Joanna Johnson, MSW, CAC, CCFC
Joanna Johnson is the owner of Avalon Treatment Centers in Tallahassee, Florida. Ms. Johnson has been highly accredited in the field of addiction for thirty (30) years and a recovering addict for at least forty (40) years. Ms. Johnson has been the director of treatment centers, prison modality, tribal child welfare, tribal mental health, and is currently an expert in many judicial circuits.
In 2011, Joanna Johnson was awarded as Professional of the Year from The Florida School of Addiction Studies (FSAS) and Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association (FADAA).These are two (2) separate and distinguished awards presented to Ms. Johnson by each of these organizations in recognition of and appreciation for sustained commitment and dedication to the profession of addiction services.
Ms. Johnson was published for the first time in Canada during 1986 by the University of Calgary Press. Ms. Johnson was published a second (2nd) time by Author House for her outstanding manual, Stepping on the Stones, A New Experience in Recovery. This is a workbook based on a traditional recovery program. Stepping on the Stones is meant to be a self-help manual on your road to recovery.
Joanna Johnson is dedicated to the recovery of each individual client. Before merging with Avalon, Ms. Johnson owned the Recovery Center in Wakulla County, Florida for many years. Ms. Johnson still runs this program under the name of Avalon Treatment Centers. This practice now services Wakulla, Leon, Franklin, and Gadsden Counties.
Joanna Johnson’s work with the community of Wakulla County is unprecedented. Ms. Johnson has had a huge effect on those in need. Ms. Johnson has often helped others even when they could not afford the services and she could barely afford to keep her own electricity on. Ms. Johnson is an expert in substance abuse services, batterer intervention programs, and anger management.
Ms. Johnson’s Batterer Intervention Program serviced Wakulla County for ten (10) years. Ms. Johnson was the first (1st) person to bring this program to Wakulla County. This is an important program because alcohol/drugs and domestic violence can often go hand in hand. This program now has groups in both Wakulla and Leon Counties with clients also attending from surrounding counties.
Ms. Johnson has only served Leon County for four (4) years. However, Ms. Johnson is already making a substantial difference in the lives of many clients. Ms. Johnson completes evaluations for each client in need with as much depth and detail to cover all possible issues and develop the most helpful and individualized treatment plans. Clients often leave treatment with a new outlook and tools that they can refer back to when in need.
Ms. Johnson’s clients often leave her programs less likely to reoffend or relapse. Because of this, Ms. Johnson’s programs have a very low recidivism rate. We are not saying that clients never return to previous behaviors but even when they do, Ms. Johnson does everything in her power to help them through their arising issues.
Ms. Johnson never lets her own ego get between clients and their need for treatment. If Ms. Johnson ever feels that a client is having trouble in outpatient treatment she immediately brings this to their attention and helps them with their options such as referrals to residential treatment programs. When a client completes Ms. Johnson’s program they are welcome to return to the program free of charge anytime they are in need of support.
Ms. Johnson is a valuable asset to the communities she services. Avalon Treatment Center’s main office is located at 1349 East Lafayette Street Tallahassee, Florida 32301 and can be reached during normal business hours at (850) 999-2623. Ms. Johnson is also available in many other counties and states per request of clients, attorneys, or other legal entities. Ms. Johnson is contracted with Big Bend Community Based Care, the Justice Administration Committee, and other federal and local programs in need of substance abuse, battery, anger management services and other services.