06/02/2026
Reposting from our CEO, Justin Sanderson MA, LPC-S, MBA: "Last Friday, Stone River Recovery Center hosted our inaugural Spring Spectacular.
The purpose was simple: show clients that life in recovery can and should include joy.
Recovery is not only therapy groups, clinical assignments, treatment planning, and hard conversations. Those matter deeply. Exceptional clinical care matters. But recovery also has to help people remember how to live.
We had a petting zoo, giant Jenga, foam axe throwing, a dunk booth, games, laughter, competition, connection, and a lot of moments that looked simple from the outside.
One client made an honest comment: some of the activities felt like kid events.
There was truth in that.
But there was also deeper truth beneath it.
Many people recovering from trauma, mental health challenges, and substance use never had the chance to experience safe play, healthy joy, or uncomplicated fun. Some grew up too fast. Some learned survival before they learned spontaneity. Some learned vigilance before they learned laughter.
So yes, sometimes recovery asks adults to reconnect with the parts of themselves that never got protected, celebrated, or allowed to play.
That is not childish.
That is clinical.
Play supports emotional expression, resilience, social connection, and psychological flexibility. Trauma-informed care emphasizes safety, trust, peer support, empowerment, and healing relationships. Recovery-oriented care reminds us that people need more than symptom reduction. They need hope, identity, belonging, meaning, and a life worth returning to.
At Stone River, we believe great treatment should challenge people clinically and invite them back into life emotionally.
Sometimes that looks like deep trauma work.
Sometimes it looks like learning how to laugh again.
Both matter."
