Markisha Dixon has spent nearly two decades serving others. After completing her bachelor’s internship at Lakeview Center’s Road to Recovery program, she felt drawn to the mental health field.
“I always knew Lakeview was where I was meant to be,” she said. “This is the place that made me want to go into mental health in the first place.”
Before rejoining Lakeview Center, she worked 18 years in disability services, advancing from direct support professional to program director and eventually area director overseeing six locations.
Markisha returned to Lakeview as a counselor in the Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU) and later transitioned to the Addiction Receiving Facility (ARF), where she has served since February.
She focuses on stabilizing individuals experiencing acute withdrawal during detox and guides them toward their next steps in treatment. Her responsibilities include case management, discharge planning, and connecting clients with appropriate resources.
Although detox can be emotionally challenging, Dixon sees meaning in supporting people through difficult moments.
“Some clients come in at their absolute lowest,” she said. “But I try to remind them that this is just one moment in time. It doesn’t define who they are or who they can become.”
Her work has deepened her understanding of the Baker and Marchman acts and the complex family dynamics surrounding substance use. She often interacts with courts and loved ones to gather collateral information.
“Seeing things from the family’s point of view changed me,” she said. “It taught me that recovery affects everyone — not just the person in treatment.”
Markisha offers simple but important advice to newcomers in the field: “Don’t take the job home. People are often at their lowest when we see them. What works for one person might not work for another. You have to get to know your patients — really know them.”
Looking ahead, Markisha hopes to continue growing within the organization and serving the community. “Lakeview has given me so much,” she said. “My goal is to keep learning, keep helping and keep showing up for the people who need us most.”
To work with compassionate team members like Markisha, visit our Careers site.