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 - Sponsors
02:17 - Meet Blake Wellen
03:16 - Blake’s perspective on addiction and treatment
08:44 - The early days of Illinois Recovery Center
15:59 - Compassion fatigue and learning how to recharge
18:02 - Blake’s role as a case manager
25:16 - Discharge planning starts on day one
27:54 - Sober living, funding barriers, and resources
29:54 - Why 30 days usually isn’t enough
31:17 - The real work starts after treatment
35:25 - Helping clients feel like they’re not alone
37:15 - The jar of f*cks
38:12 - Slowing down and letting go of control
40:52 - Finding a calling in recovery work
41:55 - Blake’s fiancée and wedding planning
48:04 - The Coyote Ugly wedding brawl
57:20 - Falling in love with the work at IRC
1:06:22 - Trying to build a life in this economy
1:12:02 - Four-wheelers, concussions, and trauma
1:16:46 - Why outpatient care matters
1:19:04 - Therapy doesn’t give you all the answers
1:24:03 - What families should know about treatment
SPONSORS:
Thank you to our sponsors, McKelvey Insurance Group and LightSource.
McKelvey Insurance Group
http://mckelveyins.com
LightSource
http://findyourlightsource.com
DISCLAIMER:
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.