A Peer Recovery Coach offers emotional support, encouragement, and motivation. In the early stages of recovery, it is very important to have all the support you can. A Peer Recovery Coach can help you learn new ways to manage your emotions in a healthy way, as an addict or someone in recovery, learning how to identify your emotions, and work through them can be challenging since you are not familiar with this new way of thinking. It is easier for someone who is in early recovery to connect and relate to someone who has “lived experience” with addiction and has worked through the stages of recovery to become a better person.
A Peer Recovery Coach is a good role model and can help you find your internal motivation while providing empathy, understanding, and acceptance. Peer Recovery Coaches also have access to many resources and programs that can help keep you on the right track.
The Behavioral Health Division is happy to introduce you to our Peer Recovery Coaches, Marvina Olguin and Ryan White.
Marvina Olguin is Peer Recovery Coach and has been with the Southern Ute Indian Tribe’s Behavioral Health Division for two and a half years. Olguin is certified by CCAR and White Bison. She also facilitates White Bison’s Warrior Down Wellbriety Talking Circle and Medicine Wheel 12-Step Program. Olguin has lived in Ignacio all her life and has two boys. Olguin enjoys spending time with her boys and their dog Harley, as well as reading, beading, and sewing. Olguin has been in recovery for six and a half years and enjoys helping others find their own path to recovery.
Ryan White is our new part-time Peer Recovery Coach and will be working closely with Marvina Olguin. He is Cheyenne River Lakota and Dine’ and greets you all with “Was’te’/Yatahey/Greetings my fellow relatives.” White has resided in the Durango, Ignacio, and Bayfield areas for ten years. He has a B.A. in Psychology from Fort Lewis College and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Clinical Social Work. He provides Equine Assisted Learning and Healing services for cognitive, physical, and learning impaired in our communities. “I am honored and pleased to be selected to fill a part-time position as a Peer Recovery Coach with the Southern Ute Tribe Behavioral Health Dept,” White emphasized. “Thank you for allowing me to work with your Southern Ute Tribal community.”
Southern Ute Health Services’ Behavioral Health division offers two White Bison programs, The Warrior Down Wellbriety Talking Circle, as well as The Medicine Wheel and 12-Step Program.
The Warrior Down Wellbriety Talking Circle provides support and finds the resources to get that warrior back into their recovery process. This is a peer-to-peer program that is designed to equip Native American/Alaska Natives in recovery to provide recovery support, prevent recidivism and provide community referrals for those re-entering the community from treatment or from various forms of incarceration. The Warrior Down Wellbriety Talking Circle is held every Monday from noon to 1pm virtually on Teams.
The Medicine Wheel and 12-Step program was developed to provide a culturally appropriate 12-Step program for Native American people. This program is based on the teachings of the Medicine Wheel, the Cycle of Life, and the Four Laws of Change. The Medicine wheel and 12-Step Program is held every Thursday from 5p.m.-7:30p.m. at the Southern Ute Cultural Center and Museum in the large classroom.