family, and we moved to Lexington and I started doing um in-home family support through uh subcontracted through HHS. And that's when the poll got strong that's like I'm not where I'm supposed to be. Um, so did that and then went to the court. So I worked all the juvenile cases in the county um that were filed. So it could be 3A HHS cases, um, 3B uncontrollable, 3C potentially, um, that are um mental health-driven type of cases. And um, you know, I just felt that strong pull that I needed to uh do more and fulfill that greater purpose. So graduated in 2025 with my master's degree in education and um my licensed mental health and drug and alcohol counseling.
SPEAKER_00So that's amazing. And I think it's so cool just to hear people's stories of I I knew I wanted something more. I knew I wanted to progress into something. And well, we're so happy you're here and excited to, I mean, learn, learn more about it. Thank you. Um so live in Lexington and just what does it mean for you to be able to provide those services now here at the hospital for our community?
SPEAKER_01Um, honestly, it's like more than I thought possible. So um at the hospital, it I feel like just that integrative approach, we all offer something unique and special that makes us a great place to offer the services that people may need. Um I feel God is at work all the time. So it's it's been a great, great start to my career on this.
SPEAKER_00Good. So when people hear alcohol and drug counseling, many may picture one thing, but I'm sure it's much broader than that. Can you explain to us, I mean, what is substance use counseling? What does it involve? Who's a candidate starting from there?
SPEAKER_01Um, so the biggest thing is that um substance abuse counseling doesn't have to mean that you're at your rock bottom. It doesn't have to mean that um you have a criminal charge. Um, you know, working at the court, I wanted to add that we did another thing that drove me to this type of work is seeing trauma interlinked with addiction, with that also interlinked with criminal behavior and charges in people. And so it doesn't have to be any of that. Your journey is uniquely yours. And so we can help assist with whatever it may be, whether um alcohol, you know, methamphetamine, any substances, marijuana, prescription pills, um, we're here to help with any avenue.
SPEAKER_00So I love that too of just saying, you know, it doesn't have to be a rock bottom. Like at any step of if you're like, hey, this is something that I I don't know what to do with, I don't know how to help myself. I mean, yeah, getting in sooner rather than later, I'm sure can you talk about that of just what does that look like?
SPEAKER_01Yeah. And as far as like if you know that you feel like this is overtaking your day-to-day life, I guess is a great way to explain it as well. Um the getting getting that recovery process started, just acknowledging that, you know what, I'm this might be a little bit out of control. And so um starting that recovery process sooner rather than later is vital.
SPEAKER_00Is there any specific candidates, maybe along those lines too, that would really benefit from this?
SPEAKER_01Is it a certain age group or well, unfortunately, addiction is a rare beast. I mean, it's not as rare as we want to believe. It's it's out there everywhere. Um, young children, even 12, 13, we're seeing it more and more. Um so unfortunately, there's not a a specific age range. We're seeing it, we're seeing it at most ages. So um there's no rare age that is standing out. Um but yeah, it's it's affecting it's affecting all ages.
SPEAKER_00And what'd you suggest, Jamie? Is it just for those who maybe have that addiction? Or are you able to help loved ones who are, my husband has this or something?
SPEAKER_01Absolutely. So we can we can offer um all forms of you know clinical modalities based on what works for that specific person that you know may have a loved one or family member struggling in active addiction.
SPEAKER_00Okay. That's that's good to know because I'm sure it's a kind of a team approach to that care.
SPEAKER_01It is and really treating addiction as um as an illness and working because it is, it is it is. And you know, there is a lot of negative stigma associated with it as well. So we wanna we wanna kind of crush that stigma and educate not only the person needing the treatment or the or the uh counseling, but their families is it really is an addiction.
SPEAKER_00Right. And that's it's the illness and and we need all help. It's an addiction and illness. Excuse me. Yes. Yeah. Um, talk to us about some of the common signs that maybe, hey, maybe I need some extra help, maybe counseling would be helpful. What are those things someone could look in themselves or maybe family member that might kind of trigger needing some extra help?
SPEAKER_01Um, you know, I think the biggest thing is like if you're using substances to cope with your day-to-day functioning.
SPEAKER_00Okay.
SPEAKER_01That that's a gr that's a great way to start. Um, if you feel like you're wanting to cut back but can't.
SPEAKER_00Always, always going. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Yeah. If it's the first thing you think about when you wake up in the morning and the last thing you think about before you go to bed.
SPEAKER_00That's that's a good way to put it. My goodness, I'm sure that resonates with a lot of people. Yeah. Would you say any of it too, you I mean, you talked about kind of affecting the day-to-day life, but could it be, I mean, personal life, work, school, I mean, just a variety of areas.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, you know, depending on the age, the the symptoms that we see are different. I mean, if we see um a decrease in grades with a with a child or increased behaviors or um sneaking out, um, you know, it might be something to look into if they're struggling with a with a substance.
SPEAKER_00Okay. That's that's really good to know. Um, and I love too, do not wait for the crisis, reach out. So knowing this, kind of we set the standard for, you know, who would benefit from this. So someone comes in, what are the different types of therapy available for those people who might have have that addiction?
SPEAKER_01Well, the beautiful thing about therapy is um we offer multiple times of types of clinical modalities. I personally love DBT the most.
SPEAKER_00Okay.
SPEAKER_01Um, it works with, you know, anxiety, depression, but also interlinks with that addiction treatment really well. Um, I like to use the chain analysis and um radical acceptance of what they're dealing with while integrating like a growth mindset and working through it.
SPEAKER_00Okay.
SPEAKER_01So there's multiple types. Um uh cognitive behavioral therapy is also highly effective.
SPEAKER_00Okay.
SPEAKER_01Um, multi-systemic therapy is where um you literally integrate all forms of the systems of the of the patient. And so um bringing in, like if it's a student, bringing in the the teacher, the parents, oh wow, and integrating all of that into the into the treatment process. So one I've heard is solution focused, which tell me a little bit about that. Well, um honestly, the name describes it all. So it's we're presented with a problem and we're just working towards the solution. Um and so yeah, it's um some people do better with that type of approach, whereas with cognitive behavioral, you're um talking more about like thoughts affecting your feelings, which affect your behaviors and your actions. And so DBT is more of like that growth mindset, radical acceptance, whichever works for that person is where we'll go.
SPEAKER_00So, how do you know? Does it take time to know kind of which type of therapy? I'm sure somebody's probably not going to come in saying, hey, I I I want this. Yeah. You and the team will decide.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Um, so I like to sort of explain the types, um, you know, in a brief way. And it seems like we just sort of naturally fall into one with each client.
SPEAKER_00That's that's amazing. And and good for them to know too that, hey, you don't have to come in with all the answers. That's that's that's what we're here for. Yes. Yep. So you briefly touched on this, and I I mean, I completely agree. I do think the mental health stigma is is going down, but it's it's still there, especially for this topic. So knowing that stigma that can keep people from seeking help, what would you just want our community to know about, you know, first substance use counseling? How can we help others? How can we reduce that stigma? What do you suggest?
SPEAKER_01Um, overall, um, the biggest thing I want to get across is like seeking help is not a weakness. It's a very strong, you know, we would consider it a strong strength that they have. And um substance use is is a definite health issue. It can be multi-generational, it can be very environmental, hereditary. Um, there's no unfortunately, there is a big stigma associated with it, but you know, we want to work to reduce that and eliminate it just with educating others and we're helping people work through it.
SPEAKER_00So I love that. I love that. So if somebody is listening today and thinks, I need to talk to someone, my mom needs to talk to someone, what what does that look like to take the first step?
SPEAKER_01Well, we don't operate on a referral basis. So um they could just simply call Lexington Regional Health Center. Okay. And um again, we have such an integrative team. So based on what they need, um, you know, we can we can get them with the right person. We all have some sort of um different approach. So figuring out which therapist works best for you. Um yeah, it's just it's just a strong team over there. So we're we're very thankful.
SPEAKER_00And I'm sure it's not a a one and done visit, maybe walkthrough. And I know there's no typical, but you know, somebody, hey, I need to get in to be seen. What what does that look like? First appointment kind of follow-up appointments, generally speaking.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. So very generally speaking, we would um set you up for probably once a week for a while, depending on the need, depending on the urgency, how long that would be. Um, I have seen patients twice a week that are unable to commit to treatment.
SPEAKER_00Okay.
SPEAKER_01Um, so uh it's really unique to the need of the client or the patient. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00That's awesome. Just to know that that we'll work with you kind of on your schedule and and we want to get you the help that you need. Jamie, what what didn't we hit on? What else do we want to share about for this topic?
SPEAKER_01Um, just don't hesitate to come in. Like um, if you feel that you're struggling with an addiction, you probably are. And we can complete the assessments needed to if we need a diagnosis or just work through those steps to get you in a recovery. Um, that's what we do. And so we're here for you no matter what it looks like for you.
SPEAKER_00I love that. And if it's something too, I mean, I know we can do a variety of things, but something we can't do, I think we have other resources to help refer on if needed.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, definitely. So if it's out of our ethical scope of practice, um if we feel like we can't be beneficial, we can sure get you in contact with somebody that is um, you know, certified or trained in the specific area that they need.
SPEAKER_00Okay. Oh, I think that's absolutely amazing. Well, thank you so much for sharing about this expertise. I am so thankful that this is something that we can offer here now at Lexi Interventional Health Center. I mean a huge, huge need in our community for it. So thank you for being here, Jamie. Of course. To our listeners, if you or someone you know um or someone you love is struggling with alcohol or drug use, help is available. Please know that and you do not have to go through this alone. So if you, you know, want any more guidance on this, our mental health team is here at Lexi Interventional Health Center. So please reach out. Um, thank you for listening to Vitals and Voices. If you would, please like, share, subscribe to our podcast. And until next time, stay well.