Four Directions Counseling & Recovery Center

08/05/2026

Life doesn't always give us time to stop but sometimes stopping is exactly what we need.

Take the walk. Sit by the water. Put your phone down. Take a breath.

Your mental health deserves your attention, too. 🌿

07/03/2026

🌽🍿 If you're asking if it's hot outside... ask the popcorn! 😅☀️

The summer heat is no joke! As you celebrate Independence Day, remember to take care of yourself and those around you.

🎆 4th of July Safety Tips:
💧 Stay hydrated.
🌳 Take breaks in the shade or air conditioning.
🧴 Wear sunscreen.
🐶 Don't forget your pets—they need plenty of water and a cool place to rest.
🚗 If you're celebrating, plan a safe ride home and never drive impaired.

From all of us at Four Directions, we wish everyone in Lexington and the surrounding communities a safe, cool, and Happy 4th of July! ❤️🤍💙

07/02/2026

🎉It's here!

Our Executive Director, Dr. Ellen Elliott's TEDx talk, "Dying to Connect," has officially been published.

In her talk, Dr. Elliott explores the powerful role that connection plays in healing and recovery. One of the most meaningful takeaways is this:

"Connecting to one's self is the first step toward healing addiction."

Whether you're someone in recovery, love someone who is, work in behavioral health, or simply want to better understand the importance of human connection, this talk offers valuable insight and hope.

We invite you to watch, reflect, and share it with others who may benefit.

💙 Healing begins with connection.

https://youtu.be/AuUSx4AnAAY?si=xVIOzKcQDiMOLbjq

NOTE FROM TED: This talk only represents the speaker’s personal vie...

06/29/2026

☀️ Summer Looks Different for Everyone ☀️

Summer often brings thoughts of vacations, sunshine, and carefree days—but it can also bring unexpected stress.

With kids out of school, routines change. While many children are excited for summer break, others may struggle without the structure, social interaction, and support that school provides. They may experience boredom, loneliness, anxiety, or changes in mood without realizing why.

Parents and caregivers may also feel the added pressure of balancing work, childcare, finances, and keeping everyone entertained.

💙 This summer, remember:

Keep a consistent daily routine when possible.
Encourage outdoor play and physical activity.
Make time for meaningful conversations.
Limit excessive screen time and create opportunities for connection.
Watch for changes in mood, sleep, or behavior, and don't be afraid to ask, "How are you really doing?"

Mental health doesn't take a vacation. Whether you're a child, teen, or adult, it's okay to ask for support when you need it.

Take care of your mind this summer. It's just as important as taking care of your body!

06/26/2026

In a fast-paced world, don’t forget to slow down and practice self-care. Pause, and listen. Your body will tell you what you need. Thank you Danielle, for reminding us of the significance of YELLOW!

06/18/2026

🎤 Congratulations, Dr. Ellen Elliott! 🎉

We are incredibly proud to celebrate our Director, Dr. Ellen Elliott, on her recent TEDx talk, "Dying to Connect."

In her powerful presentation, Dr. Elliott explores the vital role connection plays in recovery, healing, and overall well-being. Her message reminds us that meaningful change begins from within and grows through authentic relationships with others.

As Dr. Elliott shares:

"Connecting to one's self is the first step toward healing addiction."

Thank you, Dr. Elliott, for your dedication to helping individuals and families find hope, healing, and recovery. Your passion and leadership continue to inspire our community every day.

👏 Join us in congratulating Dr. Elliott on this incredible accomplishment!

06/10/2026

Today we celebrate AA Founders' Day.

On June 10, 1935, a struggling businessman named Bill Wilson found himself far from home, overwhelmed by the temptation to drink. He knew that if he wanted to stay sober, he needed to talk to another alcoholic who would understand what he was going through.

That search led him to Dr. Bob Smith, a physician who had spent years battling alcoholism himself.

Neither man knew it at the time, but that conversation would become the beginning of Alcoholics Anonymous.

What makes this story so powerful isn't that two men had all the answers. It's that they discovered something simple and life-changing: recovery is easier when we don't face it alone.

For more than 90 years, that message has continued to inspire hope for people struggling with addiction, their families, and their communities.

Today, we honor Bill W. and Dr. Bob, but we also celebrate every person who has ever walked through the doors of a meeting, reached out for help, supported someone in recovery, or made the courageous decision to try again.

Recovery isn't about being perfect.
It's about showing up.
It's about connection.
It's about hope.
And sometimes, it's about taking the next right step—one day at a time.

❤️ If you're in recovery, know that your story matters.
❤️ If you're struggling, know that help is available.
❤️ If you're supporting a loved one, know that you're not alone.

"I am responsible. When anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help, I want the hand of AA always to be there."

Looking for support or a meeting? Find local Alcoholics Anonymous meetings here:

• AA Meeting Finder https://www.aa.org/find-aa

Recovery starts with reaching out. You don't have to do it alone. ❤️

05/19/2026

Growth takes work. So do healthy relationships.

This week in our Domestic Violence Intervention Program, the group planted vegetables together as a reminder that growth doesn’t happen overnight. It takes patience, accountability, consistency, and care.

Just like a garden, the way we speak, react, and treat others matters. Healthy change is built one choice at a time. Teamwork, responsibility, and learning new ways to respond under stress can create something better — both in the garden and in life. 🌱

05/16/2026

The final rehearsal on Thursday and reveling in the afterparty glow yesterday. TEDx was the experience of a lifetime, blunders and all! To share a stage with such incredible innovation and competence surpassed anything I could have imagined. Takeaway: it’s never about perfection, but the journey of connection!

Thank you to everyone who came out to support me, to those who sent positivity from afar, and most especially, the organizers, donors, and extraordinary speakers who made TEDx Airlie possible! I love you all!!!🙏🏻🤪🙏🏻

05/14/2026

Mental Health Awareness Month reminder:
Don’t be an ass.

Funny? Yes.
Accurate? Also yes.

Stress, burnout, anxiety, exhaustion, and overwhelm can turn the best people into someone snappy, impatient, or hard to be around. But just because life is kicking your ass doesn’t mean everyone around you deserves it too.

A bad day doesn’t have to become someone else’s bad day.

Pause before you react. Eat something. Rest. Take the walk. Drink the coffee. Breathe. Pet the donkey. Then try again.

You can be struggling and still choose kindness.
And honestly, the world could use a little more of that right now. 🤎