September 25, 2025
September is National Recovery Month, a time to raise awareness of substance use disorders and mental health conditions. It’s also a good opportunity to recognize that no one has to face recovery alone.
McCall’s Director of Development and Marketing, Marisa Mittelstaedt, MBA, has a brother who’s been diagnosed with a mental health disorder. His recovery journey began over a decade ago and has been filled with ups and downs. However, Marisa stresses the importance of compassion, kindness, and patience. “I’m so glad that we did not turn away from him in his darkest moments,” Marisa says.
You can’t do it alone.
A person’s recovery often impacts their loved ones. “I thought: I can do this, I can help him, I can save him,” Marisa shares. She ultimately realized that her role was adversely affecting her life. She reached out to a therapist.
With the help of her therapist, Marisa realized she couldn’t “fix the situation.” She learned that her circumstances were not unique, that many others are facing similar challenges. “That was a big eye-opening moment for me,” Marisa confides.
Choosing therapy.
“When you decide to opt into therapy, you realize you’re really not alone,” notes Marisa. Many staff members at McCall have personal, lived experience with substance use and mental health challenges. They understand that while there’s a certain commonality in the struggles individuals face, every person has their own different path to healing. That’s why McCall works with each individual, each family, to create a personalized recovery plan.
As the seasons change from summer to fall, people who are considering joining therapy may find this to be the ideal time to start. “Check it off your To Do List, make that phone call,” Marisa says. “I know it’s scary, but I guarantee you, you’ll find some peace.”
Connecting to support.
For Marisa and her brother, turning to support systems has been a positive step. “The decision was his that he needed to get help to get through these challenges,” Marisa says. Her brother found a recovery coach who engaged the entire family in the recovery journey. “We speak almost weekly with the recovery coach, and it’s helped guide our family. We’ve talked about things in a mediated way, things that we’ve needed to talk about for a long time. It’s brought us closer together.”
Connecting with the right resources can help bring individuals out of the isolation that can occur with substance use and mental health disorders. To learn more about the many programs and services that McCall offers to help you or loved one find the right path to recovery, visit mccallbhn.org or call us at 860.496.2100.
Did you miss the interview?
Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Visit our pressroom to hear Marisa Mittelstaedt, MBA, McCall’s Director of Development and Marketing, share her own story about being part of a loved one’s recovery journey.
Click on the image to listen to the full FM 97.3 WZBG interview.
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