NERC Employee Spotlight: Paula Supernor

The New England Recovery Center (NERC) is powered by people who lead with heart, authenticity, and a deep understanding of what recovery truly means. Among them is Paula Supernor, Operations Manager for the NERC Detox and Clinical Stabilization Services (CSS) programs. Drawing on her own journey of addiction recovery, Paula brings a rare combination of strength, compassion, and lived experience to her role, helping clients believe that transformation is possible because she’s lived it herself.

A Personal Journey to Purpose

Paula’s path to the field of addiction recovery is deeply personal. Nine years in recovery herself, she found purpose in helping others rebuild their lives the same way she rebuilt her own.

“I wanted to continue to try to help people just like me,” said Supernor. “To help them get on the right path.”

Before joining NERC, Paula worked at another treatment program, where she met her current colleague and mentor Marybeth Adams. When Adams later joined NERC, Paula was determined to follow. “I didn’t like the other program’s direction,” she said. “I liked the way NERC ran things. It wasn’t about just keeping beds full, it was about actually helping people succeed.”

That focus on integrity, accountability, and genuine client care resonated deeply. For Paula, joining NERC also carried special meaning: she had once been a client herself, completing treatment through Spectrum’s detox and CSS programs before rebuilding her life step by step.

From Client to Leader

Today, Paula oversees daily operations across the NERC Detox and CSS programs. Her role requires balancing logistical leadership with hands-on client engagement, which she considers essential to keeping NERC’s mission grounded and personal.

“I like being part of the day-to-day life,” said Paula. “I work hand in hand with clients when they’re struggling, when corrections are needed, or when they just need someone to listen. I can share my experiences with them so they can see that recovery is possible.”

Her perspective as someone who’s walked the path gives her a unique ability to connect with clients in moments of crisis. She understands the doubts, the fears, and the resistance that can surface in early recovery and knows how powerful it can be to have someone believe in you before you believe in yourself.

Seeing Change in Real Time

For Paula, the most rewarding part of her work is witnessing the transformation that unfolds from detox to stabilization.

“When someone comes into detox and they’re struggling, ready to leave, and then you see them weeks later and they’re calmer, focused, and starting to see hope in themselves… that’s the best part of what I do,” said Supernor.

This continuity of care, following clients from their first steps in detox through the early stages of sustained recovery, makes NERC special in Paula’s eyes. She said, “I see the change happen in real time. It’s incredible.”

A Culture of Compassion and Accountability

Paula credits NERC’s success to its people and its philosophy. The staff’s compassion is matched only by their commitment to structure and growth.

“When people come into treatment, they’re mentally in a really vulnerable place,” said Paula. “What I love about our program is that we treat every person individually, with compassion and attention to detail. We make people feel safe.”

She contrasts this with her own past experiences in treatment, where staff sometimes lacked empathy or explanation. “Some places I went, nobody really cared enough to sit with me and explain what treatment was. Here, we do. We take the time to make people feel seen and understood.”

Advice for Those Beginning the Addiction Recovery Journey

Paula knows that taking the first step toward treatment can be the hardest. Her advice is simple: “If you think you might have a problem, it doesn’t hurt to pick up the phone and call. If you go to treatment and it’s not for you, at least you tried.”

She also offers guidance for families supporting a loved one in recovery: “Don’t enable. Let them go through their experience, even when it’s hard to watch. If they don’t go through it, they won’t grow. That’s how they become the best version of themselves.”

Leading With Heart

From client to operations manager, Paula Supernor’s journey embodies the spirit of recovery — resilient, humble, and rooted in hope. Every day, she uses her experience to help others find their own footing, offering structure and compassion in equal measure.

Recovery is transformative. And at NERC, Paula helps make that transformation happen every single day.

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.