I grew up in a dysfunctional household with an alcoholic drug addicted single mother in Aberdeen, WA. I was abused growing up and introduced to drugs and alcohol when I was 14. I struggled for about 25 years with my addiction and abusive toxic relationships. I overdosed in June 2019 and woke up in the hospital. My brother was there when I woke up and I asked him to find me a treatment center as far away as possible from Washington. That’s when I came to Rocky Mountain Treatment Center.

After I graduated, I went to a sober living home in Billings, MT. After a while, I decided I needed to “give back”, and came to RMTC to work as a Treatment Assistant

(TA), after 7 months I was promoted to Admissions Coordinator. I love what I do here. I get to share my experience, strength, and hope with the clients and watch the spark come back into their eyes when they discover their Higher Power working in their lives. I recently started a 12 Step meeting in Great Falls with some people in the Program, participate in The Sober Life, and just celebrated 21 months clean and sober!

Hi, my name is Scott and I am a recovering alcoholic and counselor at RMTC. I have been clean and sober since in May 6, 2001. I became a licensed counselor in 2007 and have worked at RMTC since 2012. I was born and raised in Montana, have a wife of 34 years and enjoy spending time with my three dogs and offroad racing with my sons. I am passionate about Native American culture and sharing the Wellbriety program with clients at RMTC where we look spiritual principles based on Native American culture to discover our overall interconnectedness and to better assess identity, purpose and direction.

I am a Licensed Addiction Counselor and the Family Program Director at Rocky Mountain Treatment center. Here is a little background history about me. I am originally from Baltimore, MD and headed out west at 18, where I married and started a family in Leadville, CO. I was widowed at the age of 33; and I raised 5 beautiful children on my own. After my husband’s death I moved coast to coast and boarder to boarder running from myself, my addiction and my grief. I finally landed in Libby, MT where everything caught up to me. This is also where I started my journey into a life of recovery. I am a child of an alcoholic and all 5 of my siblings were affected by the disease of addiction. I am the mother of a couple of alcoholic/addict adult children, whom are living a life of recovery now. I am a recovering alcoholic/addict. My entire life has revolved around my addictions, as well as my families. My journey as an addict was defined by my triumphs and tragedies. I have gone from surviving in life to thriving in life! Today I own my own story and live a sober, authentic and transparent life.

In 2011 I found my way back to school, graduating in 2015 with a degree in Substance Abuse Counseling. I, unfortunately, allowed my lack of confidence to hold me back and rejection stopped me in my tracks. I essentially gave up trying to use my degree and complete an internship. Then a miracle happened and I began my journey to RMTC after my brother suggested that I set my intentions with what, how and where I wanted to be in my life. Two weeks later I was interviewing at RMTC, thus beginning my dreams of helping others and paying it forward! Today, I get to experience clients and their families come full circle, going from hostility to hopeful in our Family Program. I am truly blessed with the job of my dreams, and I get to share my experience, strength and hope with others so they too can recover. My favorite lesson is teaching others not to waste their miracle, and to never give up 5 minutes before the miracle happens!

I was raised here in Great Falls, and I went to Great Falls High School. I have 6 children who are all grown now and 5 grandchildren. I have a lovely wife whose name is Donna. I enjoy bowhunting, fishing and hiking. I joined the Rocky Mountain team as a licensed addiction counselor candidate with an associates of Arts Degree in Chemical Dependency Counseling.

In 2011 I found my way back to school, graduating in 2015 with a degree in Substance Abuse Counseling. I, unfortunately, allowed my lack of confidence to hold me back and rejection stopped me in my tracks. I essentially gave up trying to use my degree and complete an internship. Then a miracle happened and I began my journey to RMTC after my brother suggested that I set my intentions with what, how and where I wanted to be in my life. Two weeks later I was interviewing at RMTC, thus beginning my dreams of helping others and paying it forward! Today, I get to experience clients and their families come full circle, going from hostility to hopeful in our Family Program. I am truly blessed with the job of my dreams, and I get to share my experience, strength and hope with others so they too can recover. My favorite lesson is teaching others not to waste their miracle, and to never give up 5 minutes before the miracle happens!

Hello, my name is Jensa Rae Baumgartner. I am from Great Falls, MT. When I was young, I was removed from my mother’s care due to her drug use and toxic relationship with my father. She soon got us back. We stayed in Missoula through 8th grade and I never really felt as if I fit in anywhere I tried to be. I never really knew much about drugs. It was the summer going into freshman year that I decided I wanted to try smoking weed. It was a quick snowball effect as I also started drinking and trying whatever other drugs came my way throughout high school. I was finally part of the crew. It didn’t take long, and right before I turned 17, I got into the life of meth. This life stuck with me for several years. I was in a toxic relationship that eventually became physically abusive, and for the same reasons as my mother before me, had my daughter removed from my care, while I was just finding out I was pregnant with my son. It was falling through rock bottom several times and being guided by God that I was able to make it to treatment.

My journey of recovery started 6 years ago on September 8, 2018, when I checked into detox. Through this journey, I was able to get my daughter back, keep my newborn son, and live at the Great Falls Rescue Mission. While in their discipleship program, I also found my husband and gained two stepdaughters. I have also been able to go to college and get a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work. Through college, I gained some achievements, things I never thought were possible. It was only possible through surrendering my life to God, living my life rigorously authentic in my recovery, and sharing my story wherever I go. I am so grateful to be blessed by God’s grace with the opportunity to continue to share my story and come along side those that struggle in the same ways and help guide them to their own path of recovery.

Hi, my name is Toni Desjardin. I am 41 years old, I was born and raised in Great Falls, MT. I started using when I was 13 years old. I was an addict before I become an adult. I suffered from childhood trauma and drugs and alcohol were my main coping skills. I have been clean and sober since July,2018. I have 4 beautiful children and an amazing husband. I have changed my life completely. I graduated school to become a Licensed Addiction Counselor in May of 2024. It is my absolute passion to help my fellow addicts find a way to long-term sobriety. I aspire to make a positive impact in my community. With a deep understanding of the complexities of addiction, my empathetic approach and firsthand experience will allow me to connect with clients in meaningful ways, fostering hope and resilience.

My name is Donna. I am the Equine Program Managerhere at Rocky Mountain Treatment Center.

I am a mother, Grammy, and a beautiful work in progress. I have had my bouts with addiction, law enforcement, and starting completely over from scratch. I am grateful that Rocky Mountain Treatment Center gave me the opportunity to start a new life here with them.

I introduced myself to meth to find out why it was chosen over me in my personal life. It took over my life for a year and a half. When I got a possession charge, it saved my life.

I graduated from Intensive Outpatient Therapy from Misfits in Great Falls, MT, and have been clean since April 24, 2020. My counselor saw the light come back in my eyes and encouraged me to apply at RMTC. I have found my niche and true purpose in life; I am educated, ranch-raised, been self-employed, and worked for others.

I love the support and the values that RMTC is founded on and I am looking forward to my future here. I am giving back to those who struggle with addiction and helping guide them on their path to recovery. I am right where I need to be in this crazy beautiful life!

My name is Jorri, I am an addict in recovery. I was born and raised in Great Falls, MT. I grew up in a home that had alcohol and violence. I starting using drugs at a young age and never considered myself to be an addict or that I even had a problem because I was always able to life live while using drugs and alcohol. My addiction truly surfaced when my mom suddenly died on Mother’s Day in 2014. I drove myself into whiskey and became dependent on meth because I couldn’t deal with my grief. I ended up losing everything that I had in my life including my freedom. It wasn’t until I found out I was pregnant with my daughter that I realized I had a problem that I couldn’t fix by myself. That is when I admitted I was powerless over my addiction and that my had become unmanageable and checked myself into treatment. I was able to get the help that I needed to overcome what was holding me back in life. I now have an amazing husband, 2 beautiful children, and a life I never thought I could have.

I am proud to work at Rocky Mountain Treatment Center because I get to help people who are struggling just like I was. I am able to show them that recovery is possible and life is worth living.

I started working at Rocky Mountain Treatment Center in 2015. I am very passionate about changing the world’s view of addiction. I believe addiction is a disease and not a moral defect. Addiction is not a choice – recovery is.

I have been in recovery for almost seven years. Today, I am no longer paralyzed by fear. My desire is to help people find out who they are as individuals. This is a blessing for me – I get to know the real you.

We have great programs to assist in helping people become honest. Our group therapy enlightens them to their addiction by being able to see the disease through the others in the group. I love anything related to mental health and am passionate about studying human behavior.

Mary Gray is a Family Nurse Practitioner in Great Falls, Montana. She graduated with honors in 1988, and has more than 29 years of diverse healthcare experience. Mary is affiliated with many hospitals; including Benefis Hospitals Inc. and Great Falls Clinic Hospital, and cooperates with a variety of doctors and other providers.

Mary provides invaluable medical evaluation and treatment services to the clients at Rocky Mountain.

Hi, my name is Danielle. I was born and raised in Oregon and moved to Montana in 2021. I have a husband and two beautiful children. I have been working in the healthcare industry for 16 years. I love being outside, gardening, hunting, and on/in the water! I have worked at RMTC since July 2022 and it has been my favorite job- I truly feel like I have found my purpose here at Rocky.

I started my journey in recovery in January 2017. I’ve been an addict and alcoholic since I was 16 years old. I had a family with 3 kids, a home, and a great job as an electrician and because of my using lost everything and became distant from my kids. I reached out for help and went to in-patient treatment and at 6 months sober started working at Rocky as a Treatment Assistant in August 2017. About a year and a half later I was promoted to Admissions Coordinator. I am usually the first person someone talks to when reaching out for help, either for themselves or a loved one. I can honestly share with them that there is hope for the suffering addict and alcoholic.

My passion is helping people find recovery through the discovery in treatment. And today my relationship with my kids is indescribable! Through working the 12 Steps I have a life I never could’ve dreamed of.

My name is Leanna, I am a recovering addict. I was born and raised here in Great Falls, MT. I have struggled with addiction for over 10 years. I grew up in a home full of alcoholism and addiction, I told myself I would never choose that path, I believe it chose me. My father killed himself in 2003 and that is when I found my escape through drugs and alcohol. My addiction carried me through some very low phases in my life. At 29 with 2 amazing sons, who were growing up fast, I realized I was raising them the same way I was raised. With this realization, I knew it was time to pick myself up, ask for help and start fighting for my life. With the help of my higher power, inpatient treatment and the 12 steps I was able to reclaim my life. Today I am very proud to say I have almost 3 years clean and sober.

There is no way I could have done this alone. That is one of the many reasons I love Rocky Mountain Treatment Center. I want to be there for the ones still struggling, to help instill hope into their hearts and let them know they are not alone.

Hi, my name is Robert TakesEnemy Jr. I was born and raised on the Crow Reservation. I started drinking alcohol at the age of 13 and grew up in an alcoholic home. I grew up in isolation and used sports and athletics to develop a persona but there was a lot of hidden grief underneath that. I used alcohol to socialize and feel comfortable with myself. That carried into my adult life and got me into a toxic relationship. I went through a divorce and lost my little brother and never knew how to grieve those things or ask for help. I never knew how to take responsibility for my own life, it was always someone else’s fault. I got to go through treatment in prison and realized there was people who love me, my family, my kids, many people. But they couldn’t make the decision for me. I had to make that decision and learn to love myself too. My sobriety date is December 19th, 2021.

I am a Montana native. I went to high school in Havre, MT, then college in Great Falls getting my Associates in Education and Arts. I graduated from the beauty school here and went from doing hair to working at Rocky with my Aunt in Medical Records in December 2019. In my free time I like to garden, hike and play with my kids and 2 grandkids.

My name is Alta and I am the Administrative Assistant here at Rocky Mountain Treatment Center. I am also an alcoholic who lived in addiction for many years before realizing sobriety was a much better way of life. I am also an adult child of an alcoholic so I truly believe I was born “into” alcoholism as well as born “with” it. I have been surrounded by alcoholism and addiction my entire life so it is of no surprise that I followed that same path.

I recently celebrated 4 years of sobriety and can honestly say I never dreamed I would be working in a treatment center due to my history. I have reached a point in my sobriety where I want to give back to the sober community because of all the help that has been so freely given to me. Coming to work here and watching the progress of our clients on a daily basis is truly a blessing.

I am a Rocky Mountain Treatment Center graduate from September 2015. I started working here in 2017. The clients refer to me as “Todd Todd the Food God”. I love working here because it’s a way for me to give back the gift of recovery that was so freely given me. Recovery is the greatest gift God has ever given me.

I was born and raised in Asia. My parents were missionaries, so I was blessed to travel and experience many different places. I went to school in a jungle in Malaysia.

I started working at Rocky Mountain Treatment Center, two years ago. I like the satisfaction of cleaning. I look forward to coming to work. The staff appreciates what I do. I feel my job matters.

In my spare time, I love to silk paint, dabble in the arts, and hike.