A man and a woman take a selfie on paddleboards in the water, with the man winking and smiling.

7 YEARS IN RECOVERY

It’s all about you.

Your story comes first. Mine matters because I’ve lived it.

Lived experience matters when seeking help in recovery. It shows up in the trenches, when things get tough. This is where Peer Recovery wins over clinical options every time: through shared experience.

Sepia toned photo of a man with curly hair and beard, smiling slightly, with text '2 WKS RECOVERY' at the bottom.
A sepia-toned photo of a man with a beard, wearing a straw hat, looking slightly to the side. Text at the bottom reads '18 HEAVY USE'.
A sepia-toned photo of a smiling woman and man sitting together at a table in a restaurant, with the caption '3 YRS RECOVERY' at the bottom of the image.
Polaroid-style photo of a man with a beard, sitting with arms crossed, in a room with a closed door and a trash can visible in the background. Caption reads '19 Detox Intake'
A man taking a selfie with two dogs inside a vehicle. The man is happy, wearing a headset microphone. One dog is light-colored and looking at the camera, the other darker and looking away. The caption reads '6 YRS RECOVERY'.

Alone and Dying on an island in brazil

Recovery Story

In early 2019, after decades of heavy drinking and somehow achieving my dream life in the process, I found myself at the end of the road, 5,000 miles from home. I also found a Recovery Coach who saved my life.

Split-screen portrait of a man wearing a baseball cap and a woman with glasses, smiling, with text overlay reading 'Michele D. Perron PhD'
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How I Did It

At a Glance

I used multiple paths to get sober.

Early on, I needed to stabilize before entering medical detox. From there, I combined peer support, structured treatment, and long-term lifestyle change.

Recovery continues to evolve. New tools are emerging, and there are more options than ever. What matters is finding what actually works and staying with it.

recovery paths leveraged by % over sustained recovery *Faith-based is optional at One Sober Human

Financial investment by recovery path v. perceived value over seven years

Compatibility

Who You’re Working With

Choosing who you work with matters.

There’s a balance between taking action and overthinking it. If something isn’t a fit, you should be able to pivot quickly. What helps most is alignment in experience, values, and communication.

What I’ve Worked On

Professional Background

Two construction workers on a building site, one holding a wooden sheet and the other working on the frame of a structure.

LABOR

A person wearing a beanie and a mask, giving a thumbs-up, with a surfboard in front of them and a construction site or wooden surface background.

MANUFACTURING

A group of young people laughing and smiling while working on laptops in a library or classroom, with bookshelves in the background.
Group of people gathered indoors, participating in a ribbon-cutting event, with a

EXECUTIVE

CREATIVE

Two men engaged in a serious conversation at a table in a well-lit room with large windows. One man, facing away, is wearing a light-colored shirt; the other, facing forward, is wearing a dark shirt.

HUMAN

A chef wearing a white uniform and gloves, focused on cooking in a professional kitchen, with a dark background.

SERVICE

I’ve worked across a range of environments and roles. That range allows me to meet people where they are, whether that’s in a boardroom, a job site, or somewhere in between.

Cultural Competency

Where I’ve Lived

An old weathered barn with a small loft, surrounded by a cornfield, and a grain silo nearby in black and white.

MIDWEST

Black and white photo of the Golden Gate Bridge spanning over water, with a city skyline in the background.

WEST
COAST

A black and white photograph of a lighthouse on a rocky coastline with a house nearby and sailboats in the distance on the ocean.
Ancient stepped pyramid surrounded by trees, with a grassy foreground, in black and white.

CENTRAL
AMERICA

EAST
COAST

Black and white photo of the Christ the Redeemer statue on a mountain top, overlooking a valley with mountains in the background.

SOUTH
AMERICA

Black and white photo of snow-covered mountainous landscape with evergreen trees and winding roads.

MOUNTAIN
WEST

Different cultures approach alcohol and recovery in different ways. I’ve lived in enough places to understand how much that matters, and how to work within it.

Personal Interests

What Keeps Me Going

A snowboarder in a jacket and helmet jumping off a snowy mountain slope with rocky outcroppings, snow-capped mountains in the background, and a cloudy sky.

SNOW

A person riding a mountain bike and jumping off a dirt ramp in a mountainous landscape with snow-capped peaks in the background.

CYCLE

A man wearing a white knit cap and headphones, sitting in front of a microphone, with blackboards with writing on them in the background.
A person kneeling with hands clasped together in prayer, head bowed and eyes closed.

THEOLOGY

CONTENT

A romantic moment between a bride and groom at their wedding, with their foreheads touching and eyes closed.

FAMILY

A woman surfing on a wave in the ocean, wearing a wetsuit, with houses in the background.

SURF

The things that keep you moving matter. They often become the foundation for a new identity in recovery.

Let’s Talk About You!

If you’re considering One Sober Human, reach out here or book a session. We’ll keep it simple and focus on what actually helps right away.