Client Recovery Story: Malika Parham Hill

For Malika, the road to recovery started with overcoming addiction and evolved into reclaiming her identity, rediscovering her worth, and transforming pain into purpose. A mother, grandmother, survivor of exploitation, and now a fierce advocate for others, Malika’s journey is one of resilience, healing, and deep-rooted commitment to community care.

Breaking the Cycle

Malika’s battle with addiction began with alcohol and crack cocaine, but her struggles were rooted far deeper in trauma, abuse, and survival. She endured domestic violence and exploitation, experiences that left her disconnected from herself and others.

“You can’t fix what you don’t acknowledge,” she says. “So many people keep pushing forward without realizing they’re still operating from pain they haven’t healed.”

It wasn’t until Malika hit a point of emotional and spiritual exhaustion that she decided to seek recovery. She knew she needed to become the mother and grandmother her family deserved. More than that, she wanted to be whole for herself.

Motherhood as Motivation

Motherhood played a pivotal role in her decision to heal.

“I had to get my life in order to be a good parent,” Malika says. “Now, as a grandmother, I always say, ‘I wish they came before y’all,’” she says, reflecting on her deep love for her grandkids. “They have every part of me now.”

But recovery also meant learning to parent without guilt. “I used to give my kids everything, because I wanted to make up for what I did in the past,” she explains. “But now I’m learning to let them stand on their own.”

A Defining Moment

One of the most vivid turning points in Malika’s journey came in an unexpected place, at the polls. During early recovery, she was taken to vote for the first time. When asked to list her “street name,” she misunderstood the form and wrote down her former moniker from a time in her life when survival looked very different.

“The guy looked at me and said, ‘Where is Seduction Street?’” she recalls. “It was funny, but it was also a lesson. I didn’t know something as simple as that, but I learned. And from that day on, I knew I was growing.”

From Client to Coach

Today, Malika has nearly 17 years of sustained recovery and is a certified recovery coach. Her nonprofit, Trauma Healing Empowerment Inc., is a community-based organization that supports women impacted by trauma, substance misuse, and exploitation. Each Monday, she leads a trauma-informed healing group filled with women she’s mentored and supported along their journeys.

“I especially want to serve women,” says Malika. “I know what we go through. I’ve lived it.”

Her work now supports women who were once in the same position she was. And when time is short, she leans on those she’s mentored to keep the chain of support going. “We all raise each other up.”

Shattering the Stigma

For Malika, one of the most damaging barriers to recovery for mothers is stigma.

“Our past still judges us,” she explains. “We’re called names, seen as unworthy, as if we can’t hold a job or be good mothers. But that’s a lie. That’s not who we are.”

She wants people to understand that recovery doesn’t erase the past but reclaims the future.

“Our power is in healing. If we change how we think, replace that negative self-talk with love and self-worth, then we have a shot at anything.”

A Message to Mothers in Recovery

“If there is no you, there is nothing,” Malika says. “We have to love ourselves first. That’s not selfish, it’s necessary.”

Her advice to mothers and grandmothers trying to navigate recovery? Take it one day at a time. “Don’t worry about Monday on a Friday. Just stay in the moment.”

She reminds women to believe they’re worthy, even when the world has told them otherwise. “You’re not your past. You matter. You’re enough.”

If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction or co-occurring disorders, call the New England Recovery Center today at 1-877-MyRehab.