Life after Lennon House

By Tony Doyle, Dec. 15, 2022

Crystal Mctague is one of the first graduates from Lennon house who was able to turn her life around for the better.

Some of the most effective tools taught to her while being a resident at Lennon house were life skills, relapse prevention, attainable goal setting, and being held accountable daily.

"Learning a new way of life, by holding me accountable," said Mctague

Before acquiring full-time employment at Lennon house, Mctague enrolled in the program Trade horizons.

Crystal Mctage is proud of her progress living life sober (Tony Doyle photo)

After completing the Trade horizons program, Mctague worked full-time as a flagger for Go with the flow. She worked there until she got hired as a part-time peer support worker at Lennon house in August 2021.

Mctague believes that the tools she learned from Lennon house and Trade horizons have been a significant factor in getting her where she is today.

Mctague also mentions that she had an excellent support system from Lennon house. It allows her to reach numerous goals for the future. Mctague aspires to have an influential role in the Lennon house community for years to come.

Michelle Stanfield, another graduate from Lennon house, also found that Lennon house teaches people in recovery how to cope with past trauma.

Some of the most significant issues she dealt with were being able to let go and move on from a particular trauma.

Stanfield expressed how much Lennon house has helped her connect with her spirituality, something that she did not have before Lennon house.

Since Lennon house, Stanfield has been able to get her kids back full time after being separated from them for over a year. She also has her own home and feels like Lennon house has taught her to be a better parent to her two little girls.

Stanfield also praises Lennon house for the support system that has helped her in times of need, all she has to do is reach out, and someone will do what they can to help her out.

Stanfield feels empowered in the early stages of her recovery, but when she feels down, she tells herself, "everything is going to be okay."

Dianne young is the Director of Lennon house, and when asked what she thought, the most important thing for someone, once they graduate, is that they continue to keep in touch with the support system they have set up while in Lennon house.

Young also feels that some critical factors of staying sober are being accountable and being honest with yourself.

When working with people in recovery, you have to remind them that they are worth it and deserve to be happy.

Young says, " That your worth a good life."