T.A.R.S. social support network
Please keep checking back for updates on the building of the T.A.R.S. Social Support Network!
The T.A.R.S. Social Support Network will look similar to other programs you see out there. It was developed with parts of what worked for me from other programs, left out what didn't work, and molded it all together into a complete program with a humanitarian focus towards life. One that is all inclusive and respects diversity. This does not exclude anyone or use a language that leaves people feeling excluded or that it is not a good fit.
You can also expect to see the same types of programming offered from us. The first part of the programming you will see offered soon, is a weekly group meeting that will be light, nothing heavy, to establish and sustain connection within the network. The group will be a weekly check-in, just to say hey, I'm still sober, this is what my week was like, this is what i have coming up, this is what i am struggling with, or even i got nothing i am at complete peace and everything is good. No scripts to follow, maybe a saying at the end, no rules to read, etc. Just a group of people meeting every week to check in and stay connected. I do not have an exact start date yet but I am aiming towards running this group every Saturday at 10am.
I have launched the first trial run of the T.A.R.S. Rewrite Program which is a system of 4 separate tools (SCAN, STIGMA, CODE, REWRITTEN) designed to help raise awareness around experiential self awareness, understanding our programming, rewriting the old programming into a new script, and practicing and living our new chosen and deserved identity. This is something that will be offered to various organizations to run in their programs. Right now it is set up in a 17 week block to go through but that may be adjusted after the trial runs are done. I have two more test pilots i want to do before I launch a public open to all group. This way I can work out any kinks and fix what is not working.
Part of the program is the REWRITTEN Path which will also be a group that will ran on a regular basis. There are only 9 pathways and it is designed to help people continue to practice and work on their new identity script. I am not sure on the frequency of running this, I don't think every week is necessary so I am looking at either every other week or every 4 weeks. This is TBD so keep an eye out for this.
I want this network to be focused on creating a "normal every day life" that is not focused on recovery. One thing that I always struggled with in my recovery was everything was focused on not using and stuff that really did not relate to me. I always looked for people that were sober and just living life. That is the foundation of the T.A.R.S. Network and the motto "people being people, helping people be people." One thing i wanted to bring from other programs that i loved was the sense of community, it being self sustained, and people giving back. I love this concept, however I do not want to have to hear about or go through sessions of stuff that does not relate to me. I am trying to create the same thing but making the language and the focus a humanitarian one that includes anyone who is human but doesn't leave people feeling left out because they believe differently. Other programs, i always felt different or not part of the group so my hope for the T.A.R.S. Network to fill that gap I felt.
Some of the other stuff I am looking to do with the T.A.R.S. Social Support Network are:
Social Gathering Planner: Small meetups, community circles, and connection‑focused events. Examples:
getting together to watch a TV show or movie
going to the movies
rock climbing
a day at the beach
bowling
the zoo or a museum
Special Events Planner: Workshops, speaking events, and community activation. Examples:
conferences
workshops
seeing an entertainer
Retreat / Getaway Planner: Future multi‑day experiences focused on healing, identity, and connection. Examples:
spiritual retreats
camping trips
a weekend getaway outside the city
The T.A.R.S. Social Support Network is an inclusive humanitarian approach to Trauma, Addiction, Recovery, and Sobriety. We believe that trauma and stigma influence and shape our identity, and that identity becomes the programming we walk through life with. That programming often leads us into addiction. When addiction reaches a breaking point — whether through crisis, consequence, or choice — we are forced to confront the identity that trauma created.
If trauma and stigma programming can lead us into addiction, then recovery requires a new identity. T.A.R.S. is built around that transformation: changing the internal programming that trauma and stigma wrote and replacing it with a new script rooted in sobriety — an identity of choice, and one that is deserved.
This network is a place for people who want to stay sober, change parts of their identity, or live with mental health challenges while building a new internal script that supports long‑term growth. We are "people being people, helping people be people."
It is for people who want to stay sober not get sober, have parts of their identity they want to change, or live with mental health challenges they struggle with. This community is built for people who have already tried other recovery or treatment options and found they don’t work for them or don't have lasting results. It is for the person who struggles with chronic relapsing and need a new approach. It is for those who already live a sober lifestyle and want something different to help them stay sober. This network is not designed for the newcomer.
We won’t exclude a newcomer, but this program is not intended for people who are just beginning their sobriety journey. If you are newly getting sober, we encourage you to use this community in conjunction with other programs that focus specifically on helping newcomers get sober. Our focus is on staying sober, not teaching you how to get sober. Staying sober and getting sober are two completely different mindsets. One is about how do i stop using and the other is what do i want out of life now that I am sober.
Relapse does not remove you from this community. You are not shamed, punished, judged, or excluded. Relapse is part of the process for many people, and no one should be persecuted for recovering in the way that works best for them. We do not encourage relapse, but we do operate with a harm‑reduction mindset. If your urge is so strong to use, we want you to get through it alive so you have another chance to start a new life. We support people committed to growth, identity change, and building healthier patterns. Many people trip, stumble, or relapse many times before they can walk without tripping — just like an infant learning to walk.
If you want to stay sober, have parts of your identity you want to change, or live with mental health challenges, you belong here.
