When I left my job to start ROOTs Transition in February of 2020, I had no idea that finding a name would come with so much pressure. It felt as difficult and overwhelming as picking the names of my children. I knew that whatever I named it, someone would judge or criticize, find an awful nickname — or possibly even like it! There were a number of names on the table, but many didn’t feel meaningful or like they truly described what we were doing.
ROOTs (Reclaiming Our Original Truths) was always my favorite. When I would overthink it or care too much about others’ perspectives, I would search for another name that landed with as much meaning. Fortunately, nothing stuck like this acronym. Creating a space where clients could take a pause from their lives, reclaim themselves, and return to their families was exactly our mission.
Transition came with a similar process — exploring all the options, but nothing ever felt fully accurate. RTC, Academy, Treatment all felt too simplified. While accurate, none of them embraced the complexity of what we are offering. Transition represents movement, a passage from one place to another. While a simple definition, it allows for individuality without judgment and gives each client space to define what movement means for them. That level of agency is essential to our clients’ growth and their accountability for their own healing.
ROOTs Transition — a name with intention and meaning.
