About
Helping People Heal, Grow, and Rebuild
Recovery is about more than stopping a behaviour — it’s about restoring stability, rebuilding trust, and learning how to live well in the world again. Ford Recovery offers steady, personalized guidance that meets you where you are and adapts as your life evolves.
Meet Derek
My own journey through addiction and recovery has shaped how I understand healing — not as a single moment or solution, but as a process that unfolds over time through honesty, support, and steady effort. In my experience, recovery requires empathy, accountability, and hope, alongside practical tools that can be applied in real life.
I work with individuals and families navigating uncertainty, change, or the long road of recovery. Drawing on lived experience and professional training, I offer grounded, personalized support that meets people where they are — whether they are just beginning to seek clarity or working to build long-term stability and growth.
My approach is collaborative and attentive. I don’t believe in one-size-fits-all solutions or quick fixes. Instead, I focus on listening carefully, understanding context, and supporting people as they make informed, realistic choices about their recovery and their lives. This often means working alongside existing medical, therapeutic, or community supports when appropriate.
Ford Recovery was created to offer a steady, compassionate presence in what can often feel like a complex or overwhelming process. The work is not about perfection, but about progress — helping people heal what’s been disrupted, strengthen what already works, and rebuild a life that feels grounded, meaningful, and sustainable.
I work with clients online and in person, supporting individuals and families wherever they are in the world.
“Support rooted in empathy, delivered without judgment, informed by experience and evidence.”
FORD RECOVERYA Proven Framework for Recovery Support
I use CRAFT (Community Reinforcement & Family Training), an evidence-based and non-confrontational method, to guide families in supporting a loved one struggling with substance use by focusing on understanding, clear boundaries, and positive reinforcement instead of confrontation.
How CRAFT works
CRAFT helps family members and loved ones understand how substance use fits into the broader context of a person’s life. Together, we look at communication patterns, emotional responses, and everyday interactions that can either support recovery or unintentionally reinforce harmful behaviours.
The focus is on practical skills — improving communication, responding differently to challenging situations, and making thoughtful changes that support both the individual and the family system as a whole.
Why it’s different from traditional interventions
Traditional interventions often rely on confrontation or pressure, which can increase resistance and strain relationships. CRAFT takes a different approach by emphasizing collaboration, respect, and choice. Rather than forcing change, CRAFT helps create conditions where change becomes more likely — preserving trust while encouraging accountability and healthier decision-making.
Evidence and results
CRAFT is supported by decades of research and has been shown to improve family well-being while increasing the likelihood that individuals struggling with substance use seek help or make positive changes.
Equally important, CRAFT helps family members regain a sense of stability, clarity, and confidence — regardless of whether their loved one is immediately ready to change.
Is CRAFT right for you?
CRAFT may be a good fit if you’re feeling stuck, exhausted, or unsure how to help without enabling. It’s especially helpful for families who want a constructive, compassionate approach that doesn’t involve confrontation or ultimatums.
It’s also appropriate when safety, communication, and long-term relationship health matter just as much as immediate outcomes.
How Ford Recovery can help
At Ford Recovery, CRAFT principles are applied thoughtfully and flexibly, taking into account your unique situation, values, and concerns. Support is personalized, paced, and grounded in real-world understanding — not rigid formulas.
Whether you’re supporting a loved one, navigating your own recovery, or trying to make sense of next steps, this work is about creating steadiness, clarity, and forward movement over time.
Motivational Interviewing
Motivational Interviewing is a collaborative approach that supports people in exploring uncertainty and strengthening their own motivation for change. Rather than offering advice or direction, it focuses on listening carefully, asking thoughtful questions, and helping individuals clarify what matters to them.
This creates space for insight and self-direction, allowing change to emerge without pressure or judgment. At Ford Recovery, Motivational Interviewing is used to support realistic, sustainable progress — guided by the individual’s own values and readiness.
Sober Companionship
Sober companionship provides in-person support during situations where recovery may feel more challenging, such as social events, travel, or major life transitions. It offers a calm, steady presence focused on awareness, grounding, and practical support in real-world settings.
Rather than supervision or control, sober companionship is about walking alongside someone — helping them navigate moments as they arise and stay aligned with their recovery goals. This support is non-clinical in nature and is not crisis intervention or medical care.
