Your story deserves a better ending…
Tens of millions of people suffer from substance use disorders and active mental illness. The healthcare system and societal stigmas present hurdles that make recovery difficult for families to comprehend what is required for the family system to get healthier. No family should tackle this alone. Our goal is to guide and coach you through this process. No family does it perfectly; it’s a roller coaster for families, but we are here to walk you through it. Family recovery is a journey, with many twists and turns, and we will help illuminate the path. Just don’t leave before the miracle happens.
Meet the Blanchard Team.
Ward Blanchard
LCAS, CSI, MA
Nearly ten years ago, Ward Blanchard found his life’s passion – working in the field of mental health and addiction. Ward’s professional career began in business as he represented the third generation to work at Kellogg Supply Company, a building supply and lumber chain founded by his grandfather. Specializing in addiction, Ward obtained his advanced addiction counseling education and credentials through California Association of Alcohol and Drug Counselors (CADC-II) which required a minimum of 8,000 hours of supervised counseling experience. Ward is a Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist (LCAS) and has worked in all facets of addiction treatment: interventions, admissions, business development, therapy, continuing-care, and operations.
Allison C Christie
Controller, MBA, MA, Certified ARISE® Interventionist I (CAI-I)
Allison Christie is from Chicago, IL. She joined Blanchard & Associates in April 2016. Allison graduated from Middlebury Institute of International Studies Fisher Business School with a Master’s Degree in International Business Administration. After living overseas for twenty years she moved to Charlotte, North Carolina and decided to follow her passion and enter the field of Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders. Allison has a keen interest in supporting families and is a Certified ARISE® Interventionist I (CAI-I).
Molly Ashcroft
ARISE® Trained
Molly Ashcroft joined Blanchard and Associates in 2017. Her passion for this work stems from a desire to offer hope for families and clients who are struggling with addiction. She excels at developing relationships with clients, families, and other addiction professionals, with the goal of finding the right placement for everyone and ensuring the best care for each.
Molly’s journey of recovery began in 2008 after many family interventions and treatment experiences. She attributes her success to helping professionals, 12 step support and the amazing people she has met along the way. It’s hard to overstate her impact in the local recovery community, where she is an extraordinary force for good; helping young women, speaking in the local communities and helping to raise awareness about addiction and the impact it has on not only the client but also the families.
Prior to joining Blanchard and Associates she worked for a non-profit sober living in Amherst, Massachusetts providing care for both young men and women battling addiction and she is currently the Director of Business Development for Westport House in Westport, CT. She is working on her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, and has recently completed the Drug & Alcohol Recovery Counselor (DARC) program leading to licensure as a Certified Addictions Counselor (CAC). Molly is ARISE trained and an ARISE “intern” toward certification.
Olivia Gordon
ARISE® Trained “Intern”
Olivia Gordon joined Blanchard & Associates in the fall of 2017 as a Family Case Manager. She is an ARISE trained “intern” working toward certification. Olivia is also the founder, principal consultant and family recovery counselor of her own company, Fruit of Life. Olivia has extensive experience working with individuals and their families. Prior to her work with Blanchard & Associates, she served as the Lead Counselor at Hope Homes, a premier Recovery Residence. She holistically guided her residents and their families through the recovery process. Olivia uses her keen ability to assess and restore the family dynamics while honing in on what she believes are the cornerstones of a healthy family (communication, values, support, and engagement) to create/recreate homeostasis in the family. She currently lives outside of Greensboro with her family, running after a sweet baby girl and a new baby boy! Her motto in life and in recovery: When life gives you life, receive it, for there are many that cannot!
Gibbs
Therapy Dog
Gibbs the Therapy dog, born in raised in Southern California, moved to Charlotte, North Carolina in 2014 to continue to cultivate her passion of delivering cuteness, comfort, and adorability to anyone and everyone she encounters. Gibbs was drawn into the field of substance abuse and behavioral health after her own personal recovery from a process addiction with chewing shoes and furniture. She understands how such an addiction truly is a family disease—impacting the whole family. Gibbs is intelligent, focused, enjoys attention and being pet behind the ears. Gibbs received formal education through The Dog Knowledge Obedience School of Charlotte, NC. She graduated with spectacular mediocracy in obedience, but excelled in the subjects of advanced charm, good looks, and tennis-ball catching. She loves riding horses, a good hot dog, listening to Dave Matthews Band, is a documentary film enthusiast, and is avid about sharing global warming articles on her Facebook.
