Burning Tree Ranch Alumni Claire C. Tells About Her Recovery
Video Summary:
Claire C., alumna of Burning Tree Ranch, gives a heartfelt testimonial about her personal journey from addiction to long-term recovery. She describes her struggles as a teenager where substance abuse began, and how she came to Burning Tree to pursue recovery.
Now sober for a decade, Claire also reflects on her life after the transformative treatment episode, and her continuing relationships that she shares with others in the Burning Tree community. Her story illustrates how effective our specialized program is for younger clients in achieving their full potential.
Read: Video Transcript
I was eighteen living in New York. I had dropped out of high school. I was full of hopelessness, anger, and anxiety. Waking up most mornings and promising myself I wouldn’t get high; I wouldn’t get drunk again. And getting high anyways.
And after enough hopelessness, I attempted suicide. I went to two different treatment centers and wound up at Burning Tree.
Burning Tree gave me the structure I needed as an undisciplined eighteen year old while still providing the love and support that a child at eighteen would need.
If somebody was thinking about going, or sending their kids there – it’s hard, it was hard for me; it was hard for my family.
But it wasn’t harder than struggling in addiction.
And the end result is ten years later, I’m still sober. Life looks nothing like I thought it could ever have looked. I’m married to an incredible man in sobriety, and we have two beautiful kids.
[Claire apologizes briefly as the moment becomes emotional.]
The staff of Burning Tree, most of which were invited to my wedding, and in my baby shower – and held my children – those relationships are still there ten years later. I owe a lot of that to them.
