Name and Position at Region Ten: Shannon Wright, LCSW, Senior Director of Rural Services at Region Ten

Where are you from? Originally from Richmond, VA but have been in Charlottesville since 1992.

What drew you to the mental health field? My first job out of college was on a UVA research project that was a partnership with Region Ten. I had the opportunity to visit Region Ten programs and get to know consumers, which led me to apply for my first Region Ten job at Blue Ridge House. After working in several mental health provider positions, I decided to return to graduate school to get my Master’s degree in Social Work.

What are some of the highlights in your professional career? The people I have had the opportunity to serve are at the top of my list of highlights. It is such a privilege to be witness to the incredible resilience, persistence, and progress of Region Ten’s consumers. The people I have worked with, some of whom I have known for well over 20 years, model recovery every single day. They are the people who have really shown me what recovery looks like in the real world.

What do you enjoy about your work at Region Ten? It’s about the people for me. In addition to the incredible folks I had had the privilege to serve over the years, my colleagues at Region Ten inspire me every day. This organization is filled with dedicated, hard-working individuals who are committed to our mission of a better life, a better community in everything they do.       

What does National Recovery Month mean to you? The consumer movement and the recovery model really revolutionized the field. It is so important to hold fast to the belief that people can and do get better and that there are many paths to recovery for individuals. Holding hope for (and with) the people we serve is so powerful. As providers, we have the opportunity to support people in their recovery journeys while learning from their own expertise about what works best for them.