For nearly a decade, Kristina Johnson has been part of the Interim community, supporting individuals navigating mental health and substance use recovery. Today, she serves as a behavioral health clinician, working closely with residents and staff across several programs to help people access care, build stability, and move forward at their own pace.
Kristina’s path to Interim began early in her career when she relocated to the area and was exploring new opportunities within the nonprofit sector. While she had previous experience working in nonprofits, behavioral health services were new to her.
What immediately stood out during the interview process was Interim’s community-centered approach. “I remember there was actually a client in my interview,” she says. “That really stood out to me. It showed that the people we serve are part of the process here.” That sense of inclusion and collaboration helped confirm that Interim was a place where she could grow while making a meaningful difference.
A Career Path Shaped by Service
Kristina began her work at Interim as a counselor in the Dual Recovery Services (DRS) program, now known as the Keep It Real program. Over time, her career evolved through several roles within the organization.
After working as a counselor, she stepped into a program manager position, eventually serving as Assistant Program Director at Manzanita Salinas during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. That experience offered a valuable leadership perspective during an especially uncertain time. But as she reflected on her long-term path, Kristina realized she wanted to return to the work that had originally drawn her to the field: direct support for clients. “I realized I really wanted to be involved in direct services,” she explains.
She returned to school to pursue a degree in clinical counseling while continuing her work at Interim in the Quality Assurance department, where she spent two years helping train staff and learning the intricacies of program operations and compliance.
Today, she has returned to direct services as a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) and behavioral health clinician.
A Day Centered on Relationships
Kristina’s workday often begins like many others—reviewing notes, checking in with colleagues, and preparing for scheduled therapy sessions.
But the rhythm of her work can change quickly. She collaborates closely with case managers, program directors, and psychiatrists across programs such as Shelter Cove and Sandy Shores, ensuring clients receive coordinated support and referrals when needed.
At times, her day may involve responding to someone in crisis or advocating services for clients with outside agencies such as hospitals or county providers. Flexibility is essential. “You never really know what the day will bring,” she says. “Someone might need immediate support, and you have to shift your focus.”
Yet amid the unpredictability, the most meaningful part of the work often comes from the relationships built over time. Because Interim programs support individuals across multiple stages of recovery, Kristina sometimes reconnects with people she first met years earlier. “I might be walking through a program, and someone says, ‘Is your name Kristina?’” she says. “They’ll tell me they remember something from a group or conversation we had years ago.” Those moments, she says, are reminders that progress in recovery is often gradual, and that consistency matters.
Strengthening Community Through Care
For Kristina, the work is deeply connected to the community she calls home. “I live here. I shop here. We’re all part of the same community,” she says.
Supporting individuals experiencing mental health and substance use challenges not only helps those directly involved; it strengthens the broader community as well. When people receive consistent support, stability and trust begin to grow.
One of the aspects Kristina values most about Interim is its person-centered approach to care. “There isn’t a timeline for recovery,” she explains. “We walk alongside people for as long as it takes.” As she approaches ten years with Interim, Kristina remains hopeful about the future of behavioral health services and the continued growth of community-based care.“You don’t always see the impact right away,” she says. “But when someone remembers you years later, you realize those small moments mattered.”