As Pride Month is celebrated this June, Royal Palms continues to provide a welcoming and supportive space where individuals can focus on recovery, healing, and rebuilding their lives. Walking into treatment can be one of the hardest moments in someone’s life. Many people arrive carrying fear, uncertainty, shame, or exhaustion from trying to hold everything together for so long.
At Royal Palms, staff understand those feelings deeply because many have lived through similar experiences. That shared understanding is part of what makes the program feel different.
As part of Social Model Recovery Systems, Royal Palms provides residential treatment and support in Los Angeles for individuals working toward recovery from substance use disorders. It also offers a safe, affirming space for members of the LGBTQ+ community, focusing on compassion, dignity, connection, and healing.
Program Director Vanessa Ramos shared that this work has always been personal for her. Vanessa has been with SMRS since 2017 and joined Royal Palms in 2022. She shared that she chose the behavioral health field because she wanted to help people who are struggling the same way she once did.
“I, too, have gone through treatment and recovery and know how hard it is to make that decision to finally surrender and try something different,” Vanessa shared.
Today, she brings not only leadership to the program but also lived experience, empathy, and hope. Vanessa has been clean since January 12, 2007, and continues to encourage residents to keep moving forward, even during difficult moments.
Her advice is something she reminds both residents and staff often:
“Trust the process and don’t make permanent decisions on temporary feelings.”
The message of hope and connection from Vanessa is felt throughout the program.
Program Manager Aliza Rivera joined SMRS in July 2018 and has been part of Royal Palms since 2021. She shared that her mother, who directed a methadone clinic, inspired her to enter the field and help others who struggle with addiction.
“Unfortunately, she passed away before I finished school, and I had to find the motivation within myself to continue,” Aliza shared.
What began as a personal journey eventually became a passion. During her 2018 internship at Mariposa, she realized how meaningful it felt to support others in recovery and help them believe in themselves again.
Aliza has been clean since March 3, 2015, and understands how important support systems can be during recovery.
“Stay connected because you can’t do this alone. Call your sponsor,” she said.
That sense of community and connection is something many residents experience at Royal Palms. Recovery is about learning to trust again, to ask for help, and to feel less alone, and not just about attending group meetings.
Program Manager Kevin Butler knows that feeling well. Kevin first joined SMRS as an intern in the Screening and Assessment Department in June 2018, before transferring to Royal Palms shortly after. By November, after graduating, he officially joined the team as a counselor.
“From the first day I walked into the lobby, I knew this was where I was meant to be,” Kevin shared.
He described the work as both challenging and rewarding but says the purpose behind it keeps him going. Every day, he tries to stay grounded and focused on helping others without letting obstacles distract him from the bigger mission of recovery and service.
The Royal Palms staff does more than just show up for work. They take time to listen and remind residents that they are not alone. They celebrate little bits of progress every day. Every healing begins in small moments, a simple talk, encouragement, or just hearing someone say, “I understand because I’ve been there too.”
The stories and experiences shared by the Royal Palms team capture the heart behind the program. Many of them know firsthand that recovery is not easy, but they also know that healing is possible when people are met with compassion, support, and community.
Every day, Royal Palms continues to remind residents that their past does not define them, and that recovery can be the beginning of a new chapter filled with hope, purpose, and connection.
