Susans Legacy

About Susans Legacy

Susan’s Legacy is a nonprofit in Albuquerque, New Mexico, that offers counseling, case management, and recovery support exclusively for women living with both a mental health condition and a substance use disorder. They were founded in 1999 in memory of Susan Rose, a young woman who struggled with a lifelong mood disorder and addiction and died at 28, and their work aims to fill the kinds of service gaps she faced. Their care is gender-specific and trauma-informed, and it addresses mental health and addiction together rather than one at a time. All services are free to clients, and there is currently no waiting list.

Intensive case management is a core part of the program, helping women set personal goals and connect with medical care, education, income sources, and partner agencies that can offer housing, along with support for reuniting with their children. Individual mental health counseling uses a strengths- and solutions-focused approach to help women manage conditions like anxiety and depression in ways that protect their sobriety. Substance use counseling is provided by a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor (LADAC) who draws on a range of techniques. Group sessions include peer sharing and psycho-educational topics such as life skills and understanding addiction, which help women build self-esteem, interpersonal skills, and lasting connections with others in recovery.