Nick Slovak's guest appearances

Nick Slovak

Stories from the Field: Mental Health and the Outdoors

Success is Subjective: Helping parents of college students accept that dropping out is okay

Angie Shockley

John Conway

Shayne Gallagher

Andrew Taylor

Robert Trout

Christine Norton

Matt Nannis

Shayna Abraham

Guy Dumas

Judith Sadora

Tracy Hopkins

Paul Wolf

Rachel Rollins

Tony Alvarez

Tim Walsh

OwlTail

Nick Slovak is the Executive Director of Green Hill Recovery located in North Carolina. When Nick was a teen he experienced several challenges including his father dying on Nick's 15th birthday. Nick shares his story of how he struggled and with his mother's support he ended up going to Summit Achievement where his life began to change. He shares how time in the wilderness with supportive peers helped chart a new course in his life. Nick has over a decade of sobriety and is now a leader in the behavioral health care field. Nick's bio from Green Hill: Nick Slovak is the Executive Director of Green Hill.  As Executive Director, Nick oversees the administration and integration of the clinical, transitional living, academic, experiential, and holistic components of the Green Hill program. Nick sees his primary responsibility as giving the staff at Green Hill the tools they need to provide compassionate and innovative care. Nick holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Southern Maine in political science and a minor in international relations. He is currently working to complete a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Maryland.   Prior Experience Prior to his work with Green Hill, Nick served as the Program Coordinator at Foundation House – an extended care sober living facility in Portland, Maine. In that position, Nick developed and implemented academic and vocational modules, alumni programming, and a variety of experiential and adventure-based therapies. Most recently, he worked at the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) – the largest J1 visa sponsor in the United States. At CIEE, Nick coordinated international exchange programs for over 20,000 high school and college students from 50 countries. Professional Passion Nick is passionate about empowering young people to make a successful transition into emerging adulthood. He has direct experience with both the perils of addiction and triumphs of sobriety. His own recovery journey has been paramount to his work mentoring emerging adults through early recovery, giving him a firsthand understanding of the challenges faced by newly recovering emerging adults returning to an academic setting. Nick believes in a holistic approach to the recovery and in the importance of a balanced lifestyle. More about Nick Originally from Long Island, NY, Nick comes to Raleigh from Portland, ME. He is an avid adventurer and outdoorsman who enjoys backpacking, rock climbing, kayaking, and snowboarding. He is a Registered Maine Guide, and has led multiple expeditions through the mountains and waters of Maine and New Hampshire. He is a strong proponent of the healing power of the outdoors and is always eager to share this passion. Nick is also an ardent traveler having visited four continents and over 15 countries.

Nick Slovak is the Executive Director of <a href="https://greenhillrecovery.com/about/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Green Hill Recovery</a> located in North Carolina. When Nick was a teen he experienced several challenges including his father dying on Nick's 15th birthday. Nick shares his story of how he struggled and with his mother's support he ended up going to <a href="http://summitachievement.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Summit Achievement</a> where his life began to change. He shares how time in the wilderness with supportive peers helped chart a new course in his life. Nick has over a decade of sobriety and is now a leader in the behavioral health care field. Nick's bio from Green Hill: Nick Slovak is the Executive Director of Green Hill.  As Executive Director, Nick oversees the administration and integration of the clinical, transitional living, academic, experiential, and holistic components of the Green Hill program. Nick sees his primary responsibility as giving the staff at Green Hill the tools they need to provide compassionate and innovative care. Nick holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Southern Maine in political science and a minor in international relations. He is currently working to complete a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Maryland.   Prior Experience Prior to his work with Green Hill, Nick served as the Program Coordinator at Foundation House – an extended care sober living facility in Portland, Maine. In that position, Nick developed and implemented academic and vocational modules, alumni programming, and a variety of experiential and adventure-based therapies. Most recently, he worked at the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) – the largest J1 visa sponsor in the United States. At CIEE, Nick coordinated international exchange programs for over 20,000 high school and college students from 50 countries. Professional Passion Nick is passionate about empowering young people to make a successful transition into emerging adulthood. He has direct experience with both the perils of addiction and triumphs of sobriety. His own recovery journey has been paramount to his work mentoring emerging adults through early recovery, giving him a firsthand understanding of the challenges faced by newly recovering emerging adults returning to an academic setting. Nick believes in a holistic approach to the recovery and in the importance of a balanced lifestyle. More about Nick Originally from Long Island, NY, Nick comes to Raleigh from Portland, ME. He is an avid adventurer and outdoorsman who enjoys backpacking, rock climbing, kayaking, and snowboarding. He is a Registered Maine Guide, and has led multiple expeditions through the mountains and waters of Maine and New Hampshire. He is a strong proponent of the healing power of the outdoors and is always eager to share this passion. Nick is also an ardent traveler having visited four continents and over 15 countries.

93: Nick Slovak, Executive Director of Green Hill Recovery and former wilderness therapy student

There is no set timeline that you are supposed to be on in the grand scheme of things. Maybe from your parent’s point of view, or your peers, or your teachers but in reality, there isn’t one linear path you should be on. So what’s the rush? Academics will always be there. Though, your mind and body won’t last forever.Nick Slovak, Executive Director of Green Hill Recovery, has a position that comes with a lot of stressors that would have been very difficult to deal with before recovery. Starting in high school, Nick was kicked out for substance abuse and even though he had a taste of change in boarding school, his drug use continued through the years and into college. He eventually found out that sobriety and school were not a good mix for him and chose to focus on his recovery, which is one of the best decisions he made for himself. Recovery ended up providing Nick the emotional and life skills he had been longing for. When Nick decided to go back to school after recovery, he started his work at an extended care program and has been working in the field ever since and is in the process of getting his Master’s in Business Administration. On this episode of Success is Subjective, Nick joins Joanna to share his experience as an addict in college and his journey of sobriety that eventually led him to work with emerging adults going through early recovery. Nick’s non-linear experience has allowed him to show his clients that there is no set path, opening up a whole new world to them. Listen in for Nick’s insight on the importance of advocating for yourself in order to save your own life and live it to the fullest, instead of waiting for the ‘right’ time because time runs out.What You Will LearnBeing an Adult Child of an Alcoholic (ACOA)Getting kicked out of high schoolBeing kicked out of college a semester inTransferring colleges without help will not change your academic experience; and a checkered academic past is more common than we talk about College can wait!  It’s more important to get help rather than soldier on in higher educationUnderstanding the difference between sobriety and recoveryFeeling so far behind and hopelessWhy extended care and easing back into academics will set a person up for success on campus The importance of having a support systemLife isn’t a linear line from A to B It’s okay to take a break to work on yourselfConnect with Nick SlovakNick Slovak of Green Hill RecoveryEmail nslovak@greenhillrecovery.comCall 984-204-1106 or Email info@greenhillrecovery.com Connect with Joanna LilleyLilley ConsultingLilley Consulting on Instagram Lilley Consulting on Facebook Sponsored by: www.ParentTrainers.comEmail joanna@lilleyconsulting.com

There is no set timeline that you are supposed to be on in the grand scheme of things. Maybe from your parent’s point of view, or your peers, or your teachers but in reality, there isn’t one linear path you should be on. So what’s the rush? Academics will always be there. Though, your mind and body won’t last forever.Nick Slovak, Executive Director of Green Hill Recovery, has a position that comes with a lot of stressors that would have been very difficult to deal with before recovery. Starting in high school, Nick was kicked out for substance abuse and even though he had a taste of change in boarding school, his drug use continued through the years and into college. He eventually found out that sobriety and school were not a good mix for him and chose to focus on his recovery, which is one of the best decisions he made for himself. Recovery ended up providing Nick the emotional and life skills he had been longing for. When Nick decided to go back to school after recovery, he started his work at an extended care program and has been working in the field ever since and is in the process of getting his Master’s in Business Administration. On this episode of Success is Subjective, Nick joins Joanna to share his experience as an addict in college and his journey of sobriety that eventually led him to work with emerging adults going through early recovery. Nick’s non-linear experience has allowed him to show his clients that there is no set path, opening up a whole new world to them. Listen in for Nick’s insight on the importance of advocating for yourself in order to save your own life and live it to the fullest, instead of waiting for the ‘right’ time because time runs out.What You Will LearnBeing an Adult Child of an Alcoholic (<a href="https://adultchildren.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ACOA</a>)Getting kicked out of high schoolBeing kicked out of college a semester in<a href="https://lilleyconsulting.com/blog-1/2019/8/6/without-treatment-transferring-colleges-wont-save-a-student?rq=transfer" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Transferring colleges without help</a> will not change your academic experience; and a checkered academic past is more common than we talk about <a href="https://lilleyconsulting.com/articles-3/2020/3/2/college-isnt-going-anywhere?rq=college%20isn%27t%20going%20anywhere" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">College can wait!</a>  It’s more important to get help rather than soldier on in higher educationUnderstanding the <a href="https://lilleyconsulting.com/articles-4/2020/5/11/the-difference-between-sobriety-and-recovery?rq=sobriety" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">difference between sobriety and recovery</a>Feeling so far behind and hopeless<a href="https://lilleyconsulting.com/articles-4/2020/4/21/the-reason-why-extended-care-matters?rq=extended%20care" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Why extended care</a> and easing back into academics will set a person up for success on campus The importance of having a support systemLife isn’t a <a href="https://lilleyconsulting.com/blog-1/2019/10/15/life-isnt-linear?rq=linear" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">linear line from A to B</a> It’s okay to take a break to work on yourself Connect with Nick SlovakNick Slovak of <a href="https://greenhillrecovery.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Green Hill Recovery</a>Email <a href="mailto:nslovak@greenhillrecovery.com">nslovak@greenhillrecovery.com</a>Call 984-204-1106 or Email <a href="mailto:info@greenhillrecovery.com">info@greenhillrecovery.com</a> Connect with Joanna Lilley<a href="https://lilleyconsulting.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lilley Consulting</a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/lilleyconsulting/?hl=en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lilley Consulting on Instagram </a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/LilleyConsultingLLC/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lilley Consulting on Facebook</a> Sponsored by: <a href="http://www.parenttrainers.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.ParentTrainers.com</a>Email <a href="mailto:joanna@lilleyconsulting.com">joanna@lilleyconsulting.com</a>

Episode 18 — College Can Wait, Your Mental and Physical Health Can’t —with Nick Slovak