The Healing Place - Richmond VA

04/29/2024

Family Education Program this week:

Scott McBean (Licensed Professional Counselor and low-key knucklehead) is going to lead a discussion on how to know if you're being helpful (especially when you aren't seeing signs of change in your loved one).

We know from years of having conversations with you all that it can be a real challenge to know whether or not your efforts to help your loved one are actually connecting. So we're going to talk about a few things this week:
What kinds of actions tend to help loved ones who are not yet seeking treatment (or who haven't found long-term sobriety)
What kinds of “helping” can delay the change process
How to find peace in your role as a “helper”
We are still going to meet in person. (I will also broadcast via our usual Zoom link…but come in person if you can. It'll be fun.)

Join us, IN PERSON, next Thursday, May 2nd, 6:30 pm, at:
Central United Methodist Church
1213 Porter Street
Richmond, Virginia 23224

FYI- There is a parking lot for the church on Porter St. Enter the building at the door at the top of the accessibility ramp on 13th St.

04/23/2024

Family Education Program this week:

When we are worried about a loved one's alcohol or substance use, our interactions can be counterproductive. What we view as well-intentioned innocuous questions or statements can be interpreted as nosy, unfair and manipulative, and our conversations can grind to a halt or devolve into arguments or shouting matches.

Join us this week as Dr. Linda Hancock and Denise Carl guide a discussion of skills and tools to use for productive conversations that help our loved ones uncover their own reasons for change.

Dr. Linda Hancock a Family Nurse Practitioner with a PhD in Education. She is also a recovery ally. After working with college students at VCU for 30 years, she started a side-business to educate and advocate about addiction related issues. See LindaGivesBack.com

Our program takes place this Thursday, April 25th, at 6:30 pm via Zoom at https://vcu.zoom.us/j/299427496

Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise video communications, with an easy, reliable cloud platform for video and audio conferencing, chat, and webinars across mobile, desktop, and room systems. Zoom Rooms is the original software-based conference room solution used around the world in board, confer...

04/17/2024

No Family Education Program this Thursday, April 18th, because there are two wonderful opportunities that day/evening to hear Dr. Kevin McCauley present on the brain and the neuroscience of addiction. He will speak at Rams in Recovery Research to Recovery Conference tomorrow and that evening, at 7:00 p.m., he will speak at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church.

Dr. McCauley is a wonderful speaker, and if you have an opportunity to attend or hear either presentation, you will not regret it. Also note - his presentation will be recorded and available at a later date. We will let you know when the recording is posted.

04/08/2024

Family Education Program this week:

How much do you know about The Healing Place in Richmond? Do you know that services, including room and board, are provided at no cost? That individuals come from all walks of life and various locations (i.e. stay is not restricted to local residents)? The differences between the men's and the women's programs? There is so much to learn.

This Thursday, Anna Murphy, Certified Substance Abuse Counselor Assistant and Program Manager for The Healing Place for Women, joins us to share valuable information on these two amazing resources in Richmond and, just as important, she will share also tips she has learned to help families of those who are newly in recovery. We hope you can join us.

Our program takes place this Thursday, April 11th, at 6:30 pm via Zoom at

Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise video communications, with an easy, reliable cloud platform for video and audio conferencing, chat, and webinars across mobile, desktop, and room systems. Zoom Rooms is the original software-based conference room solution used around the world in board, confer...

04/01/2024

Family Education Program this week:

This week in our Family Education Program Scott McBean is going to be talking about demystifying co-occurring disorders and the role they play in the treatment of substance use disorders.

Come prepared with all your thoughts and questions so we can have a lively discussion!

Our program takes place this Thursday, April 4th, at 6:30 pm via Zoom at https://vcu.zoom.us/j/299427496.

03/28/2024

Caffeinate and then come out to cheer on our runners!

The Monument Avenue 10k is coming up in a few short weeks! Our friends at will be brewing up our CARITAS blend on April 20th in honor of our 10k training team from The Healing Place - Richmond VA. Stop by Reviresco and grab a cup of joe before or after the race. 10% of all proceeds will benefit CARITAS on 10k day! They will also be selling bags of our CARITAS blend in the store--a rare opportunity to purchase our delicious coffee outside of the CARITAS Center!

Reviresco is located at 710 Lafayette Street, less than 10 minutes south of Monument Avenue. It's the perfect place to start your day on April 20th!

03/26/2024

Family Education Program this week:

When someone we care about is struggling with a Substance Use Disorder, the focus is usually on getting them to stop using. But even with weeks of abstinence or with the best treatment, things do not always get (or feel) better. Healthy, sustainable recovery takes time and effort, and it's best when loved ones have an understanding of the process of 'recovering.' With education, empathy and patience, the family can better recover together.

We are pleased to have Barbara Burke join us this week to facilitate our discussion. Barbara received her MSW from the VCU School of Social Work and most of her work has been focused on Substance Use Disorders. She is retired from clinical practice, where she specialized in the assessment, early intervention and treatment of Adolescents and Young Adults. She has taught “Substance Abuse” and “Coping and Adaptation” at VCU and has served as a consultant to area schools and colleges. Barbara is an experienced presenter and has been providing training to the community, professional organizations and schools for many years. She is a co-founder of “Rams in Recovery” at VCU where she serves on the project team and it's advisory board.

Barbara believes in the importance of family involvement and meeting folks where they are. Her focus has been on helping young people understand their relationship with substances and their risk factors for dependence in order to make responsible decisions. She stresses the importance of respect and healthy communication for everyone in the conversation.

Our program takes place this Thursday, March 28th, at 6:30 pm via Zoom at

Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise video communications, with an easy, reliable cloud platform for video and audio conferencing, chat, and webinars across mobile, desktop, and room systems. Zoom Rooms is the original software-based conference room solution used around the world in board, confer...

03/18/2024

Family Education Program this week:

Dealing with substance use can be confusing, frustrating, and exasperating for everyone involved. Join us this Thursday as Dr. Linda Hancock helps us gain some understanding and new perspectives about our loved ones and ourselves to equip us to be better prepared to help with positive changes.

Dr. Linda Hancock is a Family Nurse Practitioner with a PhD in Education. She is also a recovery ally. After working with college students at VCU for 30 years, Linda has started a side business to educate and advocate about addiction-related issues. See LindaGivesBack.com

Our program takes place this Thursday, March 21st, at 6:30 pm via Zoom at: https://vcu.zoom.us/j/299427496

Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise video communications, with an easy, reliable cloud platform for video and audio conferencing, chat, and webinars across mobile, desktop, and room systems. Zoom Rooms is the original software-based conference room solution used around the world in board, confer...

03/16/2024

Thank you Shood!

03/12/2024

Family Education Program this week:

What exactly is a Harm Reduction program? Why do we have Harm Reduction programs? What services are provided?

This Thursday, we are pleased to have Colin King, MSW, Comprehensive Harm Reduction Program Co-Coordinator at Health Brigade, join us. He will talk about the principles behind Harm Reduction, the objectives of their program, and the services provided here in the Richmond area. We hope you can join us to learn about these services and their importance for our community and our public health.

We hope you can join us this Thursday night at 6:30 pm, via Zoom at

Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise video communications, with an easy, reliable cloud platform for video and audio conferencing, chat, and webinars across mobile, desktop, and room systems. Zoom Rooms is the original software-based conference room solution used around the world in board, confer...

03/04/2024

Family Education Program this week:

What is “medication-assisted treatment” (MAT)? How is it beneficial? And when is it appropriate for use? Join us this Thursday as Dr. Peter Coleman provides valuable insight into this treatment and these and other issues.

Dr. Peter Coleman graduated from Medical School in New Zealand. After completing his Residency in Family Practice Chapel Hill, NC, he completed a Fellowship in Addiction Medicine at the Medical College of Virginia. In 1989 he started a family practice specializing in medical care for patients recovering from alcoholism and other addictive disorders. In 1990, Dr. Coleman set up one of the first outpatient detox clinics in Virginia. In 1998, he founded The Coleman Institute for Addiction Medicine, a nationwide network of Medical Practices specializing in outpatient detoxification for patients addicted to opiates and alcohol. He was the National Medical Director until he retired in 2022. Dr. Coleman is Board Certified in Addiction Medicine and Family Medicine.

We hope you can join us this Thursday night at 6:30 pm, via Zoom at https://vcu.zoom.us/j/299427496.