Online Recovery Support was born out of an idea that everyone in recovery should have a place to call home. This place could exist on the Internet and be a place for people to gather and share anything they felt was appropriate and relevant to their healing or recovery process. A place that was free to everyone, and gave anyone who visited an opportunity to express themselves about chemical dependency or mental illness and find support if they needed it. I wanted professionals to talk about their services and I wanted writers to share material that is relevant to healing in any form. Family members, partners, therapists, counselors, addicts. Onlinerecoverysupport is for anyone who is looking for a place in the recovering community to call home. We welcome you.

Please read and listen and participate in something that I hope will offer you, some of the same peace and serenity that I have experienced by living life “One Day at a Time”. To learn more please visit www.kurtswensen.com.

 

Kurt Swensen – Certified Addictions Specialist

Kurt is an Oregon native that has spent the last twenty one years working in the field of addictions and mental health. Kurt’s work at the Hooper Memorial Center, Portland Adventist Medical Center, and for Washington County Community Corrections has led him to this new partnership with long time friend Brad Whisnant and Shelly LaFrance. Kurt maintains a private practice specializing in addictions with a strong commitment to the recovering community of which he is a long time member.

 

Brad Whisnant – Licensed Acupuncturist and Herbalist

Brad Whisnant, a native Oregonian, has spent his entire life helping others. Brad served four years in the US Marines where he first started helping individuals with their addictions and emotional complexities. He then graduated from Portland State University and began a career of helping others in many different aspects.

At the age of 34 he knew he wanted to pursue a childhood goal of practicing medicine and enrolled in the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine. He graduated in 2007 with a Masters degree in Oriental medicine and Acupuncture. He also holds the highest certifications in Chinese herbal medicine. Since then he has established a non-profit organization that provides free medical health care domestically and internationally. He has worked in the drug and alcohol field at the Washington County Correctional Facility, Portland Addictions Center, and the Hooper Memorial Center. He continues to treat at his private practice in Portland and St. Helens Oregon.

“I shall only walk this way once, so let me do what good I shall do now, for I shall never walk this way again” – Chinese proverb

 

Bruce Mineau – Recovery Mentor

Bruce Mineau is a recovering heroin addict with 15 years of service to the Recovering Community. He spent 10 years employed with Central City Concern www.centralcityconcern.org and was one of the original organizers for the Recovery Association Project www.rap-nw.org and helped develop the Recovery Mentor Program fostered by Central City Concern.

Bruce works with clients being released to Washington County, from Powder River, and Shutter Creek prison. He helps them integrate back into society with housing, employment, aftercare alcohol and drug treatment, and any other basic needs. Since these clients all have drug and alcohol related crimes, conditions by corrections is to have a recovery program in place. The support as a mentor he gives is a hands-on shared experience of 12 step meetings and the resources that it provides.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you NOT to be? You are a child of GOD!!…”

 

Sadie Francis
Sadie has a BS in Biology and a BA in Spanish from the University of Oregon and resides in Hillsboro, Oregon. At the age of 6, she was adopted from Monteria Colombia into a bi-racial family. At the age of 8 she was diagnosed with having PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder). With this came a bout of depression that she still struggles with and throughout the years she has discovered many things about her life before coming to the US.

“Being adopted is different. It can be confusing trying to go back and figure out “why me.” On the other hand … “lucky me.” I am different from my brother and sister. But I am the same in lots of other ways that matter, and will be their sister forever. Best of all, I am loved for who I am.”

Sadie hopes that her posts on Onine Recovery Support will be enriching and entertaining at the same time and the feedback she receives will help her dig deeper into her thoughts. The purpose of her writings is to open a dialogue about being the best that we can be. She welcomes questions, discussions and even disagreements.