NorthShore Health Center’s commitment to providing quality, affordable healthcare to everyone is not limited to medical needs. The federally qualified health center understands that a healthy lifestyle extends beyond its patients’ physical needs, so it also has a team of expert mental health care providers, including addiction specialists.
One of the newest members to join that team is Andrew Troxel, LSW, MSW, a licensed social worker with years of experience in providing mental health and substance abuse care.
“I really enjoy meeting new people and establishing a rapport, earning the trust of somebody who may not trust a lot of people to talk about some of the issues they’re dealing with,” he said. “I enjoy working with people and helping them address their problems rather than diverting away from them.”
Troxel is a veteran – he spent four years serving in the Army and had initially planned on a career in law enforcement. His experiences overseas shifted his perspective.
“After Afghanistan, I knew I still wanted to help people,” he said. “I just didn’t want to do it in a way where I’d be using a firearm anymore.”
He went to school at Indiana University Northwest after finishing his military service, looking to stabilize his plans for the future. A chance encounter in one of his classes put him on the path that led him to NorthShore.
“I went back to school, originally for criminal justice, and was sitting in a careers class when I heard a counselor talk about social work and helping people,” he said. “I entered the social work program after that and really gravitated to the mental health and addiction aspect of things.”
Mental health is a very personal topic, and establishing a strong, trust-based relationship with patients is absolutely essential to getting the best results. One thing that helps Troxel in that aspect is that he is able to speak with patients about his own personal experiences battling addiction and other mental health challenges.
“A big part of my approach is finding common ground,” he said. “I’m sober myself, after numerous instances over the course of my life where I’ve dealt with my own mental health issues. I share a little bit about myself so they can feel comfortable talking about themselves. They find it very helpful that they are working with somebody that has also had an alcohol use issue themselves rather than someone who didn’t; it helps patients relate better.”
Before he found NorthShore, Troxel had seen organizations that did not put a premium on creating a positive patient experience or building a healthy environment for staff. He noted how refreshing he finds it to be with a healthcare provider such as NorthShore that is truly mission-driven and puts people ahead of profits.
“There are places out there where they don’t really care about the patient or their staff, just the financial bottom line,” he said. “It’s nice to be somewhere where the approach isn’t driven by money.”
To learn more about NorthShore Health Centers, visit northshorehealth.org.
