Staff Writer
Lela Lyons, LADC, owner of Hope Recovery Services located on the corner of South Main Street and Armco Avenue in Caribou has announced that Philip Advocate, LCSW/CADC, will be joining Hope Recovery Services as a private contractor, effective Tuesday, July 6.
Aroostook Republican photo/Barb Scott
Philip Advocate, LCSW/CADC has joined Lela Lyons at Hope Recovery Services in Caribou as a private contractor.
Advocate, a native of Brooklyn, N.Y., received his masters degree in social work from the University of Michigan/Ann Arbor in 2006, came to The County in 2007. “I had a friend who was working in this area and I had always wanted to live in New England,” said Advocate, who is a certified substance abuse councilor and a licensed clinical social worker. Prior to opening his practice at the Hope recovery services site, Advocate was employed at AMHC in Presque Isle.
“Philip brings the mental health piece to Hope Recovery Services,” stated Lyons.
“It goes hand-in-hand with these services,” said Advocate, referring to the services provided by Lyons, which include counseling for relapse prevention, group services and co-occurring issues, regarding drub and alcohol abuse,
Advocate’s work focuses on mood disorders, anxiety issues, life transition, couples consultations and also grief and loss, many of these situations common with an individual combating drug or alcohol abuse.
Within his work, Advocate works with DBT(dialectical behavioral therapy which helps individuals self-regulate their emotions, strengthen the toleration of stress and develop more effective interpersonal skills.
Services are available for adolescents and adults.
Lyons noted that Hope Recovery Services also offers DEEP, the driver’s education and evaluation program and in the future she and Advocate are looking to be able to provide SAP, a substance abuse evaluation program for CDL operators, and offer employee assistance programs (EAP), which are paid for by an employer(under contract with Hope Recovery Services) and provided free to employees in need of counseling or evaluation.
“I have to give a lot of credit to Lela,” said Advocate, “she blazed the trail, opening her own business and I am very pleased to be able to join her, combine our services and offer assistance to individuals in Caribou and the surrounding communities.
Lyons, a founding member of the well-know and extremely talented band, Sound Friendship, said Advocate has also agreed to play with the group since they recently lost a member. “I’ve never played in a band,” laughed Advocate, “but I do play the guitar and can maybe offer some vocals if they need me to.”
The native New Yorker is enjoying being a resident of The County. “I really enjoy not only the beauty of this area but the quiet, low stress lifestyle also —the people here are very welcoming and open, it’s kind of ‘what you see is what you get’ — it’s one of the nicest places I’ve lived.
Hope Recovery Services accepts all insurances, although those enrolled in SIGNA or Tri-Care should contact their carrier regarding payment; self-paying clients are also accepted.
For more information or to schedule an appointment with either Lyons or Advocate contact Hope Recovery Services at 493-1700 or e-mail ehoperecoverys@maine.rr.com.
