Walpole Recovery Center: A New Resource For Those In Recovery

On September 21, The Walpole Recovery Center opened at 32 Common St. in Walpole. “We are very new, but thankfully our Director Cory O’Brien was the Assistant Director for the Quincy Recovery Center for over four years, so we are in good hands. Other staff include my colleague Devin, who is the Volunteer coordinator, and myself...We are all in recovery ourselves and have been trained and worked in the behavior health field prior to this job,” explains The Walpole Recovery Center’s Outreach Coordinator Gerard Touchette.

Westwood is among the towns served by The Walpole Recovery Center. “The Recovery Center is parented by Bay State Community Services (BSCS). We are a nonprofit and the Center is funded by [Massachusetts’ Department of Public Health]. Our grant is focused on substance addiction support services, but we’re well aware that mental health should be treated as well.... All of our programs here are free and inclusive. Whether you’re in recovery or an ally of recovery. You don’t need an appointment unless you’d like one and no one gets turned away,” says Touchette.

Services that Westwood residents may be interested in exploring include a book group based on Change Your Thoughts--Change Your Life, SMART (Self-Management and Recovery Training) Recovery groups, and Fit2Recover. Fit2Recover is Touchette’s pursuit. “Fit2Recover and our Wellness Planning group are facilitated by myself. I’m a certified personal trainer which I received in sobriety...I just wanted to help with a solution to a need that I experienced myself. Exercise helped me with my anxiety, depression, self-esteem, and confidence. It gave me purpose. I’m aware of what the body and mind could be going through in early recovery and beyond. I encourage people to check it out!” He effuses.

“Part of our job is to provide a safe place, encourage participation if comfortable, identify people’s strengths, and empower those in their recovery journey. We have many resources here and try to guide and provide the best we can,” concludes Touchette.

The Walpole Recovery Center can be reached via phone at (508) 668-3960 or on their Facebook Page.