David Van Der Velde Writes About the Unique Challenges the Holidays Present to Early Recovery
In a recent article on Thrive Global, Awakening Co-Founder and Executive Director David Van Der Velde, discussed the unique challenges that people in recovery face during the holidays. The holiday…
David Van Der Velde Discusses Key Issues in Addiction Treatment in Honor of Recovery Month
David Van Der Velde, the Executive Director and Co-Founder at Awakening Recovery, wrote an article in Thrive Global in recognition of Recovery Month (September). In the article, he offers many…
Overdose Awareness Day Brings Despair and Hope
David Van Der Velde, the Executive Director and Co-Founder at Awakening Recovery, wrote an article in Thrive Global in recognition of Overdose Awareness Day (August 31, 2022). There is an…
LGBTQ+ and Substance Addiction Recovery
With Pride month behind us, Co-Founder and CEO David Van Der Velde offered his insights to Thrive magazine about the unique set of issues LGBTQ+ people experience while seeking recovery…
Co-Occurring Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders Present a Unique Challenge
David Van Der Velde was featured in Thrive Global talking about the increasingly common occurrence of a mental health (MH) issue co-occurring with a substance use disorder (SUD). Co-occurring disorders…
Community and Connection in Recovery
"If you are new to recovery, be sure to find connections and communities that are filled with loving and compassionate people in their own recovery," says our Co-Founder and Executive…
David Van Der Velde on “The Mirage of Dry January”
David Van Der Velde was featured in Thrive Global talking about the growing popularity of "Dry January." The Executive Director and Co-Founder at Awakening Recovery discusses the trend and says:…
David got clean and sober in 1988 at the age of 19, close to death from his own struggles with drug addiction and alcoholism. Now 32+ years clean and sober, he has been consistently active in his recovery community by mentoring others, serves on recovery and youth related non-profit Boards such as LifeWorks and the West Hollywood Recovery Center, and serves on panels at institutions speaking from his own experience about recovery.
Joelene Knight, is the Executive Director and Co-Founder of Grace Recovery, a sub-acute and residential treatment program located in Hollywood, California, as well as a Board Member at Awakening Recovery, a unique life-saving nonprofit that specializes in recovery homes with a long-term, 12-Step addiction solution that creates a lasting change in core beliefs and behaviors.