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At LESC, we believe in the transformative power of recovery. Susan Bernstein, Interim Director of Su Casa and Director of the Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) at Su Casa, embodies this power in her day-to-day life. As a clinician and someone deeply rooted in her own recovery journey, Susan offers a unique and invaluable perspective on what it truly means to heal and build a life beyond addiction. Her story isn’t just one of hope, but a testament to the tangible process of recovery and the boundless possibilities that emerge on the other side. As Susan herself puts it, “If I could do it, you can too.”
Susan’s path to recovery began unexpectedly. “I was born to two old Jewish parents,” she shares, “and so in my family, there was no one who was abusing alcohol or substances. So as society would say, I was one least likely to become an addict.” Yet, life took an unexpected turn. “I was in an abusive relationship and I used with my husband, who was the father of my children, and I became addicted.” Her period of active addiction was only about five years, but it was intense. “I used enough for everybody in this building,” she states.
Her arrest became the turning point. The judge, she recalls, “hit me hard. She looked at me like I was a disgrace to my race and religion.” However, her attorney’s advocacy highlighted her circumstances as a battered wife with no violent crimes, leading to an opportunity for long-term therapeutic community treatment, an 18- to 24-month program. This extended period was crucial for her healing. “If you look up the word recovery in the dictionary, it simply means ‘to heal’,” Susan explains. “And so when they gave me those 18 to 24 months, it gave me the opportunity to heal. Took me a while to get comfortable in my own skin, you know, but it was the best thing that happened to me. So, I’m a true believer that long-term treatment works.”
The inspiration to transition from recovery to a professional in the field struck Susan while she was still in treatment. She saw the profound impact the staff had on her. The pivotal moment arrived the day she regained custody of her children. “I had my counselor in the courtroom,” she remembers. “And when the judge gave me back my kids, I remember falling to my knees on the floor and crying. The counselor fell to her knees and hugged me and cried too. And that was the moment that I said, ‘I’m going to do this for the rest of my life.'”
As Director of the OTP at Su Casa NYC, Susan’s days are multifaceted. While she misses the one-on-one counseling she used to provide, her current role allows her to interact with clients frequently. Beyond direct client interaction, a significant part of her work involves supporting and guiding her staff. “It’s also helping, not even teaching,” she clarifies. “I would say helping the staff get to feeling the way I feel—if I can get everybody to love what they do—if you don’t believe this modality works, you’re never going to be any good at it.”
For the clients themselves, a day at Su Casa is purposeful. “It is a structured day,” Susan explains. “We offer services from the moment they get up till the moment they go to sleep.” The routine begins with a wake-up call, breakfast, and a morning meeting designed to start the day on a positive note. Throughout the day, clients are encouraged, although not required, to attend various groups and individual sessions covering diverse topics, including men’s and women’s groups, employment, vocational training, and health. Lunch is at noon, dinner at 5 p.m., and medication is administered at 8 p.m., with flexibility for other times. Su Casa also has an on-site clinic with a nurse practitioner, psychiatrist, LPNs, RNs, and a doctor, ensuring all services are under one roof, including Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT).
Between meals, clients participate in more group sessions, meet with counselors, utilize the computer lab for resumé preparation, and have opportunities for recreational activities and outings with certified peer recovery advocates. This comprehensive approach underscores Su Casa’s commitment to holistic healing and preparation for life after residential addiction treatment.
Susan identifies relapse and housing as the biggest challenges her clients face. Su Casa in NYC proactively addresses housing needs by initiating 2010 applications for vouchers or Supportive housing, Transitional Safety Units and Scattersite housing after clients have reached their 90th day in treatment. Clients can also pursue full-time employment to secure their own housing.
Regarding relapse, Susan emphasizes a supportive, non-punitive approach. “We support them through it,” she shares. “We get them reassessed by the doctor to see if they need to go up on their MAT.” She understands the individual nature of relapse, noting, “It may be as simple as I went to see my child and I saw my husband or wife and we got into a fight. So I decided to use. So everybody is on an individual basis, but we do not discharge people for those challenges.”
Susan’s personal experience with recovery deeply informs her clinical approach. Her status in recovery is public knowledge to many clients, fostering an immediate connection. “When I do speak to them, I can disclose easily, you know, that I’ve been where you’re at and so I can help you get to where you want to go,” she explains. This transparency, she believes, helps build trust. “The boundary just comes with mutual respect. I believe that if you treat a client with respect, 99.9% of the time, they give it back to you.”
This dual role is particularly powerful in the addiction treatment field. Susan notes that in earlier days, counselors were almost universally in recovery. Over time, there was a shift towards a more medical model, prioritizing academic credentials. While Susan has her CASAC certification, she believes her “life experience gave me the gut, the heart, and the soul.”
She reflects on the evolution of treatment models. “I actually think that the shift was positive in the way that in my day there was a more rigorous screening process, but a lot of people were left out of it” due to mental health challenges that precluded them from high-confrontation programs. Now, “mental health is addressed in the programs.” This increased sensitivity allows for a more inclusive and effective treatment environment.
Su Casa is currently experiencing a surge in new admissions, a testament to the effectiveness of its programs and recent changes. Susan highlights, “the beauty of Su Casa is our Pregnant Women and Infant Program. It’s amazing.” She also passionately advocates for women in recovery, noting that “women are the underdogs in treatment. We don’t get it as easily as the men. Our guilt, our shame, our pride keeps us out for longer.”
A key element of the redesigned Residential Recovery Program at Su Casa is its expanded accessibility. “Even though we’ve so long been known as an opioid treatment program, with the redesign, they can come in on any drug of choice. They don’t have to take opiates to get in.” This expended approach ensures that more individuals can access the critical support they need.
When asked to choose one word from LESC’s mission – Love, Energy, Safety, or Compassion – Susan immediately selects Compassion. “That fits me,” she explains. “And I believe that clients can read us better than we can read ourselves, and clients know when someone is there for any other reason. But true … wanting to do the right thing for each and every client.”
Susan Bernstein’s journey is a powerful reminder that recovery is not just about abstaining from substances; it’s about healing, finding purpose, and building a meaningful life. Her unique perspective, having walked both sides of the recovery journey as a client and a clinician, makes her an invaluable asset to Su Casa and an inspiration to countless individuals in and around NYC seeking to transform their lives.
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Recovery is a process. That’s why the programs at LESC are not time-sensitive, they’re goal-sensitive. We work to address the individual needs of clients at every level, so they can become productive citizens in the communities where they live.
A healthier, more fulfilling life can be yours. Call or email us now to arrange a screening interview. A trained intake counselor is waiting to help you begin the admissions process.
Call: (347) 538-2632
Or email us at: info@lesc.org
We’re committed to nurturing resilient recovery through a program of treatment, supportive housing, education, and energized community engagement. Discover the relationships, the resources, and the safe and sound support system to begin your journey.
