Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling: A Field of Opportunity with Christopher Richardson
My name is Christopher Richardson and I am currently the Chief Operating Officer for CHC Addiction Services Inc., based in Akron, Ohio. I graduated from the Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling Program in 2003. My experience in the program was very fulfilling. Before I started on the path of researching which program I wanted to explore, I had a lifelong goal of enhancing my competencies in substance abuse and mental health.
After I graduated, I’ve had several amazing opportunities. It was definitely a journey that led me to where I am today. I obtained employment working for a managed care organization as a field case manager. This job involved providing case management services to injured workers with the intent of helping them to return to gainful employment. My next employment opportunity led me down the path of working for a mental health agency as a mental health counselor. I provided counseling to both adolescents and adults.
My next chapter led me to a position as a program manager where I had the opportunity to oversee a crisis center. The targeted population were persons with mental illness or who were chemically dependent. After eight years in that position, I had the opportunity of a lifetime as a COO, which transitioned into a CEO role of a federally qualified health center. The mission was to provide quality primary care to the underserved population in Summit and Portage counties.
Five years later, I transitioned out of that role to where I am now as a COO of a mental health and addictions organization.
When I think about my journey, I sometimes reflect on my experience in the Kent State clinical rehabilitation counseling program. Having the opportunity to learn about best practices, research, how to collect and analyze data, project management planning and working with teams was critical to helping me to get to this phase in my life.
The highlight of my career was being able to give back to KSU. I was afforded the opportunity to become an adjunct professor in the rehabilitation counseling program for a period of five years. It was an opportunity to take what I learned throughout my career and share with a great group of Flashes. It was truly a dream come true.
FLASHES FOREVER!
Blog post written by Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling graduate Christopher Richardson.