The Raleigh House is proud to announce that September marks 13 years since we first opened our doors and hearts to people in recovery.
To celebrate this milestone, we brought together staff and alumni to share their personal stories.
We also want to thank everyone who participated in sharing their stories and making The Raleigh House such a special place.
And here’s how it all began:
The Origins of The Raleigh House
Have you ever visited a place that made you feel whole? That’s the sensation Eric Lapp, founder and CEO of The Raleigh House, felt the first moment he stepped onto the property that would later become known as The Ranch.
To Eric, it wasn’t just a beautiful piece of land filled with expansive views and fresh air; it was the perfect place for those struggling with addiction to find healing.
Years ago, after Eric’s own struggle with addiction, he began to think about building his addiction treatment center, the values he wanted to represent, and the things he wanted to do differently.
It didn’t happen overnight, but with a renewed sense of self, hope, and a lot of determination, he built The Raleigh House and filled it everything a premier inpatient addiction treatment center needs, including Master’s-level clinicians, nutritionists, nurses, and medical and psychiatric professionals.
“I often think about the number of lives we’ve positively impacted,” says Alie Johnson, a BHT Manager at The Raleigh House. “Not only have we expanded our facilities over the years, but we’ve also fine-tuned our program. I believe we’ve developed a unique opportunity for clients to recover, heal, uncover their authentic self and truly redefine their life’s purpose.”
Overcoming obstacles
Anyone entering through the doors of The Raleigh House can immediately feel the warmth and compassion of the caring staff. It’s an important first step toward a life-affirming process of self-discovery and healing—because everyone, no matter their past, deserves to live a happy, healthy and sober life.
“Knowing I was going to die if I kept using, I took my best friend’s word for it and admitted myself into the Raleigh House on the 4th of July,” remarks Paul, an alumnus of The Raleigh House. “I asked no questions about the program and did not look on their website. I went in with blind faith and trusted the process because if I didn’t, I knew I was going to die, period.”
Paul’s story is captivating and shows us how, through inpatient rehabilitation, people who struggle with addiction can not only overcome their dependence on drugs or alcohol, but they can also heal from past traumas. For him, the most impactful part of the treatment was an exercise called “Trauma Tuesday,” a journaling technique used to help process trauma and then talk about them with therapists and peers in a safe space.
“I learned to be able to touch it, feel it, breathe it, and then leave it. No matter the severity of my past traumas, I gained the tools to let go of them and move forward. If it were not for this process, I never would have addressed, and healed from, the deep-seated trauma that I endured in my life. I could not have overcome my addiction without them. It has been a life-changing experience, for the better.”
Rejuvenating the mind, body, and spirit
The Raleigh House is a place where you can rejuvenate your mind, body, and spirit from the chaos of addiction. The staff offers a transformative experience that can reinvigorate your life.
One of their first goals is to help clients feel hopeful, and at ease from the moment they set foot on the property. The staff strives to help each of their clients feel grounded during their stay, so they can successfully heal through the continuum of care and feel re-energized when they’re ready to leave as a healthier, happier person.
“I’ve done the full continuum of care at The Raleigh House,” explains Natalie, an alum of The Raleigh House. “It saved my life. Now, I’m going to be a speaker at their outpatient program.”
It’s not uncommon for alumni to stay connected to the people they meet during their stay at The Ranch because it’s such a poignant moment in their lives. Likewise, it’s not uncommon for many to feel called to help others overcome addiction.
“My son’s name is Raleigh, so when I found The Raleigh House, I knew it was a sign that this was the place I needed to go,” says Payton, an alum of the Raleigh House. “Thanks to The Raleigh House, I’m happy and living my best sober life. I’m a successful manager at a sober living facility and love helping other women overcome their addiction and live a sober, healthy, happy life.”
Healing from co-occurring conditions
Like alumni, employees also feel a deep connection to The Raleigh House. With every admission and new alumni, they understand how important and unique their work is in helping people say goodbye to their old life and guiding them toward hope, healing, and transformation.
“It’s rewarding to see the transformation of our clients, how far they have come and how much better their lives have become,” says Rachel Nalder, an accounting Clerk at The Raleigh House.
The dedicated staff is what makes The Raleigh House the success it is. Everyone from the administrators and clinicians to the therapists and nutritionists help families and loved ones understand the systemic dynamics so common in substance use disorders and how to engage differently within them to support their loved one’s recovery.
“The Raleigh House has such vision and passion for the work of supporting people experiencing a substance use or mental health disorder that it’s contagious,” says Susan, an administrator at The Raleigh House. “Being a part of something with this level of dynamic energy and dedication is exciting. I’m glad to be a part of the change-making creativity and commitment that is The Raleigh House.”
Looking Forward to a Bright Future
What does the future hold for The Raleigh House? Eric and his team are dedicated now more than ever to positively impact the industry and offer people more than a recovery program. The future has never looked better with plenty of good work ahead.
