Classroom Collaborations Enhance Care

An addiction counselor for the past 14 years, Harold's passion for recovery drove him to advance his career with a higher level of licensure, so that he could help more patients. The give-and-take he found through the Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School has enriched his practice.

Even with all his years of work experience, Harold feels that he is now learning and growing from his studies at Hazelden Betty Ford. "It's refreshing that I'm learning so much," he says. "The professors have such a wealth of knowledge in addiction treatment. I especially appreciate the mental health focus of the program—it's nice to be pushed to learn a different facet of recovery."

For Harold, collaborating with his fellow students has been inspiring. "Some students are new to the field," he explains. "I've done this work and have real-life experience that I can share with them. They ask me how I've handled certain types of situations, and I can give them my perspective. And at the same time, I'm learning from them and improving my skills as a counselor from their fresh ideas."

Harold's advanced degree was put within reach thanks to the generosity of scholarship donors. "Scholarships have helped me tremendously to make this experience less of a financial burden," he says. 

Harold finds satisfaction in his work and is grateful to be able to pursue a graduate degree as well. "I'm working in a field that I love, helping people struggling to turn their lives around," he says. "This is my purpose."