Many Paths. One Map.

In 2022, after spending my entire career in Dallas, Texas, my wife and I did something that surprised just about everyone—including us. We sold our house, closed my office, loaded up the car, and drove to Connecticut with no real plan other than, “we’ll figure it out.”

I had gone fully virtual during the pandemic. My wife was already working remotely. We didn’t have family in Texas anymore. And after a Christmas visit with our daughter in Connecticut, we realized it felt like the right moment for an adventure.

What I didn’t fully appreciate at the time was the odd position this move would put me in professionally, as I entered a new phase of having to re-introduce myself to an entirely new professional community here in the Northeast.

Over the course of thirty years, the Texas professional community had watched my path unfold.

I was the “guy who did the drumming circles and Native American stuff.”

I was the “adolescent guy.”

I was the “guy who did recovery rock musicals with kids in treatment.”

I was the “storytelling guy.”

After writing my book Rehab Works! A Family’s Guide to Substance Use Treatment, I became the “family guy.”

And then there was always, “he used to play in a Beatles band—he’s the John Lennon guy.”

Music as a pathway to recovery: Engaging young people in treatment through the music of The Beatles.

I’ve been blessed to integrate this wide array of passions and interests into a cohesive framework for my work—one that’s ultimately about helping people not just stay dry, but have a transformational experience through recovery.

But when I got to Connecticut and started meeting people professionally, something gradually began to surface for me.

“How do I introduce myself?”

Here’s how it would go at networking events:

New colleague: “So, what do you do, Jim?”

Me: “Um…”

Depending on where I started, I’d hear responses like:

“Oh, you’re in private practice.” 

"Oh, so you’re an interventionist.”

“Oh, so you’re a consultant.”

“Oh, so you’re a musician?”

And I’d usually just nod and say, “Uh, yeah.”

That question—trying to answer something so simple—ended up being the real reason I took a hard look at how I was presenting my work.

The Hero's Journey as a pathway to recovery: The magic of storytelling.

NEW WEBSITE

Having to introduce myself to a new community caused me to take a deeper look at what I do—or at least how clearly I articulate what it is that I do.

Thinking about how much trouble I was having explaining my work pushed me to revisit my website (the one you're on now) and ask whether it was actually conveying who I am and what I do in a meaningful way.

It wasn’t.

So I stepped back and examined how I present this thirty-year body of work, my approach to treatment and recovery, and what it is I’m really offering.

The illuminating takeaway was this: Over the course of my career I have offered many different pathways to recovery. And my true passion has been in showing how these paths are not disconnected at all.

Rather, they form a kind of map—a way of helping people orient themselves and find what actually works for them, based on where they are. From the Hero’s Journey to the Medicine Wheel, from alternative spiritual practices to musical stage productions, I’ve developed a structured framework that shows how these approaches can be integrated—and that aligns with one of my favorite quotes:

“Many paths lead to the top of the same mountain.” — Chinese proverb

 

The goal isn’t to push a single path, but to offer clear points of entry and resources that meet people where they are in their journey.

Over the past few weeks I've done a careful reworking of my website with an eye toward re-introducing myself—and presenting not just what I do, but what matters most to me as an addiction professional. And as the Chinese proverb says, the over-arching goal is to help people get to the top of the mountain.

You’ll find something here whether you’re:

• looking to enhance your own recovery or personal growth

• supporting a loved one through a substance use issue

• or working professionally and seeking resources to strengthen your services

For those of you I don’t yet know, I’d love for you to take a look around the site as a way of introducing myself.

And for those of you who do know me, thank you for being part of the conversation over the years—and I’d still love for you to take a look and see how I’m defining my work today.

FINDING YOUR OWN MAP

Wherever you are on this journey towards wellness—whether for yourself or for those you are guiding, you’ll find different entry points here—places to begin, explore, or go deeper, depending on what you’re looking for right now. For some, that may mean starting with free resources like my eBook Sobriety Doesn’t Have To Suck! or a family-focused webinar on setting boundaries in the addictive family system. For others, it may lead to more intensive support, including individual recovery coaching, family education and guidance, or professional resources for those working in treatment and recovery.

The goal isn’t to follow a prescribed path, but to find what speaks to you, and help you get to the top of the mountain—whatever that means for you.