Today we’d like to introduce you to Micaela Alexander.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I started as an intern working in the prison system while obtaining my bachelor’s degree. It was offered as an internship site so I decided to dive in. And I absolutely loved it! Not sure exactly why, maybe because the therapy group I was involved with, were men that had done a significant amount of time and really pressed each other for accountability. There was so much honesty and depth in the group setting, and the dynamics at play really intrigued me to learn more. I went on to work in several other prisons setting up highly structured 1 year addiction treatment programs. I became a Clinical Director early on and then moved into Administration eventually reaching the Corporate level as a Chief Operating Officer and Consultant. Over the course of my career, I’ve worked at all levels of care: residential, inpatient, and outpatient with a variety of populations. In my current position as an Executive Director, I enjoy it because I get to mentor my team and see the clients really grow! It’s the best of both worlds!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Is anything smooth? My husband was military so moving around and continuing to find clinical or administrator jobs was challenging. However, looking back continually having to adapt and pivot, made me a much better therapist and administrator.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Currently I am the Executive Director at Care Star Recovery & Wellness, we are an outpatient treatment center for people with substance use and mental health challenges.
I am very proud to be a career military spouse! I also wrote a book “My year without him, the life of a military wife.” It’s a book composed of my daily journaling while my husband was away for 15 months, when we lived aboard and raised our three children.
I believe my genuine leadership style and my extensive variety of clinical experiences sets me apart. The team is what I’m about. I firmly believe if you set the standard high most people rise to it.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Do what you love. Take risks! You may not have everything figured out and that is how you grow, make mistakes, and keep going. Clarity of purpose comes with time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://carestarbhs.com/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/micaalexander/
