Concordance

Over the past several days, we have been grateful to welcome Compass Health Network's Mobile Denal unit to our St. Louis Center, providing participants with access to dental care on-site.

Thank you to the Compass Health team for partnering with us to help participants access important dental care and for investing in the health and well-being of our participants.

Last week, both our St. Louis and our Greenville-Spartanburg Centers gathered for their May Family Suppers. This is an evening centered around food, connection, and community. Participants, alumni, team members, and family members came together to share a meal and participate in a shared activity together.

As Concordance continues to grow, our commitment to consistent programming and connection within centers remains the same. Events like these help strengthen not only each individual center community, but Concordance as a whole.

Last week, we welcomed Dr. Paul Young, a St. Louis neurosurgeon, to our St. Louis Center for an in-depth discussion on the brain and the ways addiction impacts its different functions and regions. Participants had the unique opportunity to learn about brain function firsthand, including viewing a real human brain while exploring how different areas influence memory, behavior, decision-making, and healing.

We’re grateful to Dr. Young for sharing his expertise and helping create an engaging, educational experience for our participants. Opportunities like this help foster deeper understanding, and remind our participants that recovery is both a mental and physical journey.

At our St. Louis Center, participants and team members recently took part in a Mental Health Enrichment Day focused on healing, self-reflection, and personal growth during Mental Health Awareness Month. Throughout the day, participants engaged with community leaders and speakers who shared powerful conversations around mindset, wellness, purpose, and overcoming the past.

We were honored to welcome Koran Bolden, who led a motivational presentation titled “Patching Your Past”. Participants also heard form Maurice Goree, who spoke about the habit cycle and the impact habits can have on our daily lives and future outcomes, alongside Kenny Petty, who shared about the work being done through Men on Mission. Jason Watson joined us and spoke about the mission behind Show Me Peace STL and efforts to reduce violence and create safer communities across St. Louis. The day also included a wellness workshop led by Maria Ojascastro, where participants explored mindfulness and creativity through watercolor painting.

Thank you to all of our guests and everyone who helped make this day possible by creating opportunities for reflection, expression, and meaningful conversation!

Last week, Vivent Health Prevention St. Louis’s Mobile Health Services team visited our St. Louis Center to provide free mobile STI testing for our participants.

Partnerships like these help increase access to important health services and empower our participants as they navigate their reentry journey. Thank you to the Vivent Health team for spending time with our Concordance community and helping support the health and wellness of those we serve!

Continuing Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re highlighting another one of the incredible therapists at our St. Louis Center. This photo features members of our STL Center Therapy Team, including Kevin Rogers, Post-Release Therapist, whose dedication helps participants navigate healing, growth, and lasting change.

“To me, mental health is about healing, growth, and having the opportunity to truly explore yourself in ways that can completely change your life. It involves learning to understand your emotions, challenge harmful patterns, build healthier relationships, and create a life that aligns with who you genuinely want to be. Mental health is not just about reducing symptoms, it is about developing self-awareness, resilience, and the ability to move forward with purpose and authenticity. During my time as a therapist at Concordance, I have had the opportunity to see people completely change their lives in meaningful ways. I have seen individuals regain control of their physical and mental health, rebuild relationships with loved ones, become more present and engaged parents, and successfully manage symptoms in ways that allowed them to excel in the areas of life they view as most important.”

— Kevin Rogers, M.A., PLPC, Post-Release Therapist

Thank you to our therapy teams across all of our centers for the care and support you provide to participants every day as they work toward meaningful change in all facets of their lives!

Continuing our recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, we were grateful to welcome Provident Behavioral Health to our St. Louis Center last week to speak with participants about the mental health services and support they provide.

At Concordance, we know that mental wellness is an essential part of long-term stability, healing, and success. Opportunities like these help connect participants with valuable community resources and remind them that support is always within reach.

Thank you to Provident Behavioral Health for spending time with our participants and sharing more about the important work you do in our community!

Our therapist team at Concordance is an integral part of our program and the support we provide to participants every day. For Mental Health Awareness Month, they’ve shared some of their thoughts and perspectives on mental wellness!

“To me, mental health is about authenticity and balance. To be mentally healthy, we need to be authentic to our true selves, our values, and our genuine needs in any given situation. It requires us to prioritize balancing responsibilities with the things that fill our cup. Participants hear me say often that mental health certainly involves ‘therapist-y’ answers like meditation, reflection, journaling, therapy, and more, but it also involves being active, having hobbies, surrounding ourselves with our support systems, and, perhaps most importantly, giving ourselves the grace to rest. Mental health isn't just symptom reduction; it is wellness elevation!” - Beth, Post-Release Therapist

Mental wellness looks different for everyone, and we’re grateful for the thoughtful guidance and support our therapists provide as participants navigate their individual journeys. 💚

Participants at our St. Louis Center recently took part in a mindfulness rock painting exercise creating space for reflection, creativity, and conversation during Mental Health Awareness Month.

Some rocks featured uplifting messages with small but powerful reminders of encouragement, resilience, and self-worth.

Moments like these remind us that caring for mental health can take many forms, and that creative expression can be a meaningful outlet for reflection, healing, and connection.

Continuing our recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, our Greenville-Spartanburg Center recently hosted a Mental Health Resource Day, connecting participants with organizations and services dedicated to supporting mental health and wellness throughout the Greenville-Spartanburg area.

We were grateful to welcome representatives from Welvista and their Medication Assistance Pharmacy, BHDD Office of Mental Health, New Horizon Family Health Services, ReGenesis Health Care, and the 988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline, who spent time sharing resources, answering questions, and engaging directly with participants.

At Concordance, we know that access to mental health support and community resources can make a meaningful difference in a person’s journey toward stability and long-term success. Thank you to each organization that joined us and for the important work you continue to do in the community!