Doug Wilson

Why did I come to Ava Health?

I came to Ava Health because I heard this was going to be different than anything I’ve been a part of before. This is supposed to be here for the clients and not the bottom line or the rules and regulations that have been established over the decades of minimal success. So far I am very happy with what I have seen, heard, and witnessed.

About me:

I started my college career at Aims Community College, where I obtained my associate’s degree in Paraprofessional Counseling. I then transferred to the University of Northern Colorado and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology/ Family Studies major and minor in Psychology. My first job in Human Services was in 1993 at a mental health group home, and I’ve been doing this ever since. I have worked with mentally and physically disabled adults and children, incarcerated youth while with the Division of Youth Corrections, and at a mental hospital called West Springs Health. I am one of those weird people who absolutely love to serve those no one else wants to serve. I just cannot help it. I pretty much love everyone.

Why I Do What I Do:

I love doing treatment groups and seeing the light bulb turn on in someone’s eyes when they finally get what I’m teaching. I love showing people what kindness, hope, empathy, and grace look like so they can learn how to show themselves how to use these towards themselves. Selfishly, I love it when former patients/ clients come up to me in public and tell me how well they are doing and ask for a hug.

What I Bring Professionally:

While working at West Springs Hospital as a Clinician I and a Team Lead, I was known as everyone’s work dad. I helped support my co-workers through work-related and non-work-related problems, I helped them deal with and manage issues they had with management and other coworkers, and I gave lots and lots of hugs when they needed them. I made sure everyone around me felt supported while working in one of the most challenging professions you can ask anyone to do. Psychiatric Hospitals are rewarding and extremely challenging to say the least. I bring over 30 years of experience, a heart that cannot stop wanting to help others, and respect of those I work with and those I serve that has made my professional life something I wouldn’t trade for the world.

How I show Up at Ava:

Management, my co-workers, and I all have the same philosophy about how to serve and treat each other and those we serve. From the moment I stepped through the door, working here has felt like a natural progression to my professional journey. Hopefully this is my final destination in this journey.

The Emotional Core:

I know the depths of emotional and psychiatric pain all too well. Unfortunately, drugs and alcohol helped me along the way. I’ve known what it is to get to the point of wanting to end it all and I’ve had the same plan since I was in my middle teens. I have even gotten to the place where I have started the process but stopped for reasons I can’t explain to this day. The reason I’m sharing all of this is because all of my personal experiences and professional experiences have made me very good at what I do. Would I change some of those experiences…heck yes because they really sucked! At the same time those times helped me grow and learn things I would have never learned if I had not gone through them.

What Grounds Me:

My faith, my wife, who has had to put up with way too much, my two sons, and every pet I’ve ever had have kept me grounded. I also grew up with great parents and a great sister. My family-in-laws have also helped for the last 22 years as well. I can’t forget to mention my friends. If it weren’t for them, I’m not sure this would’ve been written.