June 4, 2026
The reopening of the Hotchkiss House in Torrington is more than the restoration of a historic home—it is a reminder that every person deserves compassionate, nonjudgmental care and a community that accepts them exactly as they are.
As the McCall Behavioral Health Network expands recovery services in northwest Connecticut, the newly renovated 11-bed residential treatment program stands as a symbol of hope, healing, and whole-person care for individuals navigating substance use and mental health challenges. The Hotchkiss house will now operate as an American Society of Addiction Medicine level 3.1 mixed-gender, clinically managed, low-intensity residential treatment program.
Recovery is rarely a straight line. For many people, asking for help can feel overwhelming, isolating, and even frightening. Fear of judgment, fear of losing relationships, and fear of being misunderstood often prevent people from reaching out at all. That is why acceptance—being met where you are without shame—can make all the difference.
The power of feeling accepted.
Lydia Babbitt, McCall Outpatient Alumna, knows that feeling firsthand. Nine years ago, she sought treatment through McCall after an earlier experience elsewhere left her feeling “judged” and “dismissed.” She recalls how terrifying it was to ask for help, worrying that she might “lose my job and lose my family” or “lose any respect anybody ever had for me.”
What changed her life was finding a place where she truly felt supported.
“McCall was willing to start where I was,” Lydia shared during a recent interview on WZBG Radio. “They want you to succeed, and they’re going to do whatever they can to help you succeed.”
That simple but powerful philosophy—meeting people where they are—became the foundation of her recovery journey. Lydia continued attending McCall group therapy for years, calling it “an absolute bedrock of staying on the right path.” Today, she credits her long-term recovery to the support she received from McCall, her family, and her recovery community for helping her build a healthier future.
Finding a pathway that works for YOU.
Lydia’s story also reflects an important truth about recovery and mental health treatment: healing is not about forcing people to “do it right.”
“McCall’s acceptance and support of whatever pathway works for YOUR recovery is incredibly important as well. There is no one answer any more than there is just one person,” adds Lydia. “We are all different, and what we need to make our recovery successful is different. McCall is willing to accept and support those differences and the paths we need to take to keep us headed in the right direction.”
That belief is woven into programs like the Hotchkiss House, which supports individuals in early recovery with housing, counseling, employment support, and continued outpatient treatment in a safe and therapeutic environment. Residents are not defined by their diagnoses, their past, or the challenges they face. Instead, they are supported as whole people with unique identities, experiences, and goals.
A different kind of care.
At McCall, treatment is not one-size-fits-all. It is rooted in dignity, compassion, and connection. Whether someone is seeking support for substance use, mental health, or both, they are met with understanding—not judgment—and surrounded by people who believe recovery is possible. Visit mccallbhn.org to learn more and start your recovery journey today.
Missed the interview?
Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered!
Listen now to our recent interview on 97.3 WZBG featuring McCall Service Coordinator Conrad Sienkiewicz, who shares more about the expansion of services at the Hotchkiss House, and McCall Outpatient alumna Lydia Babbitt.
Click on the image to listen to the full FM 97.3 WZBG interview.
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