Building the Plan on Day One with Blake Wellen

This week on Pondoff’s Anonymous, Chris and Zoë sit down with Blake Wellen, case manager at Illinois Recovery Center, for a conversation about treatment, recovery, compassion fatigue, and what it looks like to care for people when they’re walking through one of the hardest seasons of their lives.Blake doesn’t identify as an alcoholic or addict, but he grew up around addiction and found himself pulled into the recovery world through his family, his work at IRC, and a genuine love for helping people. He talks about starting at IRC as a night tech, working his way through different roles, and eventually becoming a case manager helping clients build a real plan for life after inpatient treatment.They get into why discharge planning starts on day one, why 30 days is rarely enough, how sober living and outpatient care can change the outcome, and why people leaving treatment need more than good intentions. They need support, structure, and people who believe they can make it.Also in this episode: small-town Illinois stories, Highland chaos, wedding fights, compassion fatigue, therapy, the “jar of f*cks,” and why sometimes the real work starts after treatment ends.TIMESTAMPS:00:00 - Sponsors02:17 - Meet Blake Wellen03:16 - Blake’s perspective on addiction and treatment08:44 - The early days of Illinois Recovery Center15:59 - Compassion fatigue and learning how to recharge18:02 - Blake’s role as a case manager25:16 - Discharge planning starts on day one27:54 - Sober living, funding barriers, and resources29:54 - Why 30 days usually isn’t enough31:17 - The real work starts after treatment35:25 - Helping clients feel like they’re not alone37:15 - The jar of f*cks38:12 - Slowing down and letting go of control40:52 - Finding a calling in recovery work41:55 - Blake’s fiancée and wedding planning48:04 - The Coyote Ugly wedding brawl57:20 - Falling in love with the work at IRC1:06:22 - Trying to build a life in this economy1:12:02 - Four-wheelers, concussions, and trauma1:16:46 - Why outpatient care matters1:19:04 - Therapy doesn’t give you all the answers1:24:03 - What families should know about treatmentSPONSORS:Thank you to our sponsors, McKelvey Insurance Group and LightSource.McKelvey Insurance Grouphttp://mckelveyins.comLightSourcehttp://findyourlightsource.comDISCLAIMER:This podcast shares personal stories and conversations about recovery, mental health, addiction, and life. It is not a substitute for professional help. If you need support, visit pondoffsanonymous.com and contact us.