Crossroads Recovery Centre Johannesburg
Jacqui Otto
Head of Treatment & Head of Johannesburg Outpatient Programme
Jacqui Otto is Head of Treatment at Crossroads Recovery Centre Johannesburg and leads the Johannesburg Outpatient Programme. She brings seven years of professional experience in the addiction field together with lived experience of recovery.
Jacqui is also a proud Crossroads alumnus. After almost 20 years in active addiction, she completed four months of treatment at Crossroads before progressing professionally from House Manager in a halfway house to Addictions Counsellor and, ultimately, Head of Treatment.
Her approach combines warmth, honesty, accountability and practical recovery skills, with a strong focus on helping people develop a clearer vision for life beyond addiction.
Professional Journey
From Crossroads Patient to Head of Treatment
Jacqui's connection with addiction treatment began through her own recovery. After almost 20 years in active addiction, she completed four months of treatment at Crossroads Recovery Centre. She describes that experience as life-saving and as an important part of rediscovering her true self.
Her professional journey later took her into halfway-house management, where she supported people in early recovery through structure, accountability, life skills and community reintegration. She subsequently worked as an Addictions Counsellor before progressing into clinical leadership.
Today, Jacqui serves as Head of Treatment and Head of the Johannesburg Outpatient Programme. Her role includes leading the multidisciplinary clinical team, overseeing treatment services and managing the structured outpatient programme.
“Recovery is possible. Anything can happen, and you will be fine.”
Qualifications & Development
Professional Training
BACC Certification
Addiction Counselling
Life Skills Coach
The School of Life
Trauma Counsellor
Jalex Counselling
Grief Counsellor
Jalex Counselling
Professional Body
Treatment Philosophy
Moving From Where You Are to Where You Need to Be
“I believe recovery is a journey from where you are now to where you need to be.”
Jacqui describes her approach as holistic, strengths-based and future-focused. Her work draws on both professional training and lived experience of addiction and recovery.
Her perspective is that people do not simply need to be fixed. They need support to rediscover their personal power, values and capabilities while developing practical skills that can support sustainable recovery.
Within the Johannesburg Outpatient Programme, this includes helping people build recovery skills that can be applied at home, at work and within relationships, rather than only within a treatment environment.
Build a Vision
Clarify what recovery and a meaningful future can look like beyond addiction.
Identify Obstacles
Recognise limiting beliefs, emotional triggers, trauma, grief and relationship difficulties.
Take Accountable Action
Turn recovery goals into practical steps that can support sustainable daily change.
Clinical Experience
Areas Jacqui Works With
Addiction Treatment
- Alcohol Addiction
- Drug Addiction
- Prescription Drug Addiction
- Behavioural Addictions
- Relapse Prevention
- Aftercare & Reintegration
Mental Health & Counselling
- Dual Diagnosis
- Trauma
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Grief & Loss
- Individual Counselling
- Group Therapy
Recovery & Family Support
- Family Counselling
- Outpatient Treatment
- Step-Down Care
- Halfway House Transition
- Lived Experience Support
Patient Support
Services Jacqui Provides
Initial Assessments
Exploring current circumstances, treatment needs and appropriate next steps.
Individual Therapy
Individual support focused on recovery goals, obstacles and practical change.
Group Therapy
Structured group engagement supporting recovery learning and accountability.
Family Counselling
Helping families understand boundaries, communication and supportive accountability.
Recovery Planning
Developing practical and accountable steps towards ongoing recovery.
Relapse Prevention
Identifying risks, triggers and practical strategies to support continued recovery.
Outpatient Treatment
Leadership and support within the structured Johannesburg Outpatient Programme.
Aftercare & Step-Down Care
Supporting the transition from structured treatment into everyday life.
Crisis Intervention
Focused support during challenging periods within the treatment and recovery process.
Life Skills Groups
Practical learning focused on skills that support daily recovery and reintegration.
Life Skills
Practical Skills for Everyday Recovery
Jacqui's training and work include a range of practical life skills that can support people as they rebuild structure and confidence in recovery.
Johannesburg Outpatient Programme
Recovery Support Beyond Residential Treatment
As Head of the Johannesburg Outpatient Programme, Jacqui leads a structured programme designed for people who require professional addiction-treatment support while continuing with work and family responsibilities.
The programme can also form part of the transition from inpatient treatment into everyday life. Jacqui's lived and professional experience informs her understanding of the challenges involved in maintaining recovery outside the structured environment of a treatment centre.
Learn About Outpatient TreatmentFamily Involvement
Supporting Recovery Across the Family
Jacqui recognises that addiction affects more than the individual. Her approach to family involvement includes helping family members understand boundaries, communication and supportive accountability.
Her own lived experience gives her perspective on both the impact addiction can have on families and the importance of helping families participate appropriately in the recovery process.
Recovery Perspective
Qualities That Support Recovery
Courage
Honesty
Accountability
Willingness
Self-Compassion
Continuing Development
Continuing to Learn and Grow
Jacqui continues developing her professional knowledge through ongoing professional development, clinical supervision and team learning within Crossroads.
Her areas of continued learning include addiction, trauma, grief and life skills, alongside maintaining a connection to her own recovery experience.
Communication
Languages Spoken
Beyond Clinical Practice
Personal Interests
Q&A
Jacqui on Addiction Treatment and Recovery
What is your approach to addiction treatment?
Jacqui's approach is compassionate, practical and future-focused. She helps people consider what they want life beyond addiction to look like, identify obstacles and develop practical skills and action steps towards recovery.
What types of addiction do you primarily work with?
Jacqui oversees care involving alcohol, drug, prescription medication and behavioural addictions, with experience supporting dual diagnosis concerns including anxiety, depression, trauma and grief.
What can patients expect during their first appointment?
Patients can expect warmth, safety and a judgement-free environment. The initial conversation considers where the person is now, where they would like to be and what obstacles may be standing in the way.
How do you involve families in recovery?
Jacqui helps families learn about boundaries, communication and supportive accountability so that, where appropriate, they can participate constructively in the recovery process.
What advice would you give someone considering rehabilitation?
Jacqui encourages people to have the courage to take the first step. Her own experience taught her that someone does not need to have everything figured out before asking for help.
What do you find most rewarding about addiction recovery work?
Seeing people smile again genuinely and witnessing the emotional changes that occur throughout recovery.
What qualities are important in recovery?
Courage, honesty, accountability, willingness to learn new skills, self-compassion, structure and community.
How do you stay up to date with addiction treatment?
Through continuing professional development, clinical supervision, team learning, research into addiction, trauma, grief and life skills, and ongoing connection to recovery experience.
“As a Crossroads alumni who completed 4 months of treatment here after almost 20 years in active addiction, I learned that hope is born when you have the courage to move from where you are now to where you need to be. You don't have to become someone new — you just have to return to your true Self. I did, and you can too.”
Jacqui Otto Head of Treatment · Johannesburg Outpatient Programme · Crossroads Alumni
Crossroads Recovery Centre
Leading Treatment in Johannesburg
Jacqui forms part of the clinical leadership team at Crossroads Recovery Centre Johannesburg and leads the Johannesburg Outpatient Programme.
Crossroads Recovery Centre Johannesburg
71 CR Swart RdBoskruin
Johannesburg Admissions +27 74 895 1043 Johannesburg Treatment Centre
Confidential Addiction Support
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