White Horse Recovery

White Horse Recovery - More than just a ‘Center’

By Leigh Sharps

Mitch Yeaton, Chief Executive Officer of White Horse Recovery in Center Ossipee, always had a passion for volunteer work. In fact, he was a board member of ‘No Longer Bound’, an addiction treatment center in Georgia, for 30 years. He was committed to that endeavor while working full-time as a United Parcel Supply (UPS) Chain Solutions Director for 34 years.

But, after retiring early in 2013, he decided to channel his love of volunteering by returning to his home state of New Hampshire as a first step. His goal was to create a Center in his state similar to the one in Georgia to help addicts in the recovery process. He researched the addiction problem in New Hampshire, and found, “With over 135,000 substance addicts in the state and about 5,000 in Carroll County alone I decided after retirement to start the White Horse Addiction Center, Inc., in Center Ossipee. It took two years to gain local and state approvals. We finally became incorporated and gained our 501(c3) status in 2014. We began treating clients in 2015.” Though not an addict survivor himself, he explained, “When I learned how bad the addiction problem was in my home state where some of my children and grandchildren live, I knew I needed to go back and do something about it.”

The ‘White Horse’ expression has symbolized many ideals throughout history. A White Horse may symbolize ‘strength, beauty, passion and other powerful aspects of life that inspire greatness in each person.’ A White horse ‘vision’, describes Wikipedia, ‘represents transformation as the horse changes from dark to a white one in time. They represent the season of Winter, or rest and then re-birth in the spring.’ Horses in visions and dreams signify a journey. The term ‘to recover’ also has several meanings including ‘reclaim, balance, rediscover, recapture, restore and take back’. The Road to Recovery often means ‘turning the corner’ and Restoring To Life refers to ‘rejuvenation, revival and exhilaration’.

“We are a Christian organization and our core values are centered on Christ. In my years of working in recovery, my experience has been the truest, and on the most successful path to recovery, by being centered in God and Jesus Christ. We have counselors who only do secular counseling and others who can do both. We will guide people to recovery on whatever path works for them.” Of course, he says, “We can treat and work with people of any faith or belief.”

White Horse treats a myriad of addiction issues. They include: co-occurring disorders, mental health issues such as anxiety, trauma, PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and depression and they treat these through individual counseling, group counseling, intensive out-patient and family therapy. “We provide resource center services and prevention services and anyone age six and older people qualify for help. We service anyone regardless of ability to pay so no one is turned away,” says Mitch. “Currently we provide only out-patient treatment but our goal is to offer a full continuum of care including residential. We currently see approximately 300 people a year in clinical and approximately 3,000 guest visits at our resource centers annually. We take walk-ins and have the ability to see persons the same day (depending on clinical or coach availability onsite).” Mitch adds they have another resource center in Center Conway not far from Ossipee.

The clinical team includes Master Licensed Alcohol and Drug counselors, Licensed Drug and Alcohol counselors, Licensed Clinical Mental Health counselors, a Licensed Independent Social Worker, Certified Recovery Support workers and recovery coaches. The resource centers are Council for Accreditation for Peer Recovery Support Services (CAPRSS) nationally accredited.

The Recovery Center’s efforts extend to community projects, Mitch relates. “We do a lot of work in the community from supporting food banks, community centers, or any community-focused work groups. We directly assist people in finding their path to recovery, but also in finding daily living needs, food, shelter, clothing, jobs, banking or whatever is needed. Additionally, we offer transportation as needed.”

White Horse has one of the largest thrift stores in Central New Hampshire. It is located in the Indian Mound Shopping Center on Rte. 16B in Ossipee. “In the beginning it directly funded some of our activity. Today it still does that, but it also has become a place to support the community by supplying items to those in need at little or no charge with things such as clothing, home goods, etc. We also serve as a recovery friendly workplace and now are offering internships and training programs through our print and copy shop and (UPS) shipping center at the store location.”

Mitch Yeaton’s overwhelming desire to continue his volunteer work in New Hampshire, has led him to fulfill his dream of operating an addiction recovery center but his goal has materialized into being much more than a ‘center’. He points out their mission statement: “ ‘White Horse Recovery is to provide behavioral health services that meet individual needs of those we serve offering a path to a better tomorrow’...In my own words it means We Bring Hope!”

It is a place where those seeking help on various issues can discover a safe haven with committed and dedicated counselors standing by to help.

NOTE: Locations are at 68 Rte. 16B in Center Harbor for clinical resources, 70 Rte. 16B in Center Ossipee for resource center and walk-ins; 232 Rte. 16B at the Indian Mound Shopping Center in Center Ossipee for the Thrift Store and at 2977 White Mountain Highway in North Conway, for clinical and resource center.

The main number is 603-651-1441, the resource center number is 603-3011441. Find White Horse Recovery on Facebook.