In a quiet exam room at the Concord Hospital Recovery Clinic in Franklin, a recovery coach sits with a patient who is nervous, unsure, and overwhelmed by what lies ahead. There is no rush. No judgment. Just a shared understanding — one that comes not only from training, but from lived experience.

For Tarah Morel-Taylor and Nicole Schneider, this moment is deeply personal. Both women are Recovery Clinic “graduates” who once walked through the clinic doors seeking help, and who now return each day to help others begin or continue their own recovery journeys.

Concord Hospital’s Recovery Clinics in Franklin and Gilford provide evidence-based treatment for substance use disorders through an integrated model that includes medical care, behavioral health services, and peer recovery support. Recovery coaches are a vital part of that team, as mentors who bring both professional training and firsthand experience to their work.

“Recovery isn’t a one-time event,” said Morel-Taylor. “It’s a journey, and having people who walk alongside you makes all the difference.”

Before recovery, Morel-Taylor describes her life as “complete chaos.” She was trying to manage being a wife and a stay-at-home mother of four while battling addiction. Her marriage fell apart, she lost her home, and her parents took custody of her children. Eventually, she became homeless and gravely ill.

“I overdosed twice,” Morel-Taylor said. “The last one was really severe. I shouldn’t even be here right now.”

That moment became her turning point. After moving back in with her parents and children, Morel-Taylor came to the Recovery Clinic, where she felt hope almost immediately.

“At my very first visit, they told me they believed in me,” she said. “They treated me like an equal, not less than. They gave me confidence and the tools to succeed.”

Morel-Taylor credits the clinic’s stigma-free approach and individualized support for helping her rebuild stability, confidence, and purpose. Today, she has celebrated 10 years of sobriety and works as a Certified Recovery Support Worker and smoking cessation counselor.

“Being a Recovery Clinic graduate means everything to me,” she said. “It showed me I could get through anything—and now I want others to know they can too.”

Schneider’s path to recovery began in 2017 after a series of arrests and the realization that she was pregnant.

“That’s when I threw my hands up and said I needed help,” Schneider said.

After entering rehab, she was introduced to the Recovery Clinic as a patient, continuing her treatment through incarceration and pregnancy. She vividly remembers coming to appointments while pregnant and in shackles.

“And now I work here,” she said. “That’s an amazing testament to change.”

Schneider has been sober since May 2, 2017, and now serves as a patient care coordinator and Certified Recovery Support Worker at the Recovery Clinic. Her role includes helping patients feel comfortable, connecting them to resources, and offering support rooted in shared experience.

“When you’ve been there, you understand things other people might never think about,” she said. “Even small things like the freedom to open doors after being incarcerated or relearning how to do everyday tasks that couldn’t be done in jail.”

Both Morel-Taylor and Schneider say the transition from patient to coach felt like a natural next step.

“If I can get to the good place I’m in now, so can anyone,” Morel-Taylor said. “I needed to give people the hope that was given to me, judgment-free and stigma-free.”

Schneider echoes that sentiment, noting that peer support creates trust in ways clinical care alone cannot.

“You can see it in people’s eyes,” she said. “They calm down when they realize you understand. That connection with patients matters.”

Patients often tell both coaches that having someone who has “been there” is what sets the Recovery Clinic apart.

“They trust the process because they see it works,” Morel-Taylor said. “We’ve lived it.”

Recovery coaches strengthen not only individual outcomes, but the broader community. Recovery supports families, workplaces, and neighborhoods, and helps reduce stigma around substance use disorders.

“This work reminds me every day how far I’ve come,” Morel-Taylor said. “Helping others makes my recovery stronger.”

For Schneider, the work is about showing what’s possible through small, steady steps.

“Life is made up of all these little steps,” she said. “One day you look back and realize — they got you here.”

Both coaches say what keeps them coming back is simple: purpose.

“I’m excited to come to work every day,” Morel-Taylor said. “This journey isn’t meant to be walked alone.”

Schneider agrees. “As long as someone wants help, we’re not giving up,” she said. “There are so many resources. All people have to do is ask.”

Their message to anyone struggling is clear and unwavering: recovery is possible, help is available, and no one has to do it alone.

About Concord Hospital Recovery Clinic & Community Support Resources

Concord Hospital’s Recovery Clinics in Franklin and Gilford provide comprehensive, evidence-based care for individuals living with substance use disorders. Services are designed to meet patients where they are and support long-term recovery through a coordinated, whole-person approach.

In addition to peer recovery coaching, Recovery Clinic services include:

  • Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid and alcohol use disorders;
  • Integrated primary and behavioral health care;
  • Mental health screening and referrals;
  • Care coordination and case management;
  • Smoking cessation support;
  • Connections to housing, transportation, insurance, and social services.

Concord Hospital also partners with community and statewide organizations to expand access to care, including The Doorway, New Hampshire’s hub for substance use treatment and recovery services. The Doorway provides 24/7 assistance connecting individuals and families to treatment, recovery supports, and community-based resources.

Help is available, and no one has to navigate recovery alone. To learn more about Concord Hospital’s Recovery Clinic services or to find support, visit concordhospital.org or contact The Doorway serving your community.