When I first met this young man he was seventeen; lost in the grip of drugs and alcohol, unsure where he belonged, and struggling with impulsive behavior, dishonesty, and falling behind at school. Over time, with a faith-centered recovery plan, steady support, and practical steps we put in place together, his life took a remarkable turn. Today he is more than a year sober, has finished high school, and is attending college with renewed confidence and purpose. I walked alongside him through that process conducting a clinical and spiritual assessment, designing relapse-prevention strategies, helping establish daily routines and healthy outlets, coaching his family on supportive boundaries, liaising with school supports, and providing ongoing mentorship and accountability. From this, he was able to move from surviving day to day to planning a meaningful future.

At 17, this young man faced battles that few his age could imagine. Drugs, alcohol, and crippling anxiety with frequent panic attacks left him unable to focus in school or picture a future, yet through his dedication, courage, and a faith-centered recovery plan his life has transformed in extraordinary ways. He is now approaching two years sober, has completed high school, and moves forward with renewed confidence and purpose. I walked alongside him throughout this journey, teaching practical coping tools to ease anxiety and prevent panic attacks, integrating biblical principles and hope into daily practice, coordinating local treatment and school supports, and providing steady mentorship and accountability. I also worked closely with his parents to establish clear, supportive boundaries and coached them on communication strategies and appropriate responses during high-risk moments so they could encourage progress without enabling harmful patterns.

At 26, this young man had endured some of life’s hardest battles: opiate addiction, crippling depression, shaken faith, and a constant fear of the future that was compounded by broken relationships. Yet through grace and a willingness to change, he has found a new path and is now more than three years sober, deeply engaged in biblical theology, and freely sharing his story of faith and recovery while building a healthy relationship grounded in shared values. I partnered with him through that process by assessing his clinical and spiritual needs, designing a faith-centered recovery plan that included relapse-prevention strategies and practical tools to manage depression and fear, connecting him with appropriate treatment and community support, and encouraging the study and application of Scripture as a steadying influence. I also worked with him on rebuilding trust and healthy relationship skills and linked him with ministry and peer opportunities so he could turn his experience into service for others.

At 19, this young man wrestled with a crippling sex addiction that upended his relationships, school, and sense of self. During our work together he experienced slip-ups that deepened his depression and isolation but also made clear the triggers and patterns we needed to address. I provided consistent accountability during those slips and intervened at early warning signs, helping him replace risky behaviors with healthier responses. I taught relapse-prevention techniques and practical coping skills for managing urges and depressive episodes, and I incorporated biblical practices and scripture-based encouragement to support his spiritual recovery. With steady support, structure, and faith-informed care he rebuilt daily routines and added in coping skills that work best for him. Today he lives free of pornography and compulsive sexual behaviors, serves in ministry, and openly shares what God has done in his life to encourage others.

This 18 year old young man was discharged from the hospital after drug-related complications; confused, discouraged, and just beginning to seek God’s healing. When we first met he could not see past today and long-term goals felt impossible. Through faith-centered recovery, consistent support, and practical relapse-prevention steps he rebuilt daily routines, regained clarity, and found a purpose beyond survival. Today he is more than two years clean from all drugs and alcohol and serves his community as a first responder, bringing his faith into everyday encounters and using his story to encourage others. I partnered with him throughout this journey by coordinating medical and community support, teaching relapse-prevention techniques and coping skills, helping him establish daily structure, and encouraging spiritual practices that grounded his recovery. I also provided steady mentorship during critical moments and worked with him to translate early progress into long-term goals and service. His journey is a powerful reminder that transformation is possible even when the future seems out of reach.

At 23, this young man faced the real possibility of prison for drug-related charges. He was carrying overwhelming anxiety and a sense of hopelessness, and for a time, the gym was the only thing that kept him steady. However, as he opened himself to God’s help and gave his life over to Christ, his life steadily changed. Today he is more than two and a half years sober, the charges were dropped, and he works at a treatment center in his home state, bringing his faith and lived experience to others. My role in that turnaround was to provide steady, practical support during the legal and recovery crisis. I connected him with treatment and community resources, helped him build a faith-centered relapse-prevention plan, reinforced healthy routines including exercise since that was so important to him, and held him accountable and helped him identify warning signs to help him avoid slips and setbacks. I also encouraged and supported his spiritual growth, including baptism, and helped him translate early recovery into meaningful work in the field.