A life changed by Sober Living

readyHi, I’m Don Peters. I’m an alcoholic.

I’ve introduced myself that way in many rooms and situations over the last 24 or so years, and, yes, some of them have been odd. And it all started here, in Cannery Village, in a meeting in which I met the principal owner of Sober Living by the Sea, Carl Mosen.

We headed in different directions after having started out together. I went back to school fairly soon after getting sober and am just now approaching the end of that process, and because it all started here, I’d like to take the opportunity to describe some of that journey.

I had attended Louisiana State University for my apprenticeship in alcoholism, hanging around there for about six years, got thrown out twice, joined the Marine Corps Reserves somewhere in all of that, then wandered off. I would not grace the halls of academe for another 13 years, after I got sober.

I had 250 units attempted and didn’t have a “C” average, so I had to (got to) go to Orange Coast College before Long Beach State would accept me -- that acceptance took a year of taking classes through its extended education program, and I had to achieve straight A’s for that time. That was part of the deal.

I completed my bachelor’s degree in research psychology (with distinction). That took 2 1/2 years, and then I went to work as a counselor in chemical dependency at Starting Point of Orange County in Costa Mesa.

After about two years, I had worked out a loan program that allowed me to pursue graduate work, and I completed the coursework for a master’s degree in research and clinical psychology, and I joined the clinical staff at Charter Hospital in Fountain Valley as a family therapist in the chemical dependency and psychiatric units.

Charter Hospital then closed -- I was assured that it was no fault of mine -- and off I went to join the field staff at UCLA’s Drug Abuse Research Center in the NeuroPsychiatric Institute. I conducted part of a comprehensive field study concerning cocaine and heroin abuse, and we pretty well concluded, after thorough examination, that those aren’t good things.

The grant for that research dwindled, and I moved over to USC’s Neighborhood Academic Initiative as academic coordinator and, through association with the various departments on that campus, became aware of my desire to work with athletes in some sort of counseling position.

I returned to Long Beach State and completed the coursework for a master’s degree in sport and exercise psychology, and worked as an academic advisor to student-athletes as I completed those courses and began my doctorate in clinical psychology with a specialization in sport psychology at the San Diego University for Integrative Studies.

As the time approached for me to begin to amass 3,000 supervised clinical hours to be licensed as a clinical psychologist, I approached my old friend, Carl Mosen, and asked him to consider creating a position for me at Sober Living, which he and Executive Director William Swiney graciously did some 15 months ago.

I am currently a case manager in the residential program, with a very limited caseload as I am also the family therapist in the alternatives program. Further, I am a clinical consultant to the TEACH program, as I have extensive experience in academic endeavors, and I administer psychological testing to all programs.

It all started here. I have “come home,” as it were, and find myself in the astonishing position of being able to give back directly to the community that gave my life back to me those 24 years ago.

I am now a member of the finest clinical team with which I have ever been associated, and again, if one made it through all the degrees and positions listed above, that distinction may take on the gravitas it deserves -- I’ve served with the best, and believe that I am doing so now.

I cannot count the moments in which families have thanked me for giving their son, daughter, brother, sister, husband, wife back, expressing the gratitude I feel for having been helped out of the darkness enough for me to now lead the way for others.

It all started -- and continues -- here.

DON PETERS

Lakewood

20060125it9n9zncDOUGLAS ZIMMERMAN / DAILY PILOT(LA)Don Peters of Lakewood credits the Sober Living program, which has a facility in Newport’s Cannery Village, for helping turn his life around.