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The actual history of how the AA chip came about after this is still a mystery. It is believed to have originated in 1942 in Indianapolis. The man who began the Alcoholics Anonymous section in Indianapolis, Doherty S., is thought to have started the sobriety coin tradition within this section of AA.

A sobriety coin is a token given to Alcoholics Anonymous or other twelve-step program members representing the amount of time the member has remained sober. It is traditionally a medallion the size of a poker chip, 34 mm (1.34 in) (standard) or 39 mm (1.5 in) in diameter. In other twelve-step programs it is to mark time abstaining from whatever the recipient has committed to renounce. There is no official AA medallion or chip; they are used in AA culture but not officially conference-approved, and the AA logo has not been granted for use on medallions.As each section of AA saw fit, it joined in on the sobriety coin custom. As private companies saw these coins being used, they began to manufacture “AA” chips (even though they were not affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous) and sell them to different sections. It is believed that the company that made the modern chip as we know it today occurred in Minneapolis in 1965. Wendells Inc. from Ramsey, Minnesota, began manufacturing the raised center bronze AA Medallion in 1973. The Wendells medallion is the most common bronze coin given by AA members.

Alcoholics Anonymous was not the first organization to use sobriety chips: other temperance societies gave medallions to those who swore to stop drinking/using and to track the duration of their sobriety.”The chip system is optional and not a part of all A.A. groups nationally or worldwide.” In 2011, the General Service Office of Alcoholics Anonymous estimated that there were about 58,000 Alcoholic Anonymous groups throughout the United States. All the chips after the one-year chip are traditionally also bronze. There are special novelty chips that come in other metals, colors, types and designs. Common premium sobriety chips are gold- and silver-plated, colored and sometimes coated in a clear epoxy dome.

Dr. Bob and the Good Old Timers, the history book for Alcoholics Anonymous, discusses the work of Sister Ignatia in Akron, a nun who was devoted to assisting early members of AA and was known for passing out coins to these members. In this book, it states, “Sister Ignatia gave each of her newly released patients a Sacred Heart Medallion, which she asked them to return before they took the first drink. She would occasionally give out St. Christopher and St. George medals as well.” When a twelve-step member is presented with their first chip, they are often told, “This chip represents AA’s commitment to you – not your commitment to us.” Sobriety coins themselves do not necessarily help the holder stay sober, but studies have shown a connection between the visual presence of the coin and the holder’s self-resolve. The coins are meant to motivate holders to continue their abstention from the subject of their addiction. “Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of people who share their experience, strength, and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism.” To show how far along each person is in his or her sobriety, most AA groups use a chip of a particular color or alloy that constitutes a range of time that person has been sober. These different-colored chips and values are meant to be tokens of inspiration and a reminder of just how long the member has been sober and how far that member has come. It is evident that “early on, many people in A.A. carried personal mementos to remind themselves of the importance of their sobriety”. From personal mementos to coins, the practice of giving out something such as a sobriety chip represents the will and desire that a person has to quit drinking. The practice of giving sobriety chips in AA is attributed to a group in Elmira, New York, in 1947. The celebration of birthdays came from the Oxford group, where members celebrated the anniversary of their spiritual rebirth; in Alcoholics Anonymous, people choose the anniversary of the date of their first full day without a drink. There are fourteen basic coins that are given to members within their first year of sobriety. Generally, coins are given at one month, three months, six months, and nine months of sobriety in the first year. After this, coins are given after each yearly milestone.Black chip – This is the 9 month reward. Like a fresh new baby is born 9 months after conception, you are beginning to feel born again and leaving the blackness of your previous life.

We would like to offer the blue surrender chip one more time for the new commer, or If you have now decieded you would like to surrender an area of your life.

At one year of recovery, and every year after that, we receive a gold coin! We also have a cake for you and sing Happy Birthday So does anyone have one year of recovery?

The first chip is the most important. It is Blue,The blue color signifies that the ‘sky’s the limit’ for all who wish to join us. If you are tired of doing it your way and are willing to try it CR’s way one day at a time.

Yellow chip – This is for 6 long months of recovery. We actually call this the gold chip since there is nothing ‘Yella’ about the person who earns one of these. Some of us call this the SunShine Chip after the SON who is guiding us daily.Let a leader know if your having a birthday comming up and we will get you a cake and sing Happy birthday. And we Celebrate that on the last week of every month.

The Bible patriarchs, created small markers from stone to serve as reminders of God’s intervention in their lives. In recovery we use chips to commemorate milestones as well. Each chip marks a set of time and progress in the program. They are something tangible that can be a source of encouragement and/or motivation. This chip dialog reminds us we are not just “doing time” in recovery, but we are making progress in the journey! Here is a dialog/scrip submitted to us by one of our leaders, that spells out how special each chip is:

Bitte befolgen Sie die Anweisungen ihres bariatrischen Chirurgen, Ihres Adipositaszentrums oder Nachsorgearztes bezüglich Ihrer Nahrungsergänzung. Die perfekte Nahrungsergänzung sollte auf Ihre Krankengeschichte, Ihre Laborunterwerte und Ihre aktuelle Medikamenteneinnahme abgestimmt sein.The standard poker chips we know today were first introduced in the early 1800s; this is not uncommon since most gambling games use some type of marker to represent monetary value.

Betting chips valued at more than $5,000 are rarely used except in private high-stake games. On the other hand, casinos typically use rectangular plaques about the size of a playing card to represent $5,000, $25,000, or higher denominations.Initially, the betting chips used in gaming houses and saloons were engraved clay, ivory, or chips, which were easy to counterfeit. As a result, by the early 1880s, casinos started commissioning custom-made clay chips for their games and tournaments.

Large-stake tournaments use higher poker chip denominations that generally follow the standard color-coding. You’ll also notice that as their value increases, the darker their color becomes to make them stand out more. While the vast majority of US casinos follow the standard poker chips’ value and colors, a few use a slightly different shade. Another thing to keep in mind is that artificial lighting may change the color a bit, so you have to be careful to avoid costly mistakes. Today’s betting chips are still custom-designed, with many still containing clay in their composite material. To further make it hard to counterfeit these chips, some casinos use specific texture, weight, color, and design, while others even embed microchips to make them virtually impossible to forge.If you’re playing Texas Hold’Em Poker or any game that uses chips as a currency, you should know the value of each chip; this can be a bit tricky because most chipsets are unmarked unless you are at a casino or a professional tournament.

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In most poker events in the US, they follow common standards even though there is no official rule on how chips should be valued. For example, in tournaments and private poker games, a set of poker chips contains white, blue, red, green, and black chips, while high-stakes competitions typically include more [darker] colors.Additionally, casinos in Europe, Australia, and other countries/continents may not always follow the same poker chip values and colors often used in the US. However, chances are the differences are just subtle.According to Bigbooksponsorship.org, early in the history of the 12-Step Program, there is evidence that many people in AA carried momentos to remind themselves of their commitment to a sober lifestyle. The practice of giving sobriety chips in AA is thought to have started with an AA group in Indianapolis in 1942. Other AA groups soon followed suit.The present-day practice of giving AA sobriety chips is used to celebrate successful sobriety milestones. The use of AA sobriety chips varies from group to group, but many 12-Step fellowships offer chip nights or medallion nights to honor the individuals who are receiving a token. Other fellowship groups give them out during AA meetings.Sometimes, you just need a reminder of how far you’ve come. If you or a loved one is in the process of getting sober or in recovery, AA sobriety chips may be a helpful tool to help you stay motivated during this time in your life. Sister Mary Ignatia, a nun who worked alongside Dr. Bob to organize a hospitalization program at St. Thomas in Akron, is credited as being the first person to use medallions in Alcoholics Anonymous, starting in 1939. After alcoholics had detoxed at the St. Thomas hospitalization program, Sister Ignatia would give each one of them a sacred heart medallion and tell them that their acceptance of the medallion signified a commitment to God, AA, and recovery. She would also tell them that if they decided to drink, they were responsible for returning the medallion to her before consuming any alcohol. If you receive an AA chip, you aren’t required to do anything specific with it. Its primary purpose is to serve as a tangible reminder of your daily decision to pursue sobriety. However, many people choose to keep their AA chips in an easily accessible location, like a pocket or purse. Others may keep them in a special keepsake box. However, you can do anything you want with an AA chip after you receive it.

Eudaimonia Recovery Homes offers sober and structured housing for men and women in recovery. With sober living homes in Austin, Houston, and Colorado Springs, our recovery support programming is individualized to meet the specific needs of each client.

AA chips are small, round tokens that are given to people in recovery. They signify how long a person has been sober and serve as a physical reminder to take one day at a time. Although AA sobriety chips are not a mandatory part of the 12-Step Program, it’s a common practice to use them and it’s a part of AA culture. Many AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) and NA (Narcotics Anonymous) fellowships use sobriety chips to celebrate milestones. Often, people keep them in a purse or pocket to remind themselves of the importance of their sobriety. They are a visible and tangible reminder of how far they’ve come. Eudaimonia also provides certified peer recovery programs that offer additional regular one-on-one and family support to help clients sustain long-term recovery. Additionally, with recovery support services like accountability meetings, employment and educational assistance, and regular drug testing, we help individuals adjust to a sober lifestyle after treatment. Collecting the coins is intended to make 12-Step members feel supported, loved, and motivated. It’s also a significant reminder that you’re not fighting the fight alone. You have support. However, since all AA groups are autonomous the customs for celebrating sobriety milestones vary depending on the local group.Many AA groups also offer new members a 24-hour medallion. The 24-hour medallion signifies the fact that the decision to live life sober is a daily decision that is made one day at a time. Although each group operates differently, sobriety chips are usually given to members at several different points during their first year of sobriety, including one month, three months, six months, nine months, and one year. However, many other sobriety milestones may be celebrated with AA chips like 30 days, 60 days, 90 days, etc.Getting a sobriety token for achieving sobriety milestones can be extremely motivating and encouraging if you’re new to sobriety, but if you’re struggling to stay sober, enrolling in a sober living program or intensive outpatient program (IOP) may provide the support you need to stay sober.

We like that crunchy Ruffles (the original flavor) chips have just three ingredients – potatoes, vegetable oil and salt. To be clear, flavored Ruffles chips have additional flavor enhancers like MSG, essentially negating the need for the aforementioned dips.

We’re not sure what these preferences say about us. But we do know that Cheetos remain popular to this day. We also know that original Cheetos were invented by Charles Elmer Doolin whose prior claim to fame was introducing Fritos to the world (see above).While pita bread is typically associated with Mediterranean countries, Stacy’s Pita Chips is all-American. Its roots sprouted at a Boston food cart owned by Stacy Madison (the company’s namesake) and Mark Andrus (Madison’s former spouse). The company is now owned and operated by Frito-Lay, an American conglomerate.

Frito-Lay’s innovation didn’t stop with the shape of its Tostito chips. The company also sells a successful line of jarred salsas and queso dips under the Tostitos moniker and has recently introduced bottled sauces called Tostito Toppers.Pennsylvania’s Utz Quality Foods later bought Zapp’s in 2011, a year after owner Ron Zappe passed away. And, while Zapp’s chips are still manufactured in Louisiana, they’re now sold at convenience stores in Philadelphia. Hooray!

The bright color and odd shape of our bag of Fuego Takis chips threw us off until we realized that Takis are rolled tortilla chips coated with spicy red powder. But what did we think about the hot chili pepper & lime flavor?Although the original name was Pringle’s Newfangled Potato Chips, it’s debatable whether Pringles chips are actually potato chips due to their non-potato ingredients. However, to us, this distinction doesn’t matter. What matters is how they taste and how fun they are to eat.

Zapp’s chips aren’t typical potato chips. The company thickly cuts potatoes and fries them in peanut oil. But the black magic, i.e voodoo, happens when Cajun spices are added. We liken the result to an edible Mardi Gras celebration.Despite their centenarian status and regional popularity, Utz potato chips stay somewhat under the radar since they’re primarily sold on America’s east coast. However, if you’ve ever munched on Zapp’s (see above) or TGI Fridays chips, then you’ve indirectly eaten Utz chips since Utz owns those product lines as well as Boulder Potato Chips and Dirty Potato Chips.

Pringles are one of the greatest snack food creations. Sold in cylindrical containers, the curve-shaped ‘crisps’ were invented by scientists tasked with creating non-greasy chips that didn’t break in the bag. With modern flavor options like Hot Honey and Philly Cheesesteak, these stackable chips are the most popular American chips not manufactured by Frito-Lay.This love is nothing new. We’ve been eating chips since we were kids in Atlanta and Philadelphia. But the options were basic then. Today, the world of chips is an open book with as many varieties of chips on supermarket shelves as there are books on library shelves.

The brand’s original chips are made with just three ingredients – potatoes, vegetable oil and sea salt. Thick and crunchy, these chips seem like they could be homemade due to their odd shapes and potato skin flecks.While Mindi prefers the original crunchy Cheetos that debuted three years after the end of the second world war, Daryl is partial to the airier puffs that debuted more than two decades later. Don’t even get us started on Flamin’ Hot Cheetos which joined the party in 1989.

Tostitos are proof that there’s always a way to build a better tortilla chip. Impressively, Frito-Lay accomplished this feat with just three ingredients – corn, vegetable oil and salt.Not to be corny (ouch!) but we love munching on original Fritos chips. There’s just something comfortable and familiar about the classic corn chips. Knowing that the the original Fritos ingredient list has just three items – corn, corn oil and salt – adds to our comfort.Sun Chips, made with 100% whole grain, seem like a healthy chip option. We know this thanks to the factoid that’s ostentatiously placed smack dab on the middle of the bag. And, if that wording isn’t enough, Sun Chips bags also describe their chips as heart healthy and with no artificial flavors.

Zapp’s chips aren’t uniform and their flavors are more intense than any other American potato chips we’ve tasted. We’re okay with the misshaped shapes and fierce Louisiana flavors.

As we learned from vintage commercials, Ruffles have ridges. But not just any ridges. These ridges are deep with just the right texture for gripping old school dips like ranch and sour cream & onion. However, despite those deep ridges, we don’t need dip when we munch on Ruffles chips.

Originally a Proctor & Gamble product, Pringles are currently manufactured by Kellogg’s, a conglomerate better known for manufacturing breakfast cereal. Ingredients include dehydrated potatoes as well as corn flour, rice flour and wheat starch.

We both like eating the addictive cheddar cheese-flavored puffed corn snack and we’re not too proud to lick the orange residue that inevitably lingers on our fingers. There’s also no disagreement between us that the Cheetos brand ranks as one of the top American chip brands.

Traditionally served in a Fritos bag, Frito Pie is basically chili served over Frito chips. Adding toppings like sour cream and jalapeño peppers amps up both the dish’s flavor and the fun.

Today, Lay’s potato chips come in a myriad of flavors that would likely shock Herman Lay, the company’s original patriarch. While some flavors like dill pickle are tailored to the American market, exotic global chip flavors include nori seaweed and spicy lobster.Although Funyuns are shaped like onion rings, the extruded chips aren’t made with actual onions. Instead, they’re made with corn meal and get their onion flavor from onion powder. The concept is a bit strange but the end result is as fun as the name implies. Doritos debuted at Disneyland, one of the happiest places on earth. The happiness later continued at thousands of Taco Bell locations when the American fast food chain started selling Doritos Locos Tacos made with Dorito chip shells. They make us happy too. Canadians go even further with their All-Dressed Ruffles – a flavor mishmash that includes barbecue sauce, ketchup, salt and vinegar. While this flavor isn’t available at most American stores, curious consumers can buy a bag from Amazon.

Fritos hail from the great state of Texas. Legend has it that the chip’s history started when Charles Elmer Doolin bought the fried corn chip recipe from Gustavo Olguin. The rest of the Fritos story became snack food history.While we enjoy eating chips wherever we are in the world, we especially love noshing on them in the United States. Maybe it’s nostalgia or maybe we simply love the chips we grew up eating.

We bought bags of chips at convenience stores and supermarkets as well as from vending machines. Some bags were big while others were small. One bag was actually a tube. We then tasted the chips with equally open minds and mouths.Check out our picks for the most iconic American foods as well as the country’s best candies, cereals, donuts, fast food chains, food cities, fried chicken, hot sauces and sandwiches. We enjoy pulling stacks of Pringles out of their cylinder and popping them into our mouths wherever we are in the world. That includes countries like Thailand, Vietnam and Portugal. Simplicity rules the day when it comes to original Lay’s Potato Chips. The chip’s list of ingredients includes just potatoes, vegetable oil and salt. Then there’s the brand’s iconic slogan “Betcha Can’t Eat Just One” which isn’t hyperbole. We dare you to try eating just one chip.We never heard of Takis prior to our recent deep dive into the wonderful world of American chips. We’re not sure how this happened but we’re not too proud to admit our prior ignorance. We’re also not too ethnocentric to exclude Takis from our guide even though they were invented in Mexico. After all, Mexico is in the Americas.Choosing a bag of Herr’s is challenging anywhere you happen to be in the USA. Sold in all 50 states, the privately held Pennsylvania company’s flavor roster is both comprehensive and diverse.

We’re obsessed with food and travel. We love pizza, coffee, fine dining, wine, street food and cocktails. In other words, we eat and drink everything at every price point. Check out our comprehensive food travel guides loaded with real-life photos and insightful pro tips. While you’re here, why not try one of our easy recipes filled with eclectic ingredients?

We’re partial to the Harvest Cheddar Sun Chips flavor that tastes like… wait for it…. cheddar cheese. While we like to eat them on their own, we like them better when they’re paired with grilled cheese and/or tomato soup. We may even dip the chips into the soup on occasion but that’s between us and our soup bowl.Takis taste different from every other chip listed in this guide. The word fuego translates to fire and that’s exactly what our mouths tasted like after we ate our first rolled chips. Considering that we ate the entire bag, we clearly enjoyed our first experience eating Takis.

Jude and Steve Bernard started their chips business in Hyannis, Massachusetts with a shoestring budget, eventually selling their business to Anheuser-Busch in 1985. Today, Cape Cod Potato Chips is a subsidiary of the Campbell Soup Company.Always looking for a new challenge, we ate dozens of American chips in a one-week period to find our favorites. Our quest to find the nation’s best potato chips as well as its best tortilla chips was a culinary journey that took us down memory lane. It also launched us on a voyage of chip discovery

Over a decade ago, when we first visited New Orleans, Zapp’s Voodoo chips put a spell on us. Back then, the Cajun-style kettle chips sold in colorful striped bags were regional to Louisiana.Sure, you could buy a bag of Crisp ‘N Tasty chips but that would just be boring considering Herr’s flavors like Baby Back Ribs and Fire Roasted Sweet Corn.

Cape Cod potato chips aren’t the only kettle potato chips in our guide. However, these are the ones that re-popularized the batch-style process of frying potatoes using large cauldrons or kettles in the 1980s.Stacy’s Pita Chips are baked instead of fried. Unlike other chips in this guide they’re made with sliced pita bread as opposed to potatoes or corn. The company also has a line of baked bagel chips made with sliced bagels.

Celebration Place is a program that is based on the same principles as Celebrate Recovery, but it presents them in a way that grade-school-aged children will understand.The three main groups that are unique and important to the overall health of a Celebrate Recovery ministry. They are Large Group Meeting, Open Share Groups, and Step Study Groups. Two of the groups meet on the same night called the General Meeting Night; The Large Group Meeting and the Open Share Groups.

Much like a teammate, as you walk the road to recovery together encouraging one another along the way. Your accountability partner should be the same gender as yourself. The benefit of walking with a sponsor and/or accountability partner is that you will have support for every step along the road to recovery.Celebrate Recovery is a Christ centered 12 Step ministry that follows the DNA of the Global Celebrate Recovery ministry, and is under the authority of a local church.

The guidelines are proven, effective and mandatory statements designed to help participants experience a safe and productive small group experience. These are read and upheld in every small group setting of Celebrate Recovery to maintain safety for all in attendance.Coins used to mark special occasions, sobriety or time in our recovery. The first year is measured in months. At one year of recovery, and every year thereafter, we receive a bronze coin. The 8 RECOVERY principles were developed by Pastor Rick Warren after a study of the Beatitudes and 12 steps when he found that many of the tenets of the 12 steps were taught by Jesus thousands of years ago. The principles and 12 steps work together as a road map to healing. The main meeting night of a Celebrate Recovery Program, consisting of 4 elements: Dinner, Large Group Meeting, Open Share Groups, and an after group fellowship time. The Celebrate Recovery name is a registered trademark. In a desire to protect the integrity of the broader ministry, Celebrate Recovery requires that if you use the Celebrate Recovery name, the DNA must be followed. A systematic process for healing hurts, exploring and discovering hang ups, and replacing habits with new tools to deal with life’s trials and struggles through the Christ centered 12 steps and 8 Principles. Recovery is not just about stopping unhealthy habits and behaviors, it’s also about starting new healthy habits that lead to healing.

The last element of the General Meeting Night, where participants fellowship and connect in order to develop relationships that support their recovery.Large Group Meeting is a one-hour meeting that provides participants a time of worship, read the 8 Principles or 12 Steps, CR news announcements, lesson taught from the Celebrate Recovery Leaders’ Guide or have a testimony. This is often a Newcomer’s first experience to Celebrate Recovery. Step Study Groups are gender specific groups for people ready to delve deeper into their hurts, hang-ups and habits. Even though Step Study Groups are gender specific they are mixed recovery issues groups. Ideally, Step Study Groups meet for 2 hours on a different night of the week from the Large Group and Open Share Group meetings. Some Celebrate Recoveries may offer online zoom Step Studies. Step Study groups work through the 12 Steps and 8 Principles using the Journey Begins or Journey Continues Participant Guides. This group is led by a trained Celebrate Recovery leader and co-leader and is under the authority of their local church. All leaders are learners. As soon as you stop learning, you stop leading. The Ministry Toolbox is designed to help you learn from Rick’s 40+ years in ministry. It’s a weekly shot in the arm of wisdom that will help you develop and deepen your passion for ministry and ability to serve others.888poker ist eines der besten und zuverlässigsten Pokernetzwerke der Welt. Wir sind ein engagiertes Team von Experten die unsere Spieler in den Mittelpunkt unseres Handelns stellen. Poker soll Spaß machen und aufregend sein. Und als solches bemühen wir uns, eine Pokerplattform zu schaffen, die möglichst vielen Pokerspielern gefällt. Unsere Kunden finden bei uns eine sichere und geschützte Umgebung, in der sie die Poker Spiele genießen können, die sie lieben. Nehmen Sie noch heute an der Action teil und profitieren Sie von allem, was wir zu bieten haben! Many people who have gone through substance abuse or addiction treatment and have maintained his or her sobriety, celebrate a sober birthday. There happen to be a couple of different ways a person calculates his or her sober birthday. Some individuals consider the first full day of not using drugs or alcohol to be their sober birthday. Others consider the last day that they used drugs or alcohol to mark their sober birthday. The latter causes some controversy because some people feel that it is celebrating a person’s last high instead of one’s sobriety. On the other hand, people feel that celebrating the moment they hit rock bottom, their last drug or alcohol use, should be marked as what sent them over the edge to begin substance abuse or addiction treatment and start a recovery program. I have been on the Board since 2000 and was Board President for 3 years. I got involved with the Peggy Albrecht Friendly House because some of my friends were involved with the house. Also, I learned more about Peggy Albrecht Friendly House when I was helping my sister seek recovery.

I’ve worked in the recovery field since 2007 and have also been the recipient of treatment services. I know how important it is to have access to good care by committed providers. Service is the foundation of my personal recovery. If not for those women who came before me I would not be the woman I am today. The Friendly House mission is so important and dear to my heart. I’m grateful for this opportunity so serve and give back what was freely given to me.I had heard of the miraculous stories of sustained sobriety from a multitude of Peggy Albrecht Friendly House alumni for over 22 years. However, I began my personal association with Peggy Albrecht Friendly House about 9 years ago after losing both of my brothers to the disease of alcoholism and addiction. I began attending the weekly Thursday dinner and women’s meeting. I found a renewed sense of purpose and hope the more involved I became with women who were desperately seeking sobriety, as well as, a new way of living.

Allegra is an Associate Clinical Social Worker. She earned her master’s in social work at Smith College in 2019, and her first master’s degree in women and gender studies from San Francisco State University in 2008. Allegra worked as a high school literacy specialist in the Bay Area for six years prior to becoming a clinical social worker/psychotherapist. She is a Los Angeles native, and has dedicated her professional life to community and family services. She is psychodynamically trained, trauma informed and emphasizes the intersection of culture, gender, and sexuality in her clinical practice.Martin first met friendly house in 2022 through Rika Broccoli. Influenced by Rika’s philanthropic passion towards women’s recovery, Martin was inspired to follow suit. Martin’s own family has battled addiction, some recovered, while others are still active and hopes to her sales, HR and business development acumen contributes to Friendly House’s mission and growth for another 70 years.Dr. Lockwood has trained with experts in the field of addiction treatment and has worked at every level of the treatment industry. He is currently an adjunct professor at california lutheran university, teaching future clinicians about clinical skills, addiction, and research analysis. He also has a podcast on youtube about topics related to mental health, wellness, psychology, and neuroscience called “the psychology checkup.” finally, dr. Lockwood is the author of “the fear problem,” a book integrating the neuroscience and evolutionary psychology of our fear process to explain why we get triggered by politics and other “hot topics.” Nina Firooz (she/her) has been working in the recovery field for the last decade, and co-specializes in working with LGBTQ+ and BIPOC adults. She holds a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology LGBT Specialization from Antioch University Los Angeles, and is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in both California and Florida. Nina began working with Friendly House in 2022. She supervises the MFT Associates and Drug & Alcohol Counselors, and provides in-service training for clinical, administrative, and support staff. She was previously the Clinical Director of La Fuente Hollywood Treatment Center. As a sober person myself, I know how important it is to support our community and to give others the help I was given. Working with Peggy Albrecht Friendly House allows me to be of service for not just a cause but directly with women that I believe in.Liz Folie, LMFT, has a B.A. in International Relations from The University of Southern California and a Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy from USC’s Rossier School of Education. She did her post-graduate study at the renowned Maple Counseling Center in Beverly Hills, working in both the adolescent and adult tracks. Liz has since worked in outpatient substance use and mental health treatment as a Group Facilitator, Individual Therapist, and Program Director. In 2020, Liz co-founded Academics Anonymous Supportive Housing, which assists students at The University of Southern California access
recovery services. Liz has also served as a guest lecturer at USC on collegiate substance abuse and on leading group therapy sessions in a treatment setting. In her private practice, Liz currently sees adolescents, adults, and couples and specializes in substance abuse, Obsessive- Compulsive Disorder, and sexual identity discovery. Liz has interned with the well-known therapist and author Dr. Dan Siegel, helping him update the third edition of his foundational book on Interpersonal Neurobiology, The Developing Mind.

I have eleven years as a professional specializing in addiction treatment including more than seven years with Friendly House in various capacities including Operations Manager. I’ve been on both sides –– as a resident who achieved sobriety twelve years ago –– and as on-site leader who understands what it takes for our residents, regardless of their financial resources, to achieve their primary objective to get sober. I have seen and directly experienced the compassionate top-tier treatment that Friendly House has to offer to every individual who becomes part of our family. The long-term viability of Friendly House is an imperative to me. It is a distinct honor to be on the Board of Directors of such an exemplary organization.

My goal is to use my existing professional and personal relationships to increase individual, corporate and community support to assist Peggy Albrecht Friendly House in their efforts to help as many women as possible find treatment and conquer the disease of alcoholism and drug addiction.I have been clean and sober for 32 years from heroin and cocaine addiction. My dedication to recovery and my commitment to making sure that women are afforded a safe, non-judgmental space within which to transform their lives has led to me directly serving on the Board of Directors for Peggy Albrecht Friendly House; for it is only from this seat that I feel I have the opportunity to truly make a difference.

From personal experience to professional, I have been in the addiction treatment business for many years. I know first-hand we would not be where we are as an industry without the hard work of those who strive to serve.I have admired Friendly House and its mission to help women for a long time, and I want this organization to grow and thrive at this critical time, to continue to raise the standards in our industry. For me, there is no higher honor to serve on the board for such an outstanding organization.I came to learn about the Peggy Albrecht Friendly House through fellow board member Maryann Murphy. Peggy Albrecht Friendly House’s mission, to help woman recover from the tragic disease of alcoholism and addiction is something I have come to learn more about over the past year even though I have had friends who have devastatingly suffered from this disease. I am honored and grateful to be a part of this incredible organization and hope to carry on the life saving mission Rachel is the Admissions Manager at Friendly House and is responsible for overseeing all areas related to Admissions. She has been working in the field of mental health, trauma, and substance use since 2014. She has managed a detox facility and held a leadership role as a Recovery Technician for residential treatment facilities. She has gained a wealth of knowledge related to the needs of people who are recovering from substance abuse, and struggles with mental health. As our Admissions Manager she uses this knowledge to connect with women and provide a safe space to begin their healing. Her dedication has been fueled by starting her own journey in sobriety at 19. Having this personal experience, Rachel is able to understand the courage it takes to reach out for help. In April of 2021, Christina returned home to the Friendly House to take on the role as Admissions and Business Development Manager. In January of 2022, she became the 4 Executive Director of the Friendly house and is one of the few women of culture to hold an Executive level position in this industry.Justine Gomez is the Administrative Coordinator at Friendly House. She is responsible for overseeing and managing all administrative duties. Justine began working in the field of recovery as a residential and detox technician in 2017. She has specialized in working with women who struggle with substance use disorder. As a woman of culture, who is in recovery herself, she brings her personal experience as well as prior professional experiences to the Friendly House family. She uses this experience to provide excellent care for each woman who steps through the doors, and to help Friendly House achieve its mission statement.As a sober woman committed to helping other women, I am proud to be a member of the Board of Directors at Friendly House. Having personally experienced the devastation of addiction, I am dedicated to ensuring that other women have access to the support and resources they need by using my voice and influence to make a difference in the lives of those seeking recovery. Being part of this special community is my way of giving back and making sure that no one has to face the challenges of addiction alone.I have been involved with Peggy Albrecht Friendly House, in different capacities, for the past several years. Peggy Albrecht Friendly House’s historic mission, to help woman recover from the deadly disease of alcoholism and addiction, is extremely close to my heart. I am honored to be a part of this life changing and life-saving organization.

The fact that there is a special color associated with a tangible object, marking one’s sobriety each month, illustrates the importance of honoring one’s sobriety milestones.