Recovery Reach

Recovery.com
  • 0.0 (0)
  • MARKETING

Welcome to Recovery Reach, the podcast for behavioral health leaders looking for specific marketing and business tactics that can scale their impact.

  1. NOV 3

    Founding The Lighthouse: An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Recovery Residences with Trey Laird

    Welcome to a special episode of the Recovery Reach podcast, recorded live at the Mental Health Marketing Conference in Franklin, Tennessee! In this episode, host Andrew sits down with Trey Laird, the founder and CEO of The Lighthouse, a luxury recovery residence in Connecticut. Trey shares his personal journey from Wall Street to recovery, the inspiration behind starting The Lighthouse, and the lessons learned from a decade of helping professionals rebuild their lives after treatment.  Whether you’re interested in entrepreneurship, recovery, or the business of behavioral health, this conversation is packed with insights, real stories, and practical wisdom. — Explore mental health and addiction treatment options: https://recovery.com/ — Learn more about The Lighthouse Recovery Services : https://thelighthousect.com/ — Connect with Trey on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/treylaird/ Key Topics Covered: • Trey’s personal recovery journey and the founding story of The Lighthouse • The gap in post-treatment support for professionals and executives • Building a luxury recovery residence: vision, challenges, and lessons learned • The importance of community, peer support, and recovery coaching • Navigating business development and referral relationships in behavioral health • Adapting and growing through COVID-19 and beyond • The role of family and non-residential services in recovery • Marketing, networking, and the power of sharing your story • Advice for aspiring founders in the recovery/treatment space • Reflections on impact, identity, and the future of The Lighthouse Timestamps & Detailed Show Notes: 00:00 – Introduction: Meet Trey Laird, CEO & Founder of The Lighthouse 01:00 – Recording at the Mental Health Marketing Conference; the importance of industry events 02:00 – Trey’s background: Wall Street career, personal recovery, and the seed for The Lighthouse 04:00 – The lack of local sober living options and the inspiration for a new model 06:00 – The Lighthouse’s mission: luxury recovery residences for professionals 08:00 – What makes The Lighthouse unique: daily life, amenities, and peer support 10:00 – The transition from treatment to real life: challenges and opportunities 12:00 – Expanding services: from men’s house to women’s house and apartments 14:00 – Navigating COVID-19: community, remote work, and new opportunities 16:00 – The business model: non-clinical services, coaching, and peer support 18:00 – The power of lived experience: staff in recovery and peer mentorship 20:00 – Trey’s journey from recovery consumer to mentor and founder 22:00 – Learning from other high-end sober living models and adapting to Connecticut 24:00 – Building the business: networking, referral relationships, and early challenges 28:00 – The importance of reputation and careful client selection 30:00 – Hiring, team-building, and the realities of starting up 34:00 – Lessons from the first year: learning by doing, adapting, and staying mission-driven 38:00 – Growth, alumni engagement, and the evolution of services 40:00 – The impact of recovery coaching and family support 44:00 – Marketing, business development, and the power of personal storytelling 48:00 – The future of The Lighthouse: growth, expansion, and staying true to the mission 52:00 – Reflections: personal transformation, impact, and advice for new founders 56:00 – Closing thoughts: how to connect with Trey and The Lighthouse

    45 min

  2. OCT 27

    From House of Brands to Branded House: How Guardian Recovery Consolidated for Growth with DJ Prince

    In this episode, host Andrew Averill sits down with DJ Prince, VP of Marketing at Guardian Recovery, for a deep dive into the complex journey of rebranding and consolidating multiple treatment center brands under one unified identity. Recorded live at the Mental Health Marketing Conference in Franklin, Tennessee, this conversation is packed with actionable insights for anyone in healthcare, marketing, or organizational leadership. Whether you’re curious about the challenges of managing a “house of brands,” the risks and rewards of rebranding, or the real-world impact on clients, families, and staff, this episode delivers a masterclass in strategic change management. — Explore mental health and addiction treatment options: https://recovery.com/ — Learn more about Guardian Recovery : https://www.guardianrecovery.com/ — Connect with DJ on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donaldprince/ — Explore DJ's other work on his personal website: https://www.donaldprince.com/ Topics Discussed: • The scale and rapid growth of Guardian Recovery across multiple states • The difference between a “house of brands” and a “branded house” • Why Guardian originally operated under multiple local brands • The business, marketing, and operational challenges of managing many brands • The pivotal executive summit that sparked the rebranding journey • How research and stakeholder interviews shaped the rebrand strategy • Surprising findings about what clients, families, and referral partners value most • The pilot rollout: choosing the first location and measuring success • Lessons learned from legal, digital, and operational aspects of rebranding • Advice for organizations considering a similar transformation Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction: Offsite at the Mental Health Marketing Conference 01:00 – Meet DJ Prince: VP of Marketing at Guardian Recovery 02:00 – Guardian’s scale: Locations, services, and marketing team structure 04:00 – The impact of AI on content and marketing operations 06:00 – Guardian’s rapid expansion: From 3 to 22+ locations 08:00 – Branding 101: House of Brands vs. Branded House explained 11:00 – Why Guardian started as a house of brands (local trust, referral strategy) 15:00 – The pain points: Managing multiple brands, digital and business development challenges 20:00 – The “straw that broke the camel’s back”: Executive summit and the need for change 23:00 – Making the case: Visual presentations and the “mic drop” moment 26:00 – Bringing in outside experts: The value of unbiased research 29:00 – What clients, families, and referral partners really care about 33:00 – Simplicity over complexity: The surprising findings from research 36:00 – The pilot: Selecting the first location and setting KPIs 40:00 – Legal, insurance, and operational hurdles in rebranding 44:00 – Results: What changed (and what didn’t) after the pilot 47:00 – Naming conventions: When to co-brand and when to go all-in 50:00 – The mechanics: Digital, HR, compliance, and team shout-outs 54:00 – Was it worth it? Reflections and advice for others 58:00 – Final thoughts: Keeping the client first and embracing the journey 1:01:00 – Where to learn more about DJ Prince and Guardian Recovery

    42 min

  3. OCT 8

    Omnichannel Strategies for Patient Acquisition in Behavioral Healthcare with Jake Gorman

    Welcome to another episode of Recovery Reach by Recovery.com! This week, host Andrew Averill returns to sit down with Jake Gorman, COO of MGMT Digital—a full-service behavioral healthcare marketing agency. Jake brings his lived experience in recovery and deep expertise in digital marketing to the table, sharing actionable insights for treatment centers and mental health organizations looking to grow their impact. In this episode, Jake breaks down what it takes to build a winning lead generation strategy in the behavioral health space. He explains why an omnichannel approach is essential, how to avoid common marketing pitfalls, and the importance of conversion data in optimizing ad spend.  — Explore mental health and addiction treatment options: https://recovery.com/ — Learn more about MGMT Digital : https://mgmtdigital.com/ — Connect with Jake on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-gorman-1ba407233/ Topics Discussed: Jake’s personal journey and why MGMT Digital specializes in behavioral healthcare marketingThe importance of mission-driven marketing and lived experience in the recovery spaceWhy an omnichannel (multi-channel) approach is critical for sustainable lead generationHow to audit your current marketing mix and identify gapsThe role of SEO, PPC, and brand awareness campaigns in patient acquisitionHow to prioritize marketing channels when budgets are tightThe power of conversion data and integrating with your CRM/call trackingThe evolving role of video and social media in healthcare marketingEmerging trends: AI search engines, optimizing for AI overviews, and future channelsTimestamps: 00:00 – Introduction to Recovery Reach & today’s guest 00:12 – Meet Jake Gorman & MGMT Digital: mission, services, and unique approach 01:55 – Why behavioral health? Jake’s personal connection to recovery 02:30 – The value of lived experience in behavioral health marketing 02:47 – Lead generation strategy: what works in substance use & mental health 03:40 – The omnichannel approach: why you can’t rely on just one channel 04:15 – Auditing clients: assessing brand, SEO, paid media, and more 05:24 – Website first: why your site is the foundation of all marketing 06:05 – Local SEO vs. national campaigns: where to start 07:00 – Customizing strategy for new vs. established facilities 07:45 – Budget allocation: SEO, PPC, and the marketing mix 08:35 – Minimum viable marketing mix & when to expand channels 09:00 – Typical high-performing channel mix (5-6 channels) 09:30 – Directory listings, backend processes, and referral relationships 10:00 – Prioritizing channels when budgets are tight 11:00 – The danger of turning off campaigns too quickly 12:15 – How Google Ads “learning phase” works & why gradual changes matter 13:00 – Conversion data: online vs. offline, and why it’s crucial 14:00 – Integrating CRM, call tracking, and campaign optimization 15:00 – SEO pitfalls: local dominance, transactional keywords, and domain authority 16:00 – Content that converts: human writers, brand resonance, and nurturing leads 17:00 – Subtlety in nurture campaigns: staying top of mind without being pushy 18:00 – Social media’s role: video, mission-driven content, and Messenger campaigns 19:00 – The growing importance of video for SEO and brand awareness 20:00 – Emerging channels: AI search engines and optimizing for AI overviews 21:00 – Marketing myths: “Google Ads doesn’t work” and how to avoid common mistakes 22:00 – Final takeaway: Don’t put all your eggs in one basket—embrace omnichannel! 23:30 – Where to connect with Jake Gorman & MGMT Digital

    30 min

  4. OCT 1

    Alumni Programs: Why Your Treatment Center Needs One & How Tech Can Make it Work with Ben Wilkins

    Are you making the most of your treatment center’s alumni network? In this episode, guest host Cliff McDonald, Chief Growth Officer of Recovery.com, sits down with Ben Wilkins, General Manager of Cared For (a division of Continuum Cloud), to reveal why alumni programs are no longer a “nice to have”—they’re essential for long-term recovery, growth, and community. Discover how technology, peer support, and smart engagement can transform outcomes for both patients and providers. — Explore mental health and addiction treatment options: https://recovery.com/ — Learn more about Cared For: https://www.caredfor.com/ — Learn more about Continuum Cloud: https://continuumcloud.com/ — Connect with Ben on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bentwilkins/ In this episode, you’ll learn: Why alumni programs are now a must-have for treatment centersThe difference between having an alumni program and doing it wellHow alumni engagement drives referrals, retention, and growthThe pitfalls of relying solely on Facebook groups for alumni supportThe role of dedicated alumni coordinators and peer supportHow to measure outcomes and ROI for alumni programsThe impact of technology and apps on post-treatment engagementReal-world examples of top-performing alumni programsHow to create sustainable, meaningful touchpoints after dischargeThe future of alumni programming: AI, digital tools, and community Timestamps / Shownotes: 00:00 – Introduction & guest welcome 01:05 – Why alumni programs are essential in 2025 03:20 – The competitive advantage and common pitfalls 05:30 – Alumni as an “army of marketers” and referral drivers 08:00 – Personal stories: the impact of post-treatment silence 10:30 – Alumni programs as a marketing and outcomes tool 13:00 – What great alumni programs look like (and common mistakes) 16:00 – The limits of Facebook groups and the need for real engagement 18:30 – Technology’s role: apps, automation, and maintaining connection 22:00 – Measuring ROI: outcomes, referrals, and value-based care 25:00 – How to engage alumni before, during, and after treatment 28:00 – Building sustainable touchpoints and care journeys 30:00 – The future: AI, peer support, and evolving alumni engagement 32:00 – Final thoughts and takeaways

    32 min

  5. SEP 24

    The Power of Lived Experience: Leadership Lessons from Plugged In Recovery with Wade Muhlhauser

    Welcome to another episode of Recovery Reach! Guest host Cliff McDonald, Chief Growth Officer of Recovery.com, sits down with Wade Muhlhauser, CEO and founder of Plugged In Recovery, to explore how personal narrative and authenticity can become powerful assets in building a brand that truly converts in behavioral health. Wade shares his journey from corporate life to recovery leadership, revealing how vulnerability, data-driven strategy, and a people-first approach can transform both organizations and lives. Whether you’re a founder, marketer, or someone passionate about recovery, this episode is packed with actionable insights and inspiration. — Explore mental health and addiction treatment options: https://recovery.com/ — Learn more about Plugged In Recovery: https://pluggedinrecovery.com/ — Connect with Wade on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wade-muhlhauser-b9347735 Topics Covered: Wade’s founder story: from corporate to recovery leadershipThe power of authenticity and vulnerability in brandingReframing “conversions” as helping people, not transactionsBuilding admissions and marketing strategies with KPIs and systemsLeveraging technology and a strong tech stack in behavioral healthThe value of lived experience vs. business acumen in hiringLifestyle and alumni-driven content for audience growthEducating and supporting clients through the continuum of careCreating a proactive, differentiated content strategyTraining and coaching admissions/frontline staff for empathy and impactTime-Stamped Show Notes: 0:00 – Introduction: Meet Wade Muhlhauser and today’s topic1:05 – Wade’s journey: authenticity, vulnerability, and leadership4:30 – Embracing lived experience and being “outed” in recovery7:00 – Reframing conversions: people over transactions10:45 – Bringing corporate KPIs and systems into behavioral health15:00 – Tech stacks, business acumen, and competitive advantages20:00 – Building a team: lived experience vs. outside expertise25:00 – Lifestyle content, alumni engagement, and audience growth30:00 – Explaining the continuum of care and client education35:00 – Admissions playbooks, data, and experimentation40:00 – Training staff for empathy, compassion, and brand alignment45:00 – Lasting relationships, community trust, and closing thoughts

    40 min

  6. SEP 17

    From Marketing to Mission: True Differentiation in Behavioral Health with Jen Carvalho

    In this episode, host Clint sits down with Jen Carvalho, CEO of The Haven at College, to explore what truly sets behavioral health organizations apart. With over 20 years of executive experience and a personal journey in recovery, Jen shares her insights on authentic differentiation, leadership, and building a culture that delivers real impact for clients and staff alike. If you work in behavioral health, lead a team, or want to build a brand that stands out, this conversation is packed with actionable wisdom. — Explore mental health and addiction treatment options: https://recovery.com/ — Learn more about The Haven At College: https://thehavenatcollege.com/ — Connect with Jen on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jen-carvalhobh/ Key Discussion Points • Why most treatment centers sound the same—and how to break out of the sameness trap • The difference between external marketing and internal culture • How authentic clinical philosophy drives real differentiation • The importance of showcasing your team, not just your facilities • High turnover in behavioral health: causes and solutions • Building a culture of appreciation, ownership, and engagement • The power of niche: why The Haven focuses on college students • Aligning marketing and clinical teams for brand integrity • Leadership’s role in creating a healing, resilient organization • Jen’s personal recovery journey and how it shapes her leadership Timestamped Show Notes 0:00 – Introduction to the episode and guest, Jen Carvalho 0:35 – Jen’s background: CEO of The Haven at College, 20+ years in behavioral health, personal recovery story 1:18 – Why “differentiation” in treatment centers is often just surface-level marketing 2:37 – The real value: deep clinical philosophy and internal focus 4:39 – The challenge of turnover and why many centers don’t showcase their staff 7:48 – How to honor and elevate your team, and why it matters for clients 8:48 – Industry turnover rates: 35-40% and the emotional toll of the work 10:10 – Burnout, career advancement, and the need for self-care in behavioral health 11:57 – Jen’s approach to building culture and professional development 13:37 – The importance of supporting staff and recognizing their impact 16:22 – Authentic differentiation: supporting clinicians’ passions and specialties 18:10 – Telling stories of change: making clinicians and staff the heroes 20:22 – The role of every team member in creating a healing environment 22:06 – The power of niche: why The Haven focuses on college students and the benefits of specialization 25:36 – Marketing vs. clinical: bridging the gap for brand authenticity 28:36 – Leadership’s responsibility: vision, culture, and empowering teams 31:32 – Jen’s recovery journey and how it informs her leadership style 34:37 – Final thoughts: the value of focus, alignment, and human connection in behavioral health

    40 min

  7. SEP 10

    Data-Driven, Human-Focused: The Future of Behavioral Health Marketing with Matthew Fung-a-Fat

    Welcome to an in-depth conversation with Matthew Fung-A-Fat, digital marketing leader at Acadia Healthcare. In this episode, we dive into the world of behavioral health marketing, exploring how data and analytics can drive better outcomes, ethical marketing practices, and the human side behind every click and conversion. Whether you’re running a local IOP or a national network, you’ll find actionable insights on metrics, experimentation, and the future of data-driven healthcare marketing. Explore mental health and addiction treatment options: https://recovery.com/ Learn more about Acadia Healthcare: https://www.acadiahealthcare.com/ Connect with Matthew on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-fungafat Key Topics Covered: • The importance of data in behavioral health marketing • Which marketing metrics matter most (and which are overrated) • Understanding the full marketing funnel: from website visits to admissions • Qualitative vs. quantitative data: why both matter • The role of experimentation and A/B testing in healthcare marketing • Ethical data practices and privacy in healthcare • Overcoming challenges with tracking, attribution, and fragmented platforms • How to keep marketing human-centered and empathetic • Building a useful data infrastructure for treatment centers • The future of behavioral health marketing: AI, personalization, and beyond Timestamps: 0:00 – Introduction: Why data matters in behavioral health marketing 0:48 – Meet Matthew Fung-A-Fat & his approach to ethical, outcome-driven marketing 2:00 – Which metrics matter most? Funnel metrics, admissions, and outcomes 3:30 – Qualitative data: scoring calls, understanding lead quality 5:00 – How Acadia tracks and rates calls, and the challenges of attribution 7:00 – Key website metrics: unique visitors, conversion rates, dwell time 9:00 – Troubleshooting website performance: SEO, engagement, and clinical questionnaires 11:00 – What’s a “good” dwell time? Segmenting by service line and user intent 14:00 – Designing and running marketing experiments in healthcare 17:00 – A/B testing in action: button language, clarity, and conversion 20:00 – Learning from data: when metrics mislead and how to course-correct 23:00 – Keeping marketing human: empathy, testimonials, and voice of customer 27:00 – Privacy, cookies, and ethical tracking in healthcare 30:00 – Building a data infrastructure: spreadsheets, CRMs, and analytics tools 34:00 – The future: AI, personalization, and smarter campaigns 36:00 – Where to learn more about Matthew and Acadia Healthcare 37:00 – Final thoughts: Better marketing, better outcomes

    32 min

  8. SEP 3

    Bridging Sales & Marketing for Growth in Behavioral Health with Daniel Krasner

    In this episode of Recovery Reach by Recovery.com, we sit down with Daniel Krasner, former Chief Marketing Officer at Summit Behavioral Healthcare (Summit BHC), about bridging the gap between sales and marketing in the behavioral health industry. Daniel shares his unique journey from business development to the C-suite, revealing the mental and tactical shifts required to lead both teams. The conversation covers building in-house marketing, the power of attribution, local branding, alumni programs, and the future of targeted, data-driven campaigns. Packed with real-world stories and actionable insights, this episode is a must-listen for anyone in healthcare marketing or business development. Explore mental health and addiction treatment options: https://recovery.com/ Learn more about Daniel's consulting & interventionist services: https://dksolutionsgroup.com/ Connect with Daniel on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielkrasner 00:00 – Intro: Why sales and marketing must work together 01:12 – Daniel’s background: From business development to CMO 02:15 – The shift from sales to marketing leadership 03:30 – Learning digital marketing from scratch 05:00 – Building a digital marketing team and hiring agencies 07:00 – In-house vs. agency: Pros, cons, and lessons learned 09:00 – Aligning business development and marketing strategies 10:45 – Navigating team tensions and communication challenges 13:00 – The importance of attribution: Tracking what works 15:00 – Tools and processes for measuring ROI 17:00 – Creating local awareness and building community trust 19:00 – Launching new facilities: Pre-opening strategies 21:00 – The role of content, SEO, and Google reviews 23:00 – Balancing brand storytelling with performance marketing 25:00 – Feedback loops: Sales, marketing, and operations working together 27:00 – Best practices for regular team communication 29:00 – Alumni programs: Leveraging testimonials and reviews 31:00 – The future of behavioral health marketing: Personalization & innovation 33:00 – Daniel’s next chapter and how to connect 34:00 – Final thoughts and takeaways Key Takeaways: Sales and marketing alignment is crucial for growth and patient acquisition.Data-driven attribution enables smarter marketing investments.Local branding and authentic community engagement build trust.Regular, structured feedback between marketing, business development, and operations teams prevents miscommunication.Alumni programs and testimonials are underutilized assets for reputation and referrals.The future is in targeted, persona-based, and multi-channel campaigns.

    46 min
See All (23)

About

Welcome to Recovery Reach, the podcast for behavioral health leaders looking for specific marketing and business tactics that can scale their impact.

Information

  • Creator
    Recovery.com
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    23
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Recovery Reach
  • Show Website
    Recovery Reach