Nichols Center

Susie Nichols

My name is Susie Nichols aka Mom, Nana, Great Nana, Plant Nana, crazy
plant lady, Rebecca or Becky Sue (when I was little). Anyway I raised
4 children, and have 8 GrandOnes, and 2 Great Grandsons. I lost my
youngest son to an accidental drug overdose in May 2003. He was 25.
That is the single most devastating thing I have lived through. Now I
just want to help folks that are struggling with addiction, mental
health issues, and suicide intervention. Too  many lives are being
affected and ruined by these things. Working and helping at our Center
gives my life new purpose and makes losing Kirk mean something. There
is always a new adventure waiting around the corner with new friends
to meet and be an asset to. 

Christian Burrell

My name is Christian.  Those that know me best call me Chrissy. I am a married, mother of 6 in a huge, beautiful blended family.  I was born in Douglasville and raised in Carroll County, where we planted our roots in 2020.  We have a small homestead that consists of chickens and goats.  We are hoping to expand our homestead and add a donkey, pony, and a dairy cow.  We are members of Harmony Grove Baptist Church in Dallas, GA and would love to have yall visit with us!

My husband is a union electrician and I am a jack of all trades.  I am a certified Phlebotomist, Certified Nursing Assistant, Certified Peer Specialist (Specializing in Mental Health Recovery) I am WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Planning) Certified, as well as trained in Crisis Planning.  I have a Degree in Business Administration, and LOVE my position at Nichols Center!

Rodney Williams

Rodney Williams and his wife Jacquelyn have been living and working in Douglas County. Mr. Williams shared how his story of childhood trauma shaped his life towards incarceration and compound PTSD. When Mr. Williams stopped by the Nichols Center to lend a hand, he found a safe place to begin unpacking the trauma. “I was able to assimilate but not heal. What Tara did was give me the ability to heal and take it a step further and reach back and help others.” Rodney Williams

Kim Johns

My name is Kimberley and I am in recovery from an eating disorder. 

Thank you for allowing me to briefly share part of my journey in recovery.

When I was 12 years old, I got the idea to binge and purge a bag of powered donuts from an after school special I watched. I quickly realized that binging and purging was my solution to many of my current problems as I saw them. 

This became a 30 year battle with disordered eating which resulted in drug addiction, the loss of custody of my daughters and the loss of my career as an investigative social worker for child protective services. 

I used food and drugs to soothe my experience of my physical and emotional environment. I did not process emotions…I starved them. I did grieve….I numbed. 

I was terrified and ashamed when I met Tara and started down my road to recovery. Today, I am passionate about helping women and teenagers who struggle like I did. This feeds my soul and sets me free to live moment to moment, at peace with the world around me. Whatever is happening outside of myself, I now have and spiritual program of action including daily self care practices which grant me a reprieve. Just for today.