About

From Chaos to Connection

How a Bold Experiment in Addiction Recovery Grew Into a Lifeline for Families Everywhere

Thrown Into the Deep End

When I first started as a counselor, I was thrown into the deep end—tasked with creating and running an Intensive Outpatient Program for teens struggling with addiction. I had no experience with addiction counseling, and I was left alone at night with a group of angry, resistant teens who didn’t want to be there.

I had to figure out how to make it work, so I focused on building trust and creating a space where they felt heard. Over time, the program grew, and I created a mentor program to keep the teens engaged and motivated to stay sober.

Enter Kim: The Calm in the Chaos

That’s when Kim came into the picture. She was assigned to do her counseling internship with me, and I was thrilled to have help. But I’ll admit, I was nervous about how she’d react to my unconventional methods.

I remember warning her, “Be ready for a lot of teen drama and some colorful language!” Kim didn’t miss a beat. She jumped right in, connecting with the teens and helping me expand the program. Together, we added a parent group, teaching parents how to rebuild trust with their kids while holding firm boundaries.

The parent group grew so much that it eventually outgrew the hospital gym where we met!

Campbell’s Journey: From Parent to Partner

Then came Campbell. She joined the parent group after realizing one of her sons was struggling with addiction. Things weren’t easy for her family, but Campbell and her husband, Frank, stuck with the group through all the ups and downs.

Over time, things began to improve, and the experience had such a profound impact on Campbell that she decided to go back to school to become a counselor.

When Campbell was ready for her counseling internship, I knew I had to bring her on board. By that point, I was in private practice and desperately needed help supporting the families of my clients. Campbell’s ability to guide families out of power struggles and into healthier dynamics was exactly what we needed.

The Birth of the Hope For Families Method

Around the same time, Kim had finished her counseling degree, so we asked her to join us as well. The three of us officially teamed up to create a private practice built around the Hope For Families Method.

Here’s how it worked:

I worked with the addicted individuals.
Kim and Campbell focused on the families.

This dual approach allowed us to tackle both sides of the problem simultaneously, and it worked beautifully.

From Private Practice to Global Reach

Over time, we realized we could only help so many families in person, which led to the idea of sharing our methods online. That’s when we started recording our advice and putting it out on social media, making our resources accessible to families everywhere.

Lessons Learned Along the Way

Looking back, I’m glad I didn’t know anything about treating addiction when I started. If I had done things the standard way, it wouldn’t have worked.

Here’s what I’ve learned:

Building trust is the key to helping someone make a change.
Families hold the most influence, and with a little guidance, they can turn things around faster than any counselor ever could.
You don’t need fancy training to help someone—you just need the right tools, a little guidance, and a whole lot of heart.

More about us!

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between counseling and coaching?

Don't you hate it when you ask a counselor for feedback or advice and they say something lame like "How does that make you feel" or "what is your heart telling you"?

Did you know counselors are actually trained to give the kinds of vague nonresponsive answers?!? Counselors aren't supposed to give advice sharing anything personal about themselves. Basically counselors are supposed to be kind, supportive, good listeners while you figure it out on your own. 🙄

But, when you're family is dealing with an addiction crisis, you don't have time for that kind of warm and fuzzy stuff. You just want to know how to fix the situation.

That would be like standing by and watching while some trys to figure out how to get out of a burning house, instead of telling them where the exits are.

But seriously though....

Counselors spend time examining the past, looking for solutions to emotional concerns, and seeking a diagnosis required by insurance companies.

Coaches help clients work on their goals for the future and create a new life path.

Even though we're all trained couselors with fancy degrees and credntials, we made the deicsion shift over to choaching because it allows us to help more pople in a more effective manner.

When you're dealing with addiction, you're living on a rollerocaster. You don't need someone to sit and listen to your frustrations for 6 months while you figure it out on your own. You need someone who understand exactly what you're dealing with and can navigate you through this mess.

What if I don't live in your area?

Due to licensure restrictions, we don't offer counseling for anyone who lives outside of South Carolina.

However, we have several online programs designed to help you no matter where you live! We also offer 1:1 virtual consultations and coaching.

Do you accept insurance?

Hope For Families does not file insurance.

If you receive counseling services with us (in-state clients only) we can provide you with a coded receipt that you can turn in to your insurance company to get reimbursement if your insurance allows for out-of-network coverage.

Insurance does not cover coaching or consultation sessions.

I think your approach is great, but I don't think I can afford your services.

Here's a link to our free downloadable resources.

We also have a huge library for free video resources on YouTube, and we have a free support group for families on Facebook.

Got more questions?

Still have some questions? Feel free to call us +1864-906-2395 or email us [email protected]

Is this program right for me?

Our model relys heavily on amount of contact, influence, and leverage you have with your addicted loved one. Sinice partners and parents typically have the most direct line of connection with the addicted person, we get the best results in those two situations.

If you're loved one doesn't fall into those catagories but you have a lot of contact and influence over your addicted loved one, our program will be helpful to you too.

As much as we want to be able to help everyone, our methods aren't the best for every situation.

For our methods to work, you need to have a reasonable amount of influence over the person (ie: they live with you, or you have regular contact, or they're financially dependent on you.

You and your children/grandchildren need to be safe.

Your loved one needs to have at least some amount of reasoning ability and functionality left.

Here are some examples of situations that aren't the best fit.

1. If there are major safey issues for yourself, your kids/grandkids, or the addictd person.

2. If you don't live with the addicted person, or at least have regular contact with them.

3. If you think you're loved one's addiction is so advanced they've lost all ability to reason and fuction on any adult level. (ie: they're homeless, hey don't take care of basic hygene, they don't keep up with any responsibilities on their own)