​​Sober Coach:  Marilyn Stevens

"Imagine alcohol and any other drug “NO More” and you are more than OK with it!"

I was born in the Panhandle of Texas and raised by a loving Mother and Grandparents. My Granddad was mostly a cowman rancher while my Grandmother...well it was her kitchen!  In spite of this “salt of the earth” and loving family, during my teens I was attracted to everybody and everything I should not have been.  My love of adventure and to have fun ruled my life, never aware of the consequences.  I could hardly wait to grow up, being attracted to older boys led me to having my first drinks of alcohol until intoxicated at the age of 12 and again at 13.  Results were that I did not drink again until I was 25 years old, a couple years after my one and only daughter was born.

At age 25,  my older sister and I went out on the town and I discovered vodka martinis. I was off and running from there.  With a career in real estate and development in Dallas, Texas “happy hours” became routine. My drinking continued for 13 years until I could no longer stop drinking large quantities of alcohol on a daily basis, my health was critical.  Through help of the heavens and my 15 year old daughter, I went to a 30 day inpatient treatment program.

Realizing during the early stage of my personal recovery that life was foreign, I quickly learned it had become normal for me to drink alcohol and abnormal not to.  In a relative short time while in recovery I began to understand this belief and behavior had to be reversed back to wellness to be free from the addiction.  It was seriously suggested, “I do the opposite from what my thinking told me to do” and it worked, sober and happy since 1985.  Further realizing it did not take “skill” to pick up a drink or a drug but rather a new belief to be honest, open and willing i.e. “HOW” principal.  Fortunately, I knew and accepted there would never be enough alcohol!  What was for me….. is for you!  Willingness to take certain steps is the key to a truly great life allowing us to follow our dreams.

 
Recovery Work Experience:

Co-founder of National Therapeutic Services’ The RAP Center, outpatient treatment program and Joshua House, residential treatment program.  As  Program Director and Senior Counselor I’ve provided individual, group level and family counseling, interventions as well as public speaking for 20 years.  I've been privileged to help thousands of clients, their families and other loved ones. Many are enjoying their clean and sober lives today.

Real Awareness of People (RAP) and Let’s Click, Trainer, Interpersonal Relationship Behavioral Seminars for thousands of professionals, individuals and their families.  More than 50 plus years ago, interpersonal relationships became the subject of intense study. As a Trainer for 29 years for those affected by alcohol or other drugs trust was rebuilt, credibility and improved skills to be more open to achieve clear communication.  For many, these abilities had been harmed or even lost throughout addiction.

Consultant National Therapeutic Services, Inc./Northbound Treatment and other entities in the field of treatment for chemical addiction.