LCA Welcomes Melissa Saunders, Certified Peer Recovery Specialist

LCA News and Information
Melissa Saunders, Certified Peer Recovery Specialist at Lake Country Associates.
Melissa Saunders, CPRS

Lake Country Associates welcomes Melissa Saunders to the Substance Use Disorder (SUD) team in Park Rapids and Menahga. After graduating from an intense training program at the Minnesota Adult and Teen Challenge Program in Minneapolis and passing her exams at the Minnesota Certification Board, Melissa joins Lake Country Associates as our first ever Board Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS).

A CPRS is someone with lived experience in recovery who partners with people in need of additional support in their own recovery. The role of a CPRS is not the same as a sponsor. A CPRS focuses on being an advocate, a role model and a mentor. They work in partnership with mental health and substance abuse counselors and help people overcome barriers to recovery.

Melissa grew up in Hubbard County. She has one adult son and is an animal lover. She has been in recovery for over five years and is very passionate about the recovery journey. Melissa believes that with the proper tools, help with utilizing resources, and a healthy support system, recovery is possible. She believes in compassionate support, helping people break their goals down, and taking them on step by step.

More About Peer Recovery Services

For more information about CPRS services or any of LCA’s services for people with chemical dependency, call Lake Country Associates at 218-366-9229. You can also follow this link to LCA’s Substance Use Disorder program page.

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Feedback from LCA clients:

My child's therapist is awesome!  So helpful and relates well to the whole family.

Easy to work with.  You can tell they genuinely care about their clients.

They gave me hope for the future.  Life saving.

My ARMHS staff is awesome!  She has helped me make progress in many areas of my life.  I have better relationships now.

Listens to both my child and me.  Getting us through some very difficult times with care and compassion.

I found scheduling flexible to my needs.

Her thoughtfulness and her knowledge of helping people with depression is what I need to achieve my goals!

Very welcoming place.  We love our therapist!

Location is great and the staff is excellent with customer service.  Therapy is also professional and comfortable.

You are all warm, welcoming and so very helpful!  Thank you!!

It is a very comfortable atmosphere.  Everyone is flexible and understanding!

Everyone was very helpful.  I'm glad I called to get help!

The receptionist staff have been amazing.  They are friendly and caring.  You can tell they enjoy their job.

I'm so appreciative of my therapist's knowledge, skill and understanding.

I always feel that my therapist is listening to what I have to say and helping me come up with practical ways to deal with things.

I appreciated being treated normally, even though I was getting help with a difficult situation.

They were open to my opinion of which counselor I see.

They work with your schedule and do whatever they can to help you.

I love the comfortable feel in the office.

The staff members are always well informed and ready to help/answer questions.

When we come in for an appointment, the reception staff always has a friendly smile on her face.

Therapy at LCA has helped my progress immensely!

I appreciate the text/phone reminders.

Greatly appreciate having the option of Christian Counseling and being able to filter issues through that lens!

My therapist was very, very kind and is an awesome problem solver.

Our counselor wanted to meet our entire family to find out how to better help our son.  She offered lots of suggestions and things to help us in the long term.

My therapist is great!  Of all the therapists we've had over the years, she understands our family and kids the best.  Very helpful!

My son and daughter are making steps toward our family goals!

She's thinking through things with me instead of just giving directions.  It shows that she cares.

Quick and easy to get an appointment.  Friendly, helpful staff.

Easy to get to.  Very friendly people willing to help.

I love coming to LCA.  Everybody is so friendly and make you feel so much better.

Easy to work with.  Made me feel comfortable!

The receptionist knew my name after the second visit...very friendly!

I had a person to talk with about my problems and my problems are getting better.

I have a great therapist.  I appreciate her assistance!

My counselor helps me out when I need it most.  I can always count on them to say the right things, even when I don't want to hear it.

Meeting with my therapist has been making my life and relationships a lot less stressful.

My therapist understands my child's needs and listens.

All the staff were friendly and helpful.  They answered all my questions.

Talking with my therapist is helping, instead of holding it all in.

I like that the staff are flexible with scheduling.

My therapist is a life saver! :-)

My children's counselors are awesome.  I've seen huge progress in both my kids.

The staff have good attitudes and open minds.

Good location, feels very professional and confidential!

The front desk staff had a positive attitude and was patient with me.

The appointment times work well with my schedule.  My children get along well with their therapists.

They matched me with the perfect therapist!

Friendly and helpful atmosphere.  Feel at ease walking in.

I am so thankful I was directed here!

Resources

LCA Brochure

August 2023 Activities Calendar

September 2023 Cottage Activity Calendar

Community Resource List

All Forms and Downloads

Office Hours

Park Rapids Office

  • Monday, Tuesday, Thursday
    8:00 to 5:00
  • Wednesday
    8:00 to 7:00
  • Friday
    8:00 to 1:00

Bemidji Office

  • Monday – Thursday
    8:00 to 5:00
  • Friday
    8:00 to 12:00

Menahga Office

  • Open by appointment

LCA offices may be closed over the noon hour. 

Important Numbers

Park Rapids Office Phone:
218-366-9229

Bemidji Office Phone:
218-444-2233

Menahga Office Phone:
218-564-9229

LCA Fax Number (all offices):

218-237-2520

24-Hour Crisis Line:
800-422-0045