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Meet Irina Bogomolova of Choice in Recovery in Remote

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Irina Bogomolova.

Irina, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I started Choice in Recovery a bit over five years ago (holy crap). It came out of my own experience with substance use disorders as I was growing up. What ultimately worked for me was moderation, but stepping into the recovery field and being transparent about moderation was not an easy feat. I was quickly shot down about my pathway, told I was a delusional alcoholic on my way to my lowest low. But I wasn’t. After some research, I found there are many pathways to recovery beyond 12 Steps. To list a few, there is Moderation Management, SMART Recovery, Women for Sobriety, etc. All free, peer-led resources, for individuals in or seeking recovery. After learning about all of these pathways, I brought together various representatives and we began educating the public, and then industry professionals about the many pathways to recovery. Today, I have developed an online curriculum for industry professionals to not only learn about the many pathways to recovery but to learn how to listen to their clients in such a way that they can effectively help match clients to best-fit pathways.

Interestingly, during my Choice in Recovery adventures, another passion came to the surface. Poetry. During a fundraiser for Choice at a local coffee shop (my fav!) Tenn St. Coffee, I learned of an open mic that was happening there. Then I showed up, read some old stuff, and never looked back. The woman running the open mic happened to be the assistant director for a local non-profit that needed guest artists (you’ll be PAID POETS). So I did the thing and became one. From there, I began slamming and in 2018 represented Denver at the National Poetry Slam in Chicago. Since then, I have published a book (sold out my first order :D), and am currently finishing up an audio version as well as a few new videos. It’s amazing how following a creative drive (Choice) threw me into a whole new life I couldn’t be happier with.

Has it been a smooth road?
It has absolutely NOT been a smooth road. When I was first starting with Choice, I expected to push back but did not expect my journey to be attacked and put up for question. The conversation I mentioned before happened at an exhibit at the Mile High TedTalks. A man was running an exhibit of a map of Colorado. Participants were asked to put a sticky note on the map about what we wanted to impact. I wrote about the recovery field and we began to chat. When I described my experience, how I learned to moderate my alcohol consumption, how running and being an athlete saved my life, the guy, in short, told me, I was an alcoholic, on my way to my lowest low, delusional, and that 12 Steps has been around so long because it’s the only thing that works. Mind you, he wasn’t just a random running the exhibit, he also happened to be a licensed professional counselor working in the field. During the conversation, I held my ground, but in full transparency, as I walked away I called a friend and found myself crying to him on 16th Street.

I began to question EVERYTHING. Was this community project way off and damaging? Was I delusional about my journey? Was I on my way to my lowest low? The self-reflection was real, and necessary because that conversation was going to happen over and over again. I happened to be reading a book at the time (Beyond Addiction) that drove it home for me, this idea of there being many pathways to recovery. I feel that my journey is just full of synchronicities. I was reading the right book at the right time and then decided to do my research where I learned about all of these other pathways. Learned that moderation was not some alien concept but the most common journey among people who struggle with alcohol. Now, I am an expert in a field I had no professional training in. I have spoken at state conferences as well as other engagements on the subject, have trained students studying to be in the field, as well as recovery coaches, and am now packaging the whole thing up in a six week online course. But dang, it has for sure been a bumpy ride to get here. With that said, I am such a stronger person because of it and have never been more confident about my journey and mental health.

We’d love to hear more about your organization.
Choice in Recovery’s mission is to educate industry professionals on the many pathways to recovery. We envision a world where industry professionals are empowered to run a truly client-centered practice, allowing all individuals to CHOOSE a recovery pathway that resonates with them. We specialize in educating industry professionals on the many pathways to recovery via in person skills training as well as our six week online curriculum.

What makes us different from other organizations in the field who support the many pathways to recovery, is that we don’t just state that we support the many pathways. We take the time to explore what those are, who they would work best for, and how to empower individuals to choose. We often hear about being client-centered in the field of recovery and mental health, but we don’t always provide the resources to truly back that statement. That’s where Choice comes in to fill the gap.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
In relation to Choice, we are lucky to have so many pathways available to us in this city. In-person meetings for many of the pathways that we educate industry professionals are limited. But Denver has all of them which is amazing!

On a personal level, I love the art scene in Denver. I have the opportunity to perform at open mics and slam every single week and that makes life so fulfilling. I’m never at a loss for what to do, on any given night of the week, there is ALWAYS something to show up to. Also, I did the dog scene <3. I got/stole (depends on who you ask haha) a dog last year and Denver is such a wonderful place to live with him!

What do I dislike? After traveling internationally as well as to other cities in the U.S. I definitely wish we had a better public transport system. Being in Chicago for the National Poetry Slam I LOVED public transport. I love all the various people it brings together into one space.

Pricing:

  • For anyone in the recovery field looking for continuing education, our course provides 15 hours. Find more details at choiceinrecovery.thinkific.com. Price is $399.
  • For info on my book “They Will Not Bleed for Us,” shoot me a direct email at irina.nbogomolova@gmail.com OR find me on FB Irina TubbyMctubster Bogomolva. For local sales, $15, out of state, $20.

Contact Info:


Image Credit:
For my main photo, as well the the photos that have my book in them, credit goes to Anna Schroeder. http://www.annaschroedervisuals.com/

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