Today we’d like to introduce you to Joe Masinter.
Hi Joe, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My passion and inspiration was born from self-inflicted pain and suffering. To put it simply, I suffered from the confines of addiction for nearly a decade. What began with recreational “fun” and experimentation resulted in an unrecognizable existence from which all potential that life had to offer had seemingly diminished.
My first drug-related hospitalization was at 16 years old, my first rehab was at 23, and I did not get sober until I was 26. These 10 years were riddled with Xanax, cocaine, oxycodone, and, ultimately, heroin. Between 23 and 26, I went to treatment 4 times, had a handful of seizures, and many near-death experiences. None of which was enough to wake me up from the insanity that addiction had brought about in my life. By the time my sanity had been restored, I had nothing left in life besides my family. They never gave up on me when I certainly deserved to be pushed aside. I am forever grateful to them.
Getting sober was the first objective. I knew in my heart that I could not use drugs or alcohol anymore. My mind, however, was trying to convince me otherwise. A constant state of tug-o-war between my mind and my heart. Only with time did I learn to discern which part of me was speaking to me when deciding an action to take. Much like the devil and an angel on each shoulder both speaking to me in the same tone and voice.
Though there was a battle going on internally, one thing was abundantly clear- I couldn’t trust myself to make a productive decision for myself. I had to rely on guidance from others who had achieved what I hoped for. This willingness did not come easy, but it was a necessity. Ultimately, I began to feel clear-headed but was stuck in the redundancies of treatment programming. I leaned into the gym, meditation, 12-step programs, and nutritional experimentation to set and achieve micro-goals. The fundamental lessons of discomfort, trust, faith, and execution led me to finally taking agency over my own life and developed the state of confidence that comes with that achievement.
As I navigated my experience as a client in rehab and ultimately as a professional working in treatment, I began to recognize there was something terribly wrong with the mental health/addiction industry. As a result, I decided to take a step away from working within the problem and providing help where it is most needed: the education of the families and the coaching of clients in treatment.
Although I have qualms with the treatment industry, I believe it is most important to note that there are some amazing individuals and treatment programs out there. The tricky part for the families seeking help is knowing who is trustworthy and who is not. On a professional level, addressing this problem was one of my primary goals in launching Good Morning Recovery. On a personal level, my goal was, and is, simply to help as many people as possible.
Now, 2.5 years beyond Good Morning Recovery’s inception, I can say we have helped an exceptional amount of people rebuild their lives. We are now looking to scale our services, and we are proudly looking forward to the journey ahead.
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?
There have definitely been some struggles along the way. Similar to the messaging we pass to our clients, I operate under the optimistic view that the most beautiful aspects of life come following a significant struggle. On a personal and professional level, what I have gathered along the way is that I learn the least when life is easy, and when things do get tough, it’s up to me to find the lesson in the pain. For example, the most profound perspective shift I’ve experienced was when I recognized the value in my decade-long battle with addiction. I had the realization that I could leverage all the pain I put myself and my loved ones through and use it as a catalyst for good. The results of this pursuit have been nothing short of astonishing. To elaborate on some of the specific struggles, I have been the only one working on building this business, so there was a steep learning curve. If I had to simply identify the biggest hurdles, it would be: the volatility of client acquisition, the allocation of time and resources, and work/life/recovery balance.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Good Morning Recovery?
Good Morning Recovery is a coaching and consulting business in the addiction and mental health field. To put it simply, we assist families that have loved ones struggling with addiction/alcoholism/mental health issues. These families often find us after multiple prior failed attempts. We guide both the family and the individual to build a framework of lasting health and recovery.
At Good Morning Recovery, we go beyond recovery. Although recovery is the foundation from which we build, we separate ourselves from others in the industry by setting the individual and the family up for a lifetime of success. One of the most common questions among individuals getting sober is, “Once I get sober, what’s next?” I wondered the same thing.
I built this business upon the understanding that when it comes to getting loved ones the help they need, families tend to feel directionless, and they are often misled along the way. Given my family and I’s personal experience, I knew this is where I wanted to make my impact.
From the first call with a family, we begin to understand the client’s individual background, any prior attempts at recovery, and their personal needs.
We then assess that information and establish a customized treatment plan that we believe will bring about the best results.
If I were to draw up the typical roadmap for a client of ours, it would be as follows: Intervention, treatment placement, recovery coaching, wellness program, employment/school enrollment, mentorship/accountability, and finally off boarding.
After a client’s first three months with us, they move on to our wellness program. Our comprehensive 3–6-month wellness program takes clients through individualized coaching involving personalized nutrition, personal training, and spirituality. In addition to our in-house health and wellness programming, we offer additional Eastern healing modalities, such as acupuncture, at a premium through our partners.
Once our clients become sound in their recovery, the health of their mind and body reestablished, and their relationship to themselves restored, we begin getting them back into the workforce or school.
At this stage of the process, we take a step back and operate as a mentor and accountability partner to help them navigate these new stressors in life while also helping them foster their confidence and independence.
It’s typical for a client to work with Good Morning Recovery for 6-18 months. The vast range is entirely dependent on the individual’s needs, goals, and progress.
As far as our brand goes, our results are our brand. In 2023, 100% of our clients that worked with us for over 60 days are still sober today. Some have over a year; some have 6-9 months. They are all doing amazing. Secondly, our brand is our outstanding team. The team that we wrap around our clients are the most loving, compassionate, and action-oriented individuals I have ever known. I wouldn’t trade them for anything.
Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I believe risk is how we progress as individuals in life. Without risk, there is no significant failure. Without significant failure, there are no valuable lessons. Without valuable lessons, there is no growth. Without growth, there is stagnation. Nothing seems less appealing than stagnation to me. I lived that for too long.
Though risk-taking is not easy, it is necessary to have the life I choose to live. I lived a life of chaotic stagnation for 10 years in my addiction and walked away from that experience with a paralyzing fear of success and failure.
I was a product of institutionalization. The only remedy I had to deal with the progressive depths of which I felt eternally bound was to use drugs and alcohol. These two things were killing me yet saving me at the same time. In my mind at the time, at least there was security in knowing where that path would lead me: institutions, jail, or death.
Getting sober was a massive risk. At least, I thought it was. I had no identity to attempt to get back to as my formative years as a young man were developed behind the persona that drugs and alcohol had created. There was exceptional fear behind not knowing who I was. Would my friends still like me? Would I like me? Would I be able to achieve the goals I set in life? How would I respond to failure? Will I be able to handle rejection in relationships? Would I be able to have fun? All of these questions were terrifying as a newly sober individual. Through time, repetitions, failure, and success, I learned to live life through faith rather than fear. As a result, all of these fears became irrelevant.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.gmrecovery.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gm.recovery/
