Rooted Recovery opens treatment center

Chris Seaton realized a longtime dream Thursday afternoon when Rooted Recovery held the grand opening of its treatment facility at 1300 E. 9th St.

Seaton, a co-owner of the facility with Joe Welsh, Roger Chilton and Steve Wiggins, said the facility coming together is a testament to the power of faith.

“It really is a God thing,” said Seaton, a co-founder of Owensboro Recovery Project. “There’s so many events that have transpired, I could never have done it by myself. It just has fallen into place so seamlessly; its undoubtedly (God’s) hands all over it. And I’m excited to show people there is a better way to live.

“I’ve got 20 years of personal experience that’s proven, what actually does work. And what I’m more excited about than anything is connecting these people to the recovery community, with guys who have years of experience that can guide the new people along the path, just like somebody guided us along the path years ago.”

Seaton said Rooted Recovery is different from other treatment facilities in the area because of its focus on matching the treatment to the person.

“We’re person centered — people over policy,” he said. “We don’t have a template that says you have to fit our mold and these are our rules, this is our our policy. We ask you what do you need and we come along side you — we have lots of space here, 10,000 square feet — and so we have multiple tracks, and if you want to recover through faith-based means, we have that option; if you want to do it through a 12-step method, we have that, and if you think therapy’s better for you or medication management is better, we offer all services, where most people tend to specialize in one that they’re good at.

“We’re offering all of those because we believe that each one of those components offers something good, and we need to offer them to each individual and take from each other and support what’s good instead of saying we only do it this way, that we can’t do it that way. Why would we limit what we could do and how we could help? We’re bringing multiple pathways together.”

Welsh, executive director of Friends of Sinners, said he’s learned to adopt different approaches.

“The whole process has been exciting,” he said. “God has changed my heart on some things in recovery, on how I work with people in recovery, so I have this new motto in my head that God gave me — people over policies. I know we need policies to protect us, but it’s almost like every treatment center in the world uses a treatment, and each person that checks in your recovery center has to fit in the template, and if they don’t fit in the template, the program doesn’t work.”

The facility includes a reception and waiting area, therapy offices, a presentation area, peer support rooms, a break room and six multipurpose group rooms. There is also a dedicated computer room.

The building received an interior renovation by Lauren Emmons and Kendall Dean that gives it a homey feel.

“It’s aesthetically pleasing, but more than that, there’s continuity throughout the whole building where people feel the structure,” Seaton said. “You can go in any part of the facility, and it’s going to feel the same in the beginning as it does in the end. We’re trying to create a vibe that’s safe and secure for these people.”

Seaton, the facility’s executive director, said the facility will also serve as a gathering place for fellowship.

“This place is going to open up and be a recovery community center from 4-10 p.m., holding AA meetings, celebrate recovery,” he said. “There’s going to be a place to come play ping pong and pool. This is what we really offer that’s different than anybody else, because we are those people. We’re not clinicians, we’re in recovery. So we can network with them and get these people in touch with other people who have successfully navigated this path.

“The way that works is sustainable. It’s getting people together in a non-clinical setting. You get to know people, and they really open up that way.”

The facility’s regular hours will be 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Costs for services can be covered through insurance or self pay. There are also sponsorships to cover treatment costs for those who qualify.

“I got a call from an anonymous donor who wants to sponsor three people to come through from beginning to end,” Seaton said.

For more information about the facility, call 270-297-7332.