Finding New Waters

In this episode of Finding New Waters, B. Reeves and New Waters Recovery CEO Justin McClendon sit down with Dr. Chantelle Thomas, clinical director at Windrose Recovery and The Manor in Wisconsin, for a deep and honest conversation about trauma, addiction, and healing.Dr. Thomas shares her extensive experience working at the intersection of trauma treatment, substance use recovery, and clinical research. She explains why addiction is often rooted in unresolved trauma, why emotional numbness is common in early recovery, and how true healing requires more than just stopping substance use.This episode explores: • Why trauma reprocessing is essential for long-term recovery • Emotional numbness, dissociation, and “thawing out” in sobriety • How ketamine-assisted psychotherapy is used ethically and responsibly • The difference between dissociative dosing and relational therapeutic dosing • Who ketamine therapy is and is not appropriate for • Why relief does not equal recovery • The risks of underground or unsupervised psychedelic use • How moments of clarity show what’s possible, not the finish lineThis is a grounded, thoughtful discussion that emphasizes safety, ethics, continuing care, and long-term recovery over quick fixes.Timestamps00:00 – Welcome to Finding New Waters01:05 – Weather check and introduction with Dr. Chantelle Thomas03:00 – Windrose Recovery and The Manor overview05:00 – Trauma and its connection to addiction07:10 – Emotional numbness and early recovery09:15 – Introduction to ketamine-assisted psychotherapy11:30 – How ketamine supports trauma reprocessing14:10 – Feeling emotions without judgment17:00 – Dissociation, numbness, and reconnecting with the body19:40 – Dosage, safety, and why context matters22:20 – Who ketamine therapy is not appropriate for24:40 – Why ketamine is not a quick fix27:10 – Why six weeks of treatment matters30:10 – Relief vs recovery and false confidence32:30 – “This is what’s possible” and sustaining progress35:00 – Recovery communities and evolving treatment approaches38:20 – Risks of underground psychedelic use42:00 – Protecting the psyche and ethical responsibility45:00 – Where to find Dr. Chantelle Thomas and her work46:30 – Final reflections and closing⸻🔗 Learn More • Windrose Recovery • The Manor • Integra Healing (Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy) • Blind Spots: Exploring What We Cannot See Podcast📱 Follow Us: • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/newwatersrecovery • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/newwatersrecovery • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/new-waters-recovery • TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@newwatersrecovery_nc⸻

▶️ Watch & Listen: • Podcast Website: https://www.findingnewwaters.com • Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4NOV2g85KExFWU5mTz5Gjw • Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finding-new-waters/id1684075608 • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjfAIXtiOgy1XFcwAduXgXw • YouTube Music: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuJOc6yLcjibGGAKgLYPCN47etJCY89mn

In this episode of the Finding New Waters Podcast, host B. Reeves is joined by New Waters Recovery CEO Justin McClendon and special guest Jesse McCraw, Director of Business Development at Driftwood Recovery, for one of the most powerful and emotionally honest conversations in the show’s history.Jesse shares his deeply personal story of addiction, incarceration, loss, and accountability following a tragic drunk-driving accident that changed his life forever. He walks listeners through his journey into recovery, finding Alcoholics Anonymous while incarcerated, and how service, structure, and humility became the foundation of a life rebuilt with purpose.This episode explores the mental reality of addiction, the concept of responsibility versus victimhood, and the transformative power of surrender. Jesse also shares how recovery behind prison walls shaped his approach to leadership, connection, and helping others, and how those experiences continue to guide his work at Driftwood Recovery today.This conversation is raw, reflective, and profoundly human. It is an episode about consequences, grace, forgiveness, and what it means to truly change.⸻⏱️ Chapters00:00 Introduction02:30 Meeting Jesse McCraw and Driftwood Recovery05:00 Jesse’s early sobriety and entry into recovery work08:00 Baseball, identity, and addiction12:00 The night that changed everything18:00 Loss, incarceration, and denial23:00 Addiction and the mental obsession27:00 Hitting bottom while incarcerated31:00 Discovering AA in prison36:00 Working the steps behind bars41:00 Release, reintegration, and early recovery45:00 Building a life of service49:00 Working in treatment and finding purpose54:00 Driftwood Recovery’s philosophy and continuum of care58:00 Accountability, humility, and long-term recovery⸻🔑 Key Topics Covered• Addiction and accountability• Recovery in prison• Alcoholics Anonymous and the 12 steps• Loss, grief, and responsibility• Service as a foundation for recovery• Reintegration after incarceration• Building a meaningful life in sobriety⸻🎧 Listen, Share, and SubscribeFollow Finding New WatersInstagram: www.instagram.com/newwatersrecoveryFacebook: www.facebook.com/newwatersrecoveryLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/new-waters-recoveryTikTok: www.tiktok.com/@newwatersrecovery_nc⸻📌 Guest & Resource LinksJesse McCraw – Driftwood Recovery biohttps://driftwoodrecovery.com/our-team/jesse-mccraw Driftwood Recovery – Main Websitehttps://driftwoodrecovery.com/ Jesse McCraw LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jesse-mccraw-5a7114110 Jesse McCraw Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/jesse.mccraw/ Jesse McCraw Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/jesse.mccraw.5/ ⸻🎙️ Watch & ListenWebsite: www.findingnewwaters.comSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4NOV2g85KExFWU5mTz5GjwApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finding-new-waters/id1684075608YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjfAIXtiOgy1XFcwAduXgXwYouTube Music: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuJOc6yLcjibGGAKgLYPCN47etJCY89mn

In this episode of the Finding New Waters Podcast, host B. Reeves is joined by New Waters Recovery CEO Justin McClendon and special guest Colin Harris, founder of Longleaf Recovery & Wellness, for a powerful conversation about recovery, purpose, and building ethical treatment in an underserved state.

Colin shares his deeply personal recovery journey, including years of addiction, repeated treatment attempts, and the moment everything changed. He opens up about how lived experience shaped his vision for Longleaf and why Alabama’s lack of quality behavioral health services inspired him to build something different.

The conversation dives into the realities of addiction in underserved communities, the importance of outpatient and primary mental health care, and why environment, compassion, and individualized treatment matter. Colin also discusses Longleaf’s rapid expansion across Alabama and an exciting new residential treatment campus currently in development.

This episode is honest, hopeful, and grounded in real-world experience, offering insight for professionals, families, and anyone impacted by addiction or mental health challenges.

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 Introduction

01:30 Meeting Colin Harris and shared mission

03:00 The need for recovery services in Alabama

05:00 Colin’s personal recovery journey

09:00 Addiction, treatment, and lived experience

12:00 Why Alabama has been underserved

15:00 Building Birmingham Recovery Center

18:00 Outpatient care and primary mental health

22:00 Environment and culture in treatment

26:00 Motivation, purpose, and long-term recovery

30:00 The Longleaf name and its meaning

34:00 Trauma, addiction, and transformation

38:00 Meeting people where they are

42:00 Residential treatment plans in Alabama

47:00 Vision for the future of Longleaf

50:00 How to find Longleaf Recovery & Wellness

🔑 Key Topics Covered

• Recovery in underserved communities

• Building ethical treatment programs

• Outpatient and primary mental health care

• Lived experience in leadership

• Trauma and long-term recovery

• Family involvement in treatment

• Expanding access to care in Alabama

🎧 Listen, Share, and Subscribe

Follow Finding New Waters

Instagram: www.instagram.com/newwatersrecovery

Facebook: www.facebook.com/newwatersrecovery

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/new-waters-recovery

TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@newwatersrecovery_nc

⸻

🎙️ Watch & Listen

Website: www.findingnewwaters.com

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4NOV2g85KExFWU5mTz5Gjw

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finding-new-waters/id1684075608

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjfAIXtiOgy1XFcwAduXgXw

YouTube Music: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuJOc6yLcjibGGAKgLYPCN47etJCY89mn

In this episode of the Finding New Waters Podcast, host B. Reeves is joined by Michael Gilpin, alongside New Waters Recovery CEO Justin McClendon, for an honest and deeply reflective conversation about trauma, recovery, consulting, and the work that continues long after sobriety begins.

Michael shares his journey through addiction, long-term recovery, and the moment he realized that being sober wasn’t enough. He opens up about hitting an emotional breaking point years into recovery, confronting unresolved trauma, and choosing to do the deeper work that ultimately reshaped his life and purpose.

This episode dives into the realities of working in the mental health and recovery field, the importance of separating personal recovery from professional roles, and why families often need as much support as the individual struggling. Michael also explains what a treatment consultant actually does, how families get “unstuck,” and why long-term guidance can make all the difference.

The conversation also explores trauma-informed care, adolescent and young adult treatment, and Michael’s work with The Guest House at Ocala, a nationally respected trauma and addiction program.

This episode is thoughtful, raw, and deeply human, especially for anyone who believes sobriety is the finish line, rather than the beginning.

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 Introduction

02:00 Early days in the recovery field

05:00 Work identity vs personal recovery

08:00 Helping others without losing yourself

12:00 What a treatment consultant really does

16:00 Family systems and long-term guidance

20:00 Adolescents, young adults, and trauma

24:00 When sobriety isn’t enough

28:00 Hitting a breaking point years into recovery

32:00 Trauma intensives and deeper healing

36:00 Responsibility, purpose, and recovery

40:00 The role of community and belonging

44:00 The Guest House at Ocala explained

48:00 Final reflections and connection

🔑 Key Topics Covered

• Trauma and long-term recovery

• When sobriety isn’t the finish line

• Treatment consulting explained

• Family systems and support

• Adolescent and young adult treatment

• Professional recovery vs personal recovery

• Community, purpose, and responsibility

🎧 Listen, Share, and Subscribe

Follow Finding New Waters

Instagram: www.instagram.com/newwatersrecovery

Facebook: www.facebook.com/newwatersrecovery

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/new-waters-recovery

TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@newwatersrecovery_nc

⸻

🎙️ Watch & Listen

Website: www.findingnewwaters.com

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4NOV2g85KExFWU5mTz5Gjw

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finding-new-waters/id1684075608

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjfAIXtiOgy1XFcwAduXgXw

YouTube Music: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuJOc6yLcjibGGAKgLYPCN47etJCY89mn

In this episode of the Finding New Waters Podcast, host B. Reeves is joined by Patrick Balsley, founder of Sana Counseling, Sana House, and Sana Recovery Foundation, and Mike Gminski, former Duke and NBA basketball player turned recovery advocate and mentor.

Together, they explore what recovery really looks like when it’s built on safety, humility, community, and purpose.

Patrick shares how Sana has grown from a small counseling practice into a multi-phase extended care program for men, along with the launch of the Sana Recovery Foundation, a nonprofit created to support families, reduce stigma, and help communities navigate addiction and recovery.

Mike opens up about his journey from elite athletics and broadcasting to deep personal loss, addiction, surrender, and long-term sobriety. He shares how recovery reshaped his faith, purpose, and identity, and why transparency and community are essential to healing.

This conversation dives deep into surrender, humility, gratitude, family recovery, and why addiction is less about substances and more about the way we relate to life itself.

⸻

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 Introduction

02:00 Patrick Balsley’s return and the growth of Sana

05:00 Sana Counseling and Sana House explained

08:00 Psychodrama, safety, and clinical culture

12:00 Sana Recovery Foundation and family support

16:00 Mike Gminski’s athletic background (Duke & NBA)

19:00 Alcohol, broadcasting, and gradual progression

23:00 Loss, grief, and spiraling addiction

27:00 Intervention, accountability, and entering treatment

31:00 Recovery, faith, and public transparency

36:00 Surrender, humility, and healing

40:00 Community, safety, and long-term recovery

45:00 Gratitude, purpose, and life after addiction

49:00 How to connect with Sana

⸻

🔑 Key Topics Covered

• Extended care and long-term recovery

• Family healing and community education

• Addiction beyond substances

• Surrender and humility in recovery

• Grief, loss, and relapse risk

• Professional athletes and addiction stigma

• Faith, gratitude, and purpose

⸻

🎧 Listen, Share, and Subscribe

Follow Finding New Waters

Instagram: www.instagram.com/newwatersrecovery

Facebook: www.facebook.com/newwatersrecovery

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/new-waters-recovery

TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@newwatersrecovery_nc

⸻

🎙️ Watch & Listen

Website: www.findingnewwaters.com

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4NOV2g85KExFWU5mTz5Gjw

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finding-new-waters/id1684075608

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjfAIXtiOgy1XFcwAduXgXw

YouTube Music: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuJOc6yLcjibGGAKgLYPCN47etJCY89mn

In this episode of the Finding New Waters Podcast, host B. Reeves sits down with Kevin Bandy, co-founder of Voyage Recovery, for a powerful conversation about getting sober young, punk rock culture, family healing, and what real recovery actually looks like.

Kevin shares his journey through early addiction, treatment as a teenager, Big Book studies, and finding sober community through straight-edge punk culture. Together, they explore why sobriety can be a radical act, how community saves lives, and why families must heal alongside their loved ones.

This episode also dives deep into Voyage Recovery’s unique model, blending outdoor experiential therapy, honest clinical work, and intensive family involvement to help young men reconnect with life, purpose, and their families.

Whether you’re in recovery, supporting a loved one, or simply curious about what meaningful healing looks like, this episode offers raw insight, hope, and perspective.

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 Introduction

03:00 Getting sober young and early treatment

06:00 Discovering Big Book studies

09:00 Realizing addiction was driving every decision

12:00 Punk rock, straight edge, and sober community

15:00 Giving back through adolescent treatment

18:00 Founding Voyage Recovery

21:00 Outdoor experiential therapy

25:00 Why family work is essential

29:00 Radical access and transparency for parents

33:00 Helping families heal together

37:00 What long-term recovery really looks like

41:00 How to find Voyage Recovery

🔑 Key Topics Covered

• Getting sober at a young age

• Punk rock and straight-edge sobriety

• Addiction as a power greater than self

• Outdoor therapy and experiential recovery

• Family healing and accountability

• Building community in recovery

🎧 Listen, Share, and Subscribe

Follow Finding New Waters

Instagram: www.instagram.com/newwatersrecovery

Facebook: www.facebook.com/newwatersrecovery

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/new-waters-recovery

TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@newwatersrecovery_nc

⸻

🎙️ Watch & Listen

Website: www.findingnewwaters.com

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4NOV2g85KExFWU5mTz5Gjw

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finding-new-waters/id1684075608

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjfAIXtiOgy1XFcwAduXgXw

YouTube Music: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuJOc6yLcjibGGAKgLYPCN47etJCY89mn

In this powerful and deeply honest episode of Finding New Waters Podcast, host B. Reeves sits down with Chico West for a wide-ranging conversation about sobriety, faith, surrender, and what it truly means to do the work.With 36 years of sobriety, Chico shares his journey from early addiction, arrests, and spiritual emptiness to long-term recovery, counseling, and helping others step into what he calls the messy middle. Together, B and Chico explore how growth often happens not on the mountaintops, but in the valleys, and how peace comes from surrender rather than control.This episode blends recovery wisdom, biblical reflection, personal storytelling, and practical insight for anyone seeking a deeper, more grounded life, whether sober, sober-curious, or simply searching.⸻⏱️ Episode Timestamps00:00 – Welcome and introduction to Chico West02:00 – Finding joy in sobriety and living clean and sober05:00 – “Struggling in the right direction” and life’s worst hands08:30 – Peaks, valleys, and emotional balance in recovery12:00 – What Chico does today: counseling, coaching, and consulting14:30 – Getting sober at 21 and early addiction history20:00 – Doing the work beyond alcohol and addiction24:00 – Faith, brokenness, and true surrender30:00 – Me vs. we: getting out of self35:00 – Building cases in our heads and emotional sobriety41:00 – Returning to faith and a life-changing moment48:00 – Surrendering to win54:00 – How to find Chico West and final reflections⸻🔑 Key Takeaways• Recovery is about more than abstinence; it’s about transformation• Peace comes from surrender, not control• Growth happens in the messy middle, not just success• Faith and recovery can reinforce each other• Long-term sobriety requires daily maintenance and honesty⸻👤 About the Guest: Chico WestChico West is a Licensed Professional Counselor with over three decades of sobriety. He works in private practice, executive consulting, and coaching, and co-hosts the Filter Optional podcast with his wife. Chico specializes in helping people step into emotional honesty, spiritual growth, and long-term healing.📞 Contact: 214-384-7459🎧 Podcast: Filter Optional🎧 Listen, Share, and SubscribeFollow Finding New WatersInstagram: www.instagram.com/newwatersrecoveryFacebook: www.facebook.com/newwatersrecoveryLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/new-waters-recoveryTikTok: www.tiktok.com/@newwatersrecovery_nc⸻Watch & ListenWebsite: www.findingnewwaters.comSpotify: open.spotify.com/show/4NOV2g85KExFWU5mTz5GjwApple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finding-new-waters/id1684075608YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCjfAIXtiOgy1XFcwAduXgXwYouTube Music: music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuJOc6yLcjibGGAKgLYPCN47etJCY89mn

Exploring the Path to Recovery with Momentum Recovery's Rick Barney | Finding New WatersIn this episode of Finding New Waters, host B Reeves, Director of Business Development at New Waters Recovery in Raleigh, converses with Justin McClendon, CEO, and special guest Rick Barney, co-founder and co-owner of Momentum Recovery in Wilmington. Rick, a devoted recovery advocate, shares his personal journey and the genesis of Momentum Recovery while discussing the value of long-term treatment and the essence of community in recovery. Throughout the discussion, they delve into topics such as the importance of continuity of care, family support, and the innovative approaches at Momentum Recovery that help individuals navigate life post-addiction. Tune in to learn more about the impactful work being done at Momentum Recovery and how it’s transforming lives.00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:38 Rick's Flight School Adventure01:07 Life in Recovery: Embracing New Passions02:16 Challenges and Misconceptions in Recovery03:36 The Importance of Community and Support09:33 Romantic Relationships in Recovery19:06 Rick's Personal Recovery Journey23:13 Momentum Recovery: A New Approach31:09 Conclusion and Contact InformationFollow Finding New WatersInstagram: www.instagram.com/newwatersrecoveryFacebook: www.facebook.com/newwatersrecoveryLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/new-waters-recoveryTikTok: www.tiktok.com/@newwatersrecovery_nc⸻Watch & ListenWebsite: www.findingnewwaters.comSpotify: open.spotify.com/show/4NOV2g85KExFWU5mTz5GjwApple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finding-new-waters/id1684075608YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCjfAIXtiOgy1XFcwAduXgXwYouTube Music: music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuJOc6yLcjibGGAKgLYPCN47etJCY89mn

In this powerful episode of Finding New Waters, B. Reeves and Justin McClendon sit down with Thatcher Shively, a clinical interventionist, recovery coach, and Director of Admissions at Feinberg Consulting, a nationally recognized concierge case-management and intervention firm.Thatcher shares openly about being a high-achieving kid whose emotional world collapsed in college. What started as a slow unraveling turned into full-scale addiction, isolation, and a crisis that forced him to confront the truth he’d been running from: his identity was built entirely on performance, perfectionism, and trying to stay “one step ahead” of his own pain.After entering treatment, Thatcher discovered something he never expected — the freedom of letting go. Today, years into recovery, he helps families navigate crisis, rebuild trust, and chart a path toward stability, structure, and long-term healing.This episode is rich with insight about masculinity, pressure, burnout, shame, parenting, and what happens when the life you built finally caves in. It’s a conversation that will resonate deeply with anyone who has struggled with identity, expectations, or feeling like they’re never enough.Learn more about Feinberg Consulting: www.feinbergconsulting.com⸻Timestamps00:00 – Welcome and introduction to Thatcher Shively02:00 – Thatcher’s childhood as a high achiever04:00 – When perfectionism becomes a coping mechanism06:30 – The first cracks showing during college08:30 – Emotional collapse and the spiral into addiction11:30 – Losing control and living in survival mode15:00 – Hitting the breaking point and accepting help18:00 – What treatment revealed about identity and self-worth21:00 – Why high performers struggle to admit they’re struggling24:30 – The role of shame in addiction and burnout27:00 – Rebuilding structure, trust, and emotional safety30:00 – Helping families navigate crisis at Feinberg Consulting33:00 – Masculinity, pressure, and unrealistic expectations37:00 – How to support a loved one without enabling40:00 – The importance of community and ongoing recovery43:00 – Where to find Thatcher and Feinberg Consulting⸻Powerful Quote“I built my identity on performance. Recovery forced me to build it on truth.” – Thatcher Shively⸻Guest BioThatcher ShivelyDirector of Admissions, Feinberg ConsultingThatcher Shively is a clinical interventionist, recovery coach, and the Director of Admissions at Feinberg Consulting, a national case-management and intervention firm helping families navigate mental health, addiction, and complex behavioral crises. Drawing from his own lived experience and professional training, Thatcher specializes in guiding families through chaos toward clarity, structure, and long-term stability. His work focuses on restoring trust, creating safety, and helping individuals reconnect with a healthier sense of identity and purpose.Website: www.feinbergconsulting.comLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/feinberg-consulting⸻Resources Mentioned• Feinberg Consulting – www.feinbergconsulting.com• Recovery Coaching and Case Management• Family Systems and Crisis Support• Emotional Regulation and Identity Work⸻Follow Finding New WatersInstagram: www.instagram.com/newwatersrecoveryFacebook: www.facebook.com/newwatersrecoveryLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/new-waters-recoveryTikTok: www.tiktok.com/@newwatersrecovery_nc⸻Watch & ListenWebsite: www.findingnewwaters.comSpotify: open.spotify.com/show/4NOV2g85KExFWU5mTz5GjwApple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finding-new-waters/id1684075608YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCjfAIXtiOgy1XFcwAduXgXwYouTube Music: music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuJOc6yLcjibGGAKgLYPCN47etJCY89mn#ThatcherShively #FeinbergConsulting #AddictionRecovery #HighAchieversAndBurnout #IdentityAndRecovery #FindingNewWaters #MentalHealthJourney #RecoveryCoaching #FamilyHealing

In this heartfelt episode of Finding New Waters, B. Reeves and Justin McClendon sit down with Elizabeth Fikes, co-founder of Stonewater Adolescent Recovery Center in Oxford, Mississippi.

Elizabeth shares her family’s deeply personal story — watching her younger brother, Brian, struggle with addiction as a teenager, the shock of realizing how serious it had become, and the heartbreak of sending him to treatment. What started as the worst day of their lives became the beginning of a new purpose. Today, Brian is more than 20 years sober, and together, the Fikes family built Stonewater: a nationally recognized residential treatment center helping adolescent boys heal through a holistic, family-based approach.

Elizabeth explains the unique challenges of adolescent recovery, the importance of family involvement, and how Stonewater’s blend of clinical care, academics, structure, and purpose helps boys rebuild confidence and self-worth. She also discusses the upcoming Stonewater Summit Program, designed as a transitional space for graduates to continue growing before returning home.

Learn more about Stonewater: www.stonewaterrecovery.com

Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome & introduction to Elizabeth Fikes

03:00 – The origins of Stonewater and Brian’s story

05:00 – Sending her brother to treatment: “The worst day of my life”

07:00 – Why family healing became the foundation of Stonewater

09:00 – What it was like to be the sibling during addiction

12:00 – How fathers and mothers process addiction differently

15:00 – Building confidence and purpose through structure and dress code

18:00 – Teaching accountability and handling discomfort

20:00 – Why adolescent treatment is different from adult recovery

23:00 – The role of academics and emotional safety

26:00 – Debunking the myth that a child must “want help”

28:00 – The trauma siblings experience and how to heal it

32:00 – Family groups and peer mentorship

34:00 – The Stonewater Summit Program

37:00 – How to reach Stonewater Recovery

Powerful Quote

“The worst day of my life was the day my brother went to treatment. But it also became the best — because it saved his life and changed all of ours.” – Elizabeth Fikes

Guest Bio

Elizabeth Fikes

Co-Founder, Stonewater Adolescent Recovery Center

Elizabeth Fikes is the co-founder of Stonewater Adolescent Recovery Center, a residential treatment program for boys ages 12–18 in Oxford, Mississippi. Inspired by her family’s experience helping her brother overcome addiction, Elizabeth and her brother Brian founded Stonewater to provide a comprehensive, family-centered approach to adolescent recovery.

Stonewater integrates evidence-based clinical care, academics, trauma-informed therapy, and spiritual development to help young men rebuild their lives. Under Elizabeth’s leadership, Stonewater continues to expand with new initiatives like the Stonewater Summit Program, supporting families through every stage of the recovery journey.

Website: www.stonewaterrecovery.com

Resources Mentioned

• Stonewater Adolescent Recovery Center – www.stonewaterrecovery.com

• Stonewater Summit Program

• Family Systems in Adolescent Treatment

• Wellbriety Movement – www.whitebison.org

Follow Finding New Waters

Instagram: www.instagram.com/newwatersrecovery

Facebook: www.facebook.com/newwatersrecovery

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/new-waters-recovery

TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@newwatersrecovery_nc

Listen & Watch

Website: www.findingnewwaters.com

Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/4NOV2g85KExFWU5mTz5Gjw

Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finding-new-waters/id1684075608

YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCjfAIXtiOgy1XFcwAduXgXw

YouTube Music: music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuJOc6yLcjibGGAKgLYPCN47etJCY89mn

#ElizabethFikes #StonewaterRecovery #AdolescentRecovery #FamilyHealing #AddictionRecovery #FindingNewWaters #TeenSobriety #FamilySystems #Wellbriety #RecoveryJourney