BAY MILLS - Julie McKelvie recently filled the vacant Substance Abuse Counselor position at the Bay Mills Wellness Center. McKelvie assumed her role on Monday, Jan. 16. Before joining the Behavioral Health team at the Wellness Center, McKelvie worked as a primary counselor at the men's New Hope House in Sault, Mich.
As a substance abuse counselor, McKelvie will focus the majority of her time on individual counseling with patients, visiting them in their homes or whatever setting they feel most comfortable in. She said she also plans conducting group sessions within the next six months. Before conducting those sessions, which could include anger management, substance abuse awareness and prevention, and drug and alcohol education, McKelvie said it is important to first assess the needs of the community.
McKelvie, a Sacramento, Calif., native and mother of eight, first moved to the area 10 years ago after coming to visit her husband's sick father in the Sault. Upon her arrival, McKelvie said she immediately fell in love with the area. Believing the area would be a much better environment to raise her children, and that her children would have more opportunities for them here than they would in a big city, McKelvie and her husband Pat, who is a member of Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians, decided to make the move to the Upper Peninsula.
With a wonderful staff and community surrounding her, McKelvie said she feels right at home in her new job. While she cannot make a guarantee as to how effective she could be in her new post, McKelvie said she could only hope to be of some service to the community.
"I have a very deep belief that people want, and eventually need, to be the best that they can be," she said. "And I would really love to be a part of that process. It's why I do what I do."
