How do you do this work?

I got into the field with the expectation of staying for a few years while I pursued my MSW. I never left. There are few places you can work where you see such dramatic changes in people over such a short period of time.

Do you think people really ever recover?

After 35 years, I still run into people that have long term sustained recovery. I also now work with individuals who came through treatment and they are making a difference in the world.

Isn't treatment just a money grab?

I have worked with some incredibly dedicated people who really care about individuals and families suffering with SUD. I have seen treatment work, and I believe in it.

How do people live with themselves when they get into recovery?

Brutal honesty and acceptance. We all have done things that make us shudder, but we learn to live with our mistakes and try to do better.

Vital Voyage
Author of the Month:
Sandy Rivers

Author of the Month is a spotlight series honoring one standout contributor whose voice, expertise, and impact have made a significant difference in mental health education and recovery awareness. Each month, we feature one author’s most powerful articles, insights, and personal story.

Author of the Month Posts

Woman sits alone in a Substance Use Recovery Services hallway, head bowed beside a quote poster; quiet, somber mood.

The Mothers We Blame: Substance Use Disorder, Motherhood, and the Double Standard

Sandy Rivers examines the double standard faced by mothers with substance use disorder. Drawing from family history, clinical experience, and her daughter's recovery, she shows how shame blocks treatment and why women recover better with dignity, allies, relationships, and community.

Sandy Rivers

3 days ago

A young girl sits on a blanket in a park, handing lunches to her three siblings;

Chronic Stress and Long-Term Health in Children of Substance Use Disorder

Sandy Rivers, MA, CASAC-M, RCP, shares how SUD in the home can force children into adult roles, chronic stress, hypervigilance, health problems, and isolation. Her granddaughter’s story shows why children need practical, relationship-based support long before adulthood.

Sandy Rivers

Jul 9

Worried woman in a striped shirt holds a phone to her ear at a table, with a blurred child behind her against a plain wall.

Caught Between Love and Safety: Families Navigating Addiction and Survival

Sandy Rivers opens July's Author of the Month with a family story about grandparents forced to protect children during a daughter's opioid use disorder. The piece explores love, safety, court, peer support, and the hidden burden families carry alone.

Sandy Rivers

Jul 3

A Conversation With Sandy

Author Q and A With Sandy

Favorite Quote

Sandy Rivers

portrait of Vital Voyage publisher Tom OConnor

Publishers Note

Sandy Rivers founded Authentic Trainings LLC 28 years ago and brings more than 35 years of experience as a trauma and substance use disorder clinician. She is also a gifted author, speaker, and subject-matter expert whose work reflects the heart of Vital Voyage Blog: expert insight, lived experience, and hope for healing.

Through her writing, Sandy brings compassion and clarity to the realities of substance use disorder, recovery, and family healing. She has a rare ability to write about deeply personal struggles with honesty, tenderness, and professional wisdom.

We are deeply grateful for Sandy's voluntary service to Vital Voyage Blog and for the many ways she has helped strengthen our mission, content, and community.

BIO

Sandra Rivers, MSW, is the founder of Authentic Trainings LLC. She utilizes her 30+ years of experience working in SUD and trauma to create practical, compassionate, and relatable training content for organizations.

Personally, Sandy states:

"I was the wi ld child. I love nature and all creatures. I have horses, dogs, cats, and birds. I have always said that horses saved my life as a teenager. They kept me grounded, focused, and courageous."

Kristin Onderdonk of the STOP and FLOW with KO podcast interviewed Sandy Rivers about alternative approaches to creating safe spaces beyond talk therapy.

In their discussion, Sandy shares the holistic and somatic approaches used at Authentic Trainings to support substance use disorder recovery. They explore techniques like drum circles and the STOP & FLOW practice, which help create safe spaces for healing, especially for women overcoming trauma and isolation.

Vital Voyage Blog

Expert voices, human stories, real recovery.