The Outstanding Alumni Service Award was established to honor alumni who have made significant personal contributions in their local community through dedication and service to others. 听This award recognizes alumni who promote and demonstrate the humanistic values that sit at the core of MSP training in clinical psychology. 听This year’s recipient, Paula Whitman, PsyD, LLP will be honored tomorrow at the MSP graduation ceremony.
鈥淭hose who knew me knew my heart was in it.鈥� 听Dr. Paula Whitman (PsyD Class of 2004) has dedicated her life to supporting women in recovery from substance abuse dependence. 听After ten years of working at the Salvation Army Harbor Light, she recognized that in order for women to be successful in recovery, they needed reliable and supportive housing. 听She saw safe housing as the missing piece of the recovery puzzle.
In 1999, Dr. Whitman established Women Empowering Women, Inc. and began gathering community support for her vision of providing a safe and supportive residential recovery space for women and their children. 听Her dream became reality in September 2004, when she created 听and became Executive Director of听,听a home that could support up to 6 women in residence.
This 听Paula鈥檚 House represented a great start, but Dr. Whitman wanted to add another, bigger space – one that could accommodate more women in recovery and their children in one place. 听Through fundraising and strong community support, in August 2013 she opened听听in a building that can house up to 24 women and their children. 听Both homes are cozy and are designed to feel like a private home. 听Paula鈥檚 House II is filled with positive and affirming art work – the sounds of children鈥檚 laughter mixes with the splash of dishes being washed and women in conversation. 听Both homes provide 24 hour support.
Under Dr. Whitman鈥檚 care, women are given the space and the time they need to commit to sobriety in a supportive environment that affirms their positive choices and offers hope for successful recovery and future independent living. 听Residents attend AA meetings, go to therapy, and are taught the skills they need for living. 听Paula鈥檚 House II also provides essential clinical training opportunities for MSP practicum students on an annual basis.
The success of Paula鈥檚 House established Dr. Whitman as a leader in the Monroe community. 听Two years ago, she was asked to run for City Council. 听Dr. Whitman rose to this new challenge and won a seat.
Dr Whitman offers her own personal story, that includes struggles with substance abuse, as proof of the possibility of recovery through the hard work of personal growth and the help and support of others. 听She credits her experience at MSP for instilling the humanistic values that serve as the guide for her clinical work. 听
Confident in the good that her work can accomplish, Dr. Whitman feels inspired on a daily basis by her interactions with the women she serves. 听鈥淚 feel like I am one of the most fortunate women鈥ecause I have purpose.鈥�