An Interview With Wanda Malhotra
Humility — for anyone to make true and lasting change, humility must be a part of that process. If we feel we know it all, have all the answers, etc. we are likely to miss what we truly need for change. If you become humble you are open to what you actually need to make sustainable change.
In a world where the journey towards sobriety is often challenging and deeply personal, understanding the pathways and strategies for achieving and maintaining sobriety is crucial. This series aims to provide insight, encouragement, and practical advice for those who are on the road to recovery, as well as for their loved ones and support networks. As a part of this series, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Amy Smitke.
Amy Smitke LISW-S, LICDC, has built an illustrious career spanning over fifteen years in addiction counseling and training, beginning with her formative internship and evolving into a respected university lecturer. Her leadership in creating and directing programs merges holistic therapies with conventional treatment frameworks, showcasing her innovative and compassionate approach to addiction recovery. Amy’s influence extends beyond clinical settings; she is a recognized speaker at the Addiction Studies Institute, where she shares her insights and advancements in addiction therapy. Her approval to speak at this year’s institute further solidifies her as a leading figure in the field. Amy’s contributions underscore her commitment to enhancing therapeutic outcomes and educational standards.
Thank you so much for joining us! Before we dive in, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us what lessons or ‘takeaways’ you learned from that?
Reflecting on the myriad of intriguing stories from my career, it’s challenging to single out just one that encapsulates all the significant lessons learned. I’ve always endeavored to extract meaningful insights from nearly every experience. Looking back, my initial position postgraduate school, as part of a specialized team at a community mental health agency providing home-based therapy for adolescents with co-occurring mental health and substance use diagnoses, stands out. This role, although mentally and physically demanding, was rich with learning opportunities. The challenges were manifold: operating without a stable office, the frequent no-shows or forgotten appointments despite the convenience of home visits, occasional reluctance from clients or their parents to engage, long days spent driving and the inevitable reliance on fast food, meeting productivity goals, and coordinating with various stakeholders involved in each case.
Despite these challenges, and my realization that home-based counseling with this age group was less than ideal for me, the position was invaluable. It taught me about perseverance, the importance of seeking support, recognizing my preferred client demographics and settings, familiarizing myself with local resources, navigating the city, and building a lasting network of professional contacts. My most significant takeaway is the understanding that every experience, regardless of its immediate impact, offers lifelong, transformative lessons.
You are a successful individual. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?
Compassion, dedication, and humility have been the cornerstone traits instrumental to my success. My aspiration to become a therapist since fifth grade, unusual for someone so young, was rooted in an innate compassion to help others. This drive was nurtured despite skepticism from those who doubted my ambitions, including overcoming the challenge of being the first in my large family to attend college, pursue a master’s degree, and now work towards a doctoral degree. My mother, embodying kindness, selflessness, and a grace that met everyone at their level, was my beacon of compassion. Her example profoundly influenced my approach to life and my professional ethos, teaching me the importance of empathy and understanding in all interactions.
This foundational compassion fueled my dedication — not just to my personal and academic goals but to serving others in a manner that felt true and impactful, even in the absence of widespread support. My journey has been a testament to staying true to one’s convictions and the power of self-belief in the face of adversity.
Humility, the final pillar, has taught me to embrace my imperfections and use them as a strength in connecting with others, particularly in working with individuals with substance use disorders. Their acute sensitivity to authenticity has reinforced the value of genuine vulnerability and humility in building trust and fostering therapeutic relationships. Recognizing and owning my vulnerabilities has not only allowed me to meet clients where they are but also to offer them grace and possibility, enriching both their lives and mine.
These traits — compassion, dedication, and humility — have not only shaped my professional identity but have also guided me in cultivating meaningful, authentic connections, underscoring the profound impact of genuine human interactions in the healing process.
Are you working on any exciting new projects now? How do you think that might help people?
My current projects include preparing content for my training on supervision and boundaries in the substance use field for the 2024 Addiction Studies Institute Conference happening in July. Additionally, I am a founder and moderator for the Supervision Summit, taking place in May 2024. This inaugural event is unique to the field of supervision in mental health. We are currently in the process of selecting both individual speakers and panelists for this specialized summit. This work is pivotal in advancing the discussions around supervision practices and setting new standards in the mental health field, reflecting my ongoing commitment to professional development and innovation in addiction counseling.
Ok, thank you for all that. Now let’s shift to the main focus of our interview. How would you advise individuals who are contemplating the journey to sobriety but might be hesitant or unsure about taking the first step? Are there key considerations or strategies that can make this initial phase more manageable?
Firstly, afford yourself grace and compassion. The path to recovery is challenging from the start and may remain so for a considerable time. Understand that your efforts will eventually make a positive impact on both your life and likely those around you, but immediate results should not be expected. Many fall into the trap of anticipating quick success, leading to feelings of failure when progress doesn’t materialize as imagined. A critical question often arises: Are you prepared to make tough decisions and endure discomfort, as you did during active addiction, to achieve sobriety? This realization is a starting point for many. If possible, surround yourself with individuals committed for the long haul. If they aren’t, you’re faced with another difficult choice — whether to part ways, temporarily or permanently. Accept that recovery is not a straight path; it is filled with highs and lows. Learning to surrender to the process is vital.
Sobriety often comes with its unique set of challenges. Can you share insights on how individuals can effectively navigate obstacles or triggers that may arise during their journey? Are there specific tools or support systems that you find particularly helpful in overcoming these challenges?
12 steps or a similar program is often one of the easier support systems to find and utilize, although many people have various ovasons to them, they have a strong place in the world for a reason. However, if they aren’t for you, now or never, find other strong supports within a safe and supportive environment or community, be intentional. Education and therapy are strong tools to support you in the process, sometimes you have to hear something numerous times before it makes sense to you where you are now. These are tools that can help you navigate those internal and external challenges that you will likely face and not be alone in facing them.
Maintaining sobriety is a long-term commitment. From your experience, what are the essential factors that contribute to the sustained success of individuals on this journey? Are there lifestyle adjustments or mindset shifts that prove crucial for the ongoing pursuit of sobriety?
Absolutely, adopting a new mindset and lifestyle is essential for success in sobriety. It’s rare to see anyone achieve and sustain sobriety, and subsequently improve their mental and physical well-being, without undergoing these fundamental changes. The alteration in lifestyle involves scrutinizing your daily environment, including the people and elements within it. Constant reminders of past usage or what substances are available can make it increasingly tempting to regress. Similarly, a shift in mindset is critical; sustaining changes in your lifestyle necessitates a new way of mentally engaging with life and sobriety. Rather than focusing on what you’re ‘leaving behind’ or what you ‘can’t have,’ concentrate on the gains, learning, experiences, and opportunities now available to you that weren’t before. Notice how this approach positively redirects the path of your life?
Based on your research or experience, can you please share your “5 Things You Need To Begin, Navigate, & Sustain Sobriety”?
Based on my experiences and research, here are the ‘5 Things You Need To Begin, Navigate, & Sustain Sobriety,’ each accompanied by an illustrative example or story:
1 . Acceptance — the first step is accepting that you are powerless over your substance, whether you do so in the construct of a 12-step program or not, it’s where it all begins. If one does not accept that change is needed then change will not occur.
2 . Surrender — although this seems counterintuitive to recovery for many or the word itself is fear and anxiety inducing, there is freedom in surrendering. When you let go of everything holding you in your current state and you allow yourself to be open to the idea, the opportunity, and the concept of recovery and all that is has to over (positive, negatives, ups, down, challenges, and successes), you will find that supports, tools, resources, and more to not only begin, but navigate, and sustain that sobriety.
3 . Humility — for anyone to make true and lasting change, humility must be a part of that process. If we feel we know it all, have all the answers, etc. we are likely to miss what we truly need for change. If you become humble you are open to what you actually need to make sustainable change.
4 . Grace — sobriety won’t be easy, now and maybe ever to some degree, giving yourself grace to be beautifully imperfect in that hardship and knowing its okay to not be perfect, to not know it all, to know that mistakes will be made, and to know that you will always be a work in progress takes the pressure off and allows you to be present in your sobriety.
5 . Compassion — have compassion for yourself and those around you. Again, you will not be perfect, the process will not be perfect, but maintain compassion for yourself anyways. Those around you (those there before or new to you now) will not be perfect, may have their own challenges and struggles along the way, accept that, give them grace, and have compassion, you are not the only one on this journey.
Community support plays a vital role in the journey to sobriety. How can individuals find and engage with supportive communities or resources that align with their specific needs and goals? Are there online platforms, local groups, or initiatives that you recommend for fostering a sense of connection and understanding during this process?
As I mentioned before 12 steps are one of the most abundantly available supports out there, they are in person, online, and international. Additionally, you can find similar group supports such as Celebrate Recovery and SMART recovery, many have found them to be great communities but more limited in their availability. For many Churches allow them to find a community, even if not specifically recovery related. Often it is finding places that one can be themselves, find joy and happiness within, and support. I often help clients find other communities they love and feel safe in so that they have additional reasons for maintaining sobriety. I spend time helping them find those maybe lost passions in life or to find new ones, sometimes through trial and error of new hobbies and experiences.
What is the best way for our readers to continue to follow your work online?
Thank you for asking. I manage a comprehensive website that serves as a hub for various resources, including a press page featuring my interview and podcast appearances. Additionally, the site will host a link to my upcoming podcast launch, my blog posts, and direct links to my social media profiles. Visitors can also find resources available for download or purchase. For more information and to access these resources, please visit www.motivatedwellnesssolutionsllc.com.
This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for the time you spent on this. We wish you only continued success.
About the Interviewer: Wanda Malhotra is a wellness entrepreneur, lifestyle journalist, and the CEO of Crunchy Mama Box, a mission-driven platform promoting conscious living. CMB empowers individuals with educational resources and vetted products to help them make informed choices. Passionate about social causes like environmental preservation and animal welfare, Wanda writes about clean beauty, wellness, nutrition, social impact and sustainability, simplifying wellness with curated resources. Join Wanda and the Crunchy Mama Box community in embracing a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle at CrunchyMamaBox.com.
Amy Smitke Of Motivated Wellness Solutions On How to Begin, Navigate, & Sustain Sobriety was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.