Congratulations to 2025 David Lewis Award Recipient: Susan Naify
On Wednesday, September 3rd, 2025, Susan Naify from Sitike Counseling Center, was awarded the 2025 David Lewis Award. The awarding took place at the College of San Mateo and honors individuals who have made a significant contribution to substance abuse recovery through successful programs, community education, stigma reduction or client advocacy.
David Lewis was a long-term employee of San Mateo County Health. He was the co-founder and president of the Board of Directors of “Free at Last,” a substance abuse treatment and prevention agency in East Palo Alto that seeks to break the cycle of addiction, rebuild families, foster education and economic self sufficiency, and contribute to the health and safety of the community.
About the award recipient:
Susan’s professional, empathetic, and deeply human approach to client care makes her stand out at Sitike Counseling Center. She teaches her colleagues that in this field of service, the language of the heart is the most powerful tool when helping clients navigate recovery. Susan helps clients through the stages of change and creates a safe space for them to explore the underlying issues that may be driving their substance use disorder. In an age of intense physical and electronic record keeping, Susan remains client focused, meeting each person right where they are on their journey and extending a loving, compassionate hand of guidance.
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