What We've Learned Working in Addiction Recovery

What do you really learn after working with hundreds of people in addiction recovery? In this candid conversation, Emma Land and Steven Smith - both licensed professional counselors at Williamsville Wellness with over three years in the field - share the hard-earned insights that textbooks don't teach you. From the harsh reality that motivation alone isn't enough, to why recovery affects entire family systems, to the life-changing power of being brutally honest with clients about how difficult this journey really is. Emma and Steven discuss the complexity of addiction, the importance of "people, places, and things," and how recovery principles like honesty, open-mindedness, and willingness actually play out in real life. Whether you're in recovery yourself, supporting someone who is, or working in the field, this episode offers an unvarnished look at what recovery truly requires - and why that complexity doesn't make it hopeless, just real. This is the first in a planned series featuring different perspectives from the Williamsville Wellness team, including peer counselors who bring their own lived experience to the conversation.