D.C. Counselor Connects Through Story
by Ahmond Hill, Regional Director, Washington D. C., Glen Allen, Richmond, VA
“Home is where our story begins. The question is “what is your story?” My story began with a lie — my birth certificate.”
That’s how Jamie Tolliver, a counselor at our Washington D.C. Treatment Center, began the men’s group meeting that he leads. Courageously, he told his story of a 30-year addiction battle. With vulnerability, he modeled what it looks like to own our journey, the good and the bad, and cracked open a door to healing for the roomful of Black men who showed up that night — men who were raised to keep their fears, feelings and thoughts to themselves.
In my opinion, he is a powerful example of how we can connect and gain understanding and compassion for each other and facilitate meaningful patient experiences.
He explained his passion for ancestry research and how it helped him to learn that some members of his family lived with addiction. Understanding how it flows through our veins and DNA from one generation to the next — along with all the social and familial realities that feed the disease — helped him heal with grace and compassion for himself and others.
“Some brothers brought in old pictures from when they were young and would say ‘How did God make this and we became that?’ We keep the Kleenex nearby because the tears flow.”
He shared a picture of himself as a 9-year-old altar boy at his private Catholic school’s Easter mass where he’d gotten drunk on “Jesus juice” in front of the Archbishop and his mother who was in the congregation.
People assume his addiction started on the streets, but it started at home and school. At age 3, he had his first taste of alcohol, beer from his godmother. He said alcohol was a “normal” part of gathering on weekends with family and friends to wind down from the stress of the week while they played cards and had fun.
“They didn’t mean any harm. My godmother didn’t know I was going to like the flavor. On Thanksgivings, my mother would give us wine as part of our family tradition.”
In 30 years, Jamie said he never got “caught” and that made him look at it as a social event versus illegal. The first time he saw someone shoot heroin was in his high school hallway at a football player’s locker. At 14, he started hanging out with older guys who would buy alcohol. That led him to becoming more defiant. Then, he discovered the life-changing lie that the man who raised him wasn’t his biological father. An undercurrent of anger and betrayal drove his behavior as he became a football player and started smoking marijuana which led to shooting heroin while playing ball in college.
Today Jamie is 19-years sober, is about to remarry his former wife who is now a Catholic priest, and he’s a BHG counselor. The majority of his clients are Black which helps his clients to listen and open up with someone who looks like them. About 40% of them know him from being in treatment with him years ago. Daily, I get to see first-hand how he is a blessing to us and the difference he’s making in people’s lives.
“BHG is the first program to be open to letting me teach the way I want to teach and I’m so thankful.”
It’s clear that Jamie loves his job. He’s always giving clients positive affirmations and even wears T-shirts that say “I am greatness in motion” and “I am God’s state-of-the-art creation.”
Thank you, Jamie, for showing us what “living our culture” is all about.
Vaccination Campaign Winners
Check out our February and March Vaccination Campaign winners who are doing well by doing good across the country. Each of these awesome colleagues received $100 e-gift cards. Thank you for taking care of “us” so that we can take care of our communities.
Kevin Daum, Counselor, BHG MTC Mt. Pleasant
David Drum, Counselor, BHG Overland
Anna Martin, Counselor, BHG New Orleans Westbank
Ellie Green, Administrative Support, BHG Gadsden Treatment Center
Jennifer Hicks, Nurse Supervisor, BHG Nashville Treatment Center
Katherine Thompson, Counselor, BHG Westminster Treatment Center
How to participate in the campaign
In support of BHG’s new infectious disease vaccination policy, we are encouraging team members to vaccinate to prevent infectious diseases. If for any reason you pay out of pocket and it’s not reimbursable through insurance coverage for an infectious disease vaccination, you may submit the expense through our expense reimbursement system, Certify. In addition, if you receive a vaccination against an infectious disease, your name will go in to a monthly drawing for a $100 gift card (3 cards each month will be awarded). All you need to do is upload the receipt for the vaccination to Paycor and send an email to [email protected].
You can find both the vaccination policy and a COVID-19 Vaccination FAQ on our HR SharePoint. Many of you have questions regarding the COVID-19 vaccination and the document attempts to provide guidance. This document will be updated as we receive relevant additional questions or new/revised information. If you have a question about the COVID-19 vaccination that is not addressed in the document, please reach out to [email protected].
Note: Above winners voluntarily granted permission for their names to be used in this announcement.