A day in the life of a Carelon Behavioral Health wellness and recovery specialist

What is your job like?

“The first thing I ask a new member when I meet them is, 'What are you hopeful for?'” says Mary Jo Capitani, Wellness and Recovery Specialist, Carelon Behavioral Health. Capitani is one of four adult peers on staff in the peer division of Carelon’s Connecticut Behavioral Health Partnership. She works with members in recovery, providing peer support on their journey toward wellness.

Capitani collaborates with social workers and nurses at assigned hospitals, allowing her to engage with members most in need of help. “I connect with providers daily to get referrals,” she says.

As a peer, Capitani supports members as they transition to their next level of care or back to their community. Her support is especially critical during the first 48 hours of a member’s discharge from inpatient treatment, when the member is at the greatest risk of relapse.
 

How do you work with an individual when you first meet them?

Capitani emphasizes there are short-term and long-term goals when working with members. “In the short term, I ask the individual what they understand about a peer specialist or recovery coach’s role. I ask what they are looking for in peer support. I want to know what I can help them with, and what resources they need.”

Capitani's priority is to introduce herself and to make an initial connection. She wants to build rapport and trust. “What is the individual’s biggest concern? What are their biggest supports? Their interests? Who are the people in their life supportive of their recovery?” she says.

“Once we start to build a relationship, I can guide the member as they complete their recovery action plan.”

Capitani stresses how being present when an individual is first discharged from a facility is crucial. “The first 48 hours after discharge is the most critical time for a member because that is when they are most likely to relapse. Providing peer support to the member during this transition can make the difference as to whether they make it to a walk-in clinic, an appointment, or their home.”
 

What are the long-term goals when you work with a member?

When a member has completed a recovery action plan, Capitani follows up to see if the member needs further support. “If they are struggling, I accompany them to appointments, or sit in on three-way calls", she says. "I support members as they find housing, figure out how to fill out forms, contact the Department of Social Services (DSS) to redetermine their benefits, replace missing identification, or get transportation. I help them find and get to recovery meetings.”

A large part of Capitani's role is providing emotional support. “I ask a lot of open-ended questions. What are their obstacles, their concerns? When I simply listen, members typically get around to talking about the obstacles in their way. They talk about their feelings around these obstacles. They get deeper on issues such as dealing with family members and getting their kids back. They talk about the pain of feeling like everybody has bailed out on them.”

Capitani gets creative with the support she provides. “I will text affirmations to members or suggest helpful literature. I encourage them to explore new avenues and activities they find interesting. I give them information on faith-based organizations, if appropriate, helping them to push past the embarrassment and shame preventing them from reconnecting with previous supports.”

Hospital staff respond positively to her work. “They say they appreciate what I do, interacting with patients in a way they can’t, because of my lived experience. Patients find it powerful when someone who has gone through their struggles finds a way up and out, especially when that person shares their experience, strength, and hope.”

Capitani typically works with a member for two to three months, as the member continues to heal and connect to resources. “We disengage when the member can independently meet the objectives on their action plan.”
 

How did you become a wellness and recovery specialist?

“I have my own lived experience with addiction and recovery,” shares Capitani. “I believe this is my purpose.”

Members often ask her if she has gone through what they have. When she shares her experience with the member, she and the member instantly have a bond through that shared experience. “It’s like a secret handshake that inspires integrity and trust,” Capitani says.

“It’s all about inspiring hope. I want to share the freedom and enthusiasm I’ve gained through my own recovery journey.”
 

Can you share a case in which you’ve made the most difference?

“I received a referral from an inpatient provider for a 40-year-old member admitted for detox. The member was then in a dual diagnosis unit for the next few weeks."

“I met with her on three occasions. On our first visit we exchanged introductions, I explained my role, and I listened to how she was doing. Over the next two visits we made a connection, as she shared with me her history struggling with depression and substance use disorder. She became increasingly comfortable with me after that. I could see she was beginning to trust me, especially when I shared with her a similar personal experience.

“She was two years sober and had made progress repairing her relationships with her husband and children, but her mom had recently passed without the two of them reconciling. So, in addition to exploring some grief counseling, we discussed what she had done to manage her mental health and opioid use disorder over the past two years, and what contributed to her success.

“During our next few visits we contacted her doctor, the unemployment office, and her husband. We discussed her triggers, how to better access her support network, and resources she would like to utilize. We talked about the people and activities that brought her enjoyment and fulfillment in the past.

“Prior to her discharge, we initiated a concrete plan of action including peer support for her visits to unemployment and social services. We made her an appointment for grief therapy. Finally, she was able to identify what it would look like when things were going well with her family and in her life. She displayed a glimmer of hopeful anticipation.

“She called me just prior to her discharge and we met publicly the next day. We addressed the highest priority items on her list, which were to attend her medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) appointment and to go to unemployment. We continued to meet over the following month whenever she was struggling.

“This member is now participating in grief therapy, receiving unemployment, and planning to return to work once she and her doctor feel she is ready. She is becoming more comfortable talking honestly about her fear, anxiety, and shame.

“She has found grief therapy and a 12-step program to be incredibly helpful. She says swimming and reading are relaxing, and she is considering going to her aunt’s church. She is taking life day by day.”
 

What inspires you most about your work?

“The most inspiring aspect of my work is being able to gain a member’s trust and to help them advocate for themselves,” says Capitani. “Many members have been in and out of treatment for years. So, being authentic, genuinely compassionate, and truly hopeful is key."

“When a member opens up, it’s just two people in recovery talking about reintegrating their lives. It’s about supporting a member as they find the confidence, perseverance, and strength to do the next right thing.”