Vicky Wideman

Senior Substance & Alcohol
Abuse Counselor

Vicky Wideman figures she sees 20-25 consumers every day, each struggling with addiction. With each person she counsels, Vicky focuses on the strengths that person possesses, to help him or her work toward recovery.

"It's my job to empower my consumers toward recovery and to achieve their goals," says Vicky. "I do that by encouraging their strengths and building on their weaknesses. I teach communication skills and I help bring families together."

Vicky said she really loves the fact that Horizon is client-centered and is always looking for innovative ways to help its consumers. "It's not about prestige or money at Horizon, it's about helping people, and I find that very gratifying," says Vicky.

Teaching consumers to communicate and realize the value of relationships helps bring families together and greatly assists in recovery. Vicky says she finds it very rewarding to see consumers take a look inside themselves to make the necessary changes to turn their lives around and to know that she helped them along the way.

Vicky, who has worked at Horizon for four years, received her Associate's degree from ECC in mental health and substance abuse counseling and her Bachelor's degree in social work from Buffalo State College. Previously, she was an addictions counselor at Living Opportunities – DePaul and at Sheehan Memorial Hospital. She lives in Buffalo with her 16-year-old son.