Stories of Recovery | Alcoholism, Addiction & 12 Step Spirituality

How does a person go from living in the woods and running from bloodhounds to holding his community accountable to protect his fellow clients in treatment? At our treatment centers,...

Self-acceptance is an important part of recovery. Growing up gay in a community where that wasn’t accepted, Keith W. felt flawed—like something was wrong with him. When he found drugs...

In this episode we hear from Nicole T., a medical professional who went through MARR when she was 19 years old, long before her career started. Later, as her career...

What are some of the specific ways a parent’s addiction affects the lives of their children? How do parents who are in recovery start to rebuild the family’s home life?...

What is the role of prayer in recovery? What if I’m not religious, or don’t even believe in God?  Can prayer help me in uncertain times? Can it help me...

At MARR, we do not specifically address nicotine dependence as part of our program of treatment. Clients are permitted to smoke cigarettes, though they are not permitted to use e-cigarettes...

Alison Broderick and Matt Erwin are both in long-term recovery, and they work together at MARR—Alison as the alumni coordinator and Matt as a long-time counselor and now business development...

When Matt R. was in treatment, his wife at the time was also in treatment separate from him. He describes the difficulty of focusing on his recovery and trying to...

Matt R. was ready to end his life, or so he thought. What he learned in treatment and the relationships he built there allowed him to take another path. He...

Tina C. had been abusing drugs since the age of 14, but she didn’t know anything about addiction. She was headed for prison when she was offered a last minute...

This is a special podcast episode—our 2019 season finale. Sometimes we are fortunate enough to see things come full circle.  Grey was the first admission to MARR who told the...

CEO of MARR Bill Anderson has worked in addiction treatment for 23 years, with 15 of those years at MARR. Over the course of his career, he has seen the...

With four children, a career as a full-time nurse, and a full-blown addiction to pain pills, Michelle H. spent her days rushing from one crisis to the next. She only...

Even though Philip was making $250 an hour as a medical professional, his addiction was making it impossible for him to pay his bills. But he ended up having a...

Sometimes you meet somebody who is so deeply committed to the program and fellowship of recovery that they are able to stay sober no matter what tragedies happen in their...

In this episode, we hear from two parents, Patti and Andrew A.,  who sent two of their sons to MARR at different times. They discuss how the addictions their sons...

In this episode we hear from two therapists about perfectionism and how it is a major obstacle to long-term recovery. Director of MARR’s Women’s Center Cailey Binkley and a therapist...

Sharon was a stay-at-home mom who didn’t have a drinking problem until she was in her forties. Her husband staged an intervention, and she went to MARR. After 90 days...

In this episode, we hear from Dr. Brian Moore, a psychologist and interventionist. Drawing from his decades of experience working with people suffering from the disease and those closest to...

Jeff B. was a chief of staff for a county commissioner. Then he made the evening news after being arrested in a hotel room for possession of crack cocaine. After...

Lane H. is a practicing dentist who came to MARR after facing dramatic consequences in his career related to his addiction. He describes the circumstances of how he arrived at...

After 11 years, Paul Thim is retiring from his position as a primary counselor at the Men’s Recovery Center at MARR.  Paul discusses what he learned during this time as...

Darrell knows desperation firsthand. He describes his first drink at age 15 as a spiritual experience—something he needed without realizing he needed it. Alcohol worked for him for about a...

Ashley was drinking constantly and could not tolerate being alone. She wanted help, but she only wanted it on specific terms. She didn’t want to do a 12 Step based...

Research has shown, and continues to show, that shame and addiction go hand in hand. In this episode, we hear from two counselors on the topic of treating clients with...