Inspiring Conversations with Mark Manderson of Pacific Shores Recovery

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mark Manderson.

Hi Mark, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
This work was never meant to be about me.

It started with a moment that shaped everything. When I was eight years old, my aunt moved into our home while struggling with addiction. She slept in my room. One morning, I found her on the floor surrounded by pills. I still remember the sound of them crunching under my feet as I tried to wake her. My mom revived her that time. Months later, she overdosed again, and there was no one there to save her.

That experience planted a seed.

As I grew older and eventually entered this field, I saw the same pattern over and over. High-capacity people. Leaders. Parents. Professionals. Not broken, not weak, but overwhelmed. Carrying unresolved pain, anxiety, and shame with no tools to process it. Addiction was never the root. It was the symptom.

Pacific Shores Recovery was built from that understanding.

What began as a small vision rooted in faith, service, and compassion has grown into a mental health primary program because of the people who carry this mission with me every day. Our team is the heartbeat of everything we do. Clinicians, case managers, admissions, operations, support staff. Each one shows up with skill, integrity, and deep care for the humans we serve.

We don’t believe recovery is a solo act. Healing happens in safe relationships. It happens when people are seen, challenged, and supported consistently. That philosophy applies not only to our clients, but to how we operate as a team.

Today, my role is to protect the vision and empower leaders. The real impact happens through a group of people who believe that sobriety is only the beginning and that long-term freedom comes from healing the mind, body, emotions, and relationships.

Pacific Shores is not a person. It is a collective commitment to helping people rebuild lives they no longer want to escape from.

That is the work. And that is the team behind it.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Not at all. And I don’t think it’s supposed to be.

Building something meaningful always comes with resistance. The biggest struggles weren’t external at first. They were internal. Learning how to lead instead of trying to do everything myself. Letting go of control. Trusting others with the mission I care so deeply about.

There were seasons of financial pressure, team turnover, regulatory hurdles, and moments where growth forced uncomfortable change. We had to rebuild systems while still serving clients. We had to raise standards while protecting culture. And we had to evolve from a passion-driven startup into a disciplined, sustainable organization without losing our heart.

On a personal level, leadership exposed every blind spot I had. Burnout. Overextension. Carrying too much responsibility alone. I learned the hard way that being strong doesn’t mean doing everything yourself. It means building people, systems, and support around a shared vision.

The struggles shaped us.

They clarified who we are, what we stand for, and what we will not compromise. Every challenge forced refinement. Better structure. Stronger leaders. Deeper alignment.

Looking back, the road wasn’t smooth. But it was necessary. And it’s the reason we’re able to serve people at the level we do today.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Pacific Shores Recovery is a mental health and addiction treatment center built to help people heal at the root, not just manage symptoms.

What we do is simple to say, but hard to do well. We help people stabilize, understand their inner world, and rebuild their lives with structure, purpose, and connection. Mental and emotional health come first. When those heal, sobriety becomes sustainable.

We are known for depth.

Our team specializes in working with high-functioning individuals who are quietly struggling. People who look successful on the outside but are anxious, disconnected, overwhelmed, or numbing. We focus heavily on nervous system regulation, emotional literacy, identity work, and relationship repair. Clients don’t just learn how to stop behaviors. They learn how to lead themselves differently.

What sets us apart is how integrated our approach is. Clinical excellence. Structured daily routines. Clear 30, 60, and 90 day client journeys. Strong family involvement. And a team culture that treats people like humans, not charts. Healing happens in relationships, and our team models that every day.

Brand wise, I am most proud of our consistency and our culture.

Pacific Shores is not dependent on one personality. It is built on shared values, clear standards, and a team that genuinely cares. Our clinicians, case managers, admissions, and operations staff are aligned around one mission. Help people build lives they no longer want to escape from.

What I want readers to know is this. We are not a quick fix. We are not a surface level program. We are for people who are ready to go deeper, take responsibility, and do the real work of change with support.

Pacific Shores is a place where people are believed in until they believe in themselves.

If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
The most important quality has been honesty. With myself first. Then with others.

Early on, I learned that you can’t lead people anywhere you’re unwilling to go yourself. I had to be honest about my blind spots, my limits, my tendency to overcarry, and my need to grow as a leader. That honesty forced me to build a team instead of a dependency, systems instead of chaos, and culture instead of control.

It also shows up in how we operate. We tell the truth to clients. We don’t promise quick fixes. We don’t avoid hard conversations. Real healing requires real honesty, and the same is true in business.

That commitment to truth, even when it’s uncomfortable, has been the foundation of everything that’s worked.

Pricing:

• We work on individualized plans

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.pacificshoresrecovery.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pacificshoresrecovery/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Pacificshoresrecovery/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@pacificshoresrecovery