Empowering Families Kevin Petersen on Addiction, Boundaries, and Family Recovery Ep.79
Episode Overview
About Guest: Kevin Petersen
Kevin Petersen is a highly experienced licensed marriage and family therapist with over a decade of expertise in family systems and addiction recovery. He is the founder of Peterson Family Counseling in Denver, Colorado, where he offers therapy focused on helping families navigate the complexities of addiction. Kevin’s journey into the world of therapy began after 16 years of sobriety and a career shift in his 40s. Drawing from his personal experience in addiction recovery, he pursued his Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy at Regis University, becoming one of the first graduates of their program. His unique approach blends empathy with a firm commitment to accountability, aiming to guide families toward healthier dynamics.
In addition to running his private practice, Kevin founded the Chronic Hope Institute in 2020. This coaching platform extends his work beyond state boundaries, offering families across the country practical strategies for managing addiction within the household. His work focuses on empowering families to set firm boundaries, hold loved ones accountable, and prioritize their own well-being. He emphasizes that real change comes when the family system itself evolves to support recovery, an approach that has resonated with many who struggle to find lasting solutions to addiction.
Kevin also serves as the Director of Family Services at Jaywalker Lodge, a men’s addiction treatment center located in Carbondale, Colorado. At Jaywalker Lodge, Kevin works directly with families, helping them understand addiction, codependency, and the recovery process. His comprehensive approach is outlined in his two books, Chronic Hope: Parenting the Addicted Child and Chronic Hope: Families and Addiction, which provide step-by-step guidance for families dealing with addiction. Kevin’s passion for family recovery, paired with his deep personal and professional knowledge of addiction, has made him a trusted figure in the field.
Episode Transcript
Becky Coplen : Thankful to be sharing again on mastering counseling. We are so privileged to hear from Kevin Peterson today. He is the founder of Peterson Family Counseling. He also is the CEO of chronic Hope Institute. And because he’s that busy enough, even though he is, he also is the director of Family Services at Jaywalker Lodge. Thanks so much for giving us some of your time today, Kevin.
Kevin Petersen: Oh, Becky, it’s my pleasure. Thanks for having me. It is. I always look forward to this.
Becky Coplen : We love when people are excited to talk about their career and their service to humanity. So we will get right into why don’t we first talk about your practice that you said started about ten years ago, and how did that begin And who are you helping?
Kevin Petersen: Sure. So if you don’t mind, I might even go back a little bit further. So in 2007, I was 43 years old, and I was 16 years sober in the 12 step world. And I was at a space where I was really unhappy with my career and unhappy with my choices of work. And so I sat down and talked to a couple of friends of mine, both of which in their 40s had made career shifts, and one went into nursing. And I was like, science, no thanks. And I agree, I totally agree. I mean, more power to him, you know. And and then the other one was a therapist who had become a therapist. And we talked about that. And he’s like, you know, you’re you’re a natural. You love people. You love solving problems. You love helping people. You have a ton of personal experience. So I enrolled at Regis University in Denver, Colorado. It’s a little Jesuit school and their masters and counseling, and that after a year they opened up a master’s in marriage and family therapy. So I became one of the first graduates in 2011 of the MFT program. And then I worked for three years at a community mental health facility in Denver called Arapahoe Douglas Mental Health, doing child and family services and crisis work, a lot of in-home therapy for families that were in crisis. Yeah. Yeah. Because that was, you know, it was great. It was fun. I had a time in my life. And then in April of 2014, I opened up Peterson Family Counseling, and it was one of those things where I opened up one day a week, you know, just to try it on the side. And that was in April, and it filled immediately. All six slots were filled. And then in May of 2014, I opened up an evening and a weekend afternoon. They filled instantly. So now I’m making more money than than I am working for. You know, the Medicaid facility. So I very politely said, thanks, I’m going to move on and do my own thing. And I just never looked back. So.
Becky Coplen : Wow. That’s awesome. I love that you are one of the first graduates. And then you were loving the work and then it just compounded naturally and very quickly. So congrats on that long ago. So let’s then talk about how the practice look now. I think you have other people on staff. How is it running now?
Kevin Petersen: So Peterson Family Counseling is based in Denver, Colorado and I live in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. So I have an office here. I mean, it’s home office. I just do virtual. And then in Denver, I have three people right now that work for me on a contract basis in the office in Denver. And, you know, they’re kind of individual specialists, right? You know, I have one person that’s kind of a mini Kevin went to the same program, comes from the same background. The addiction and the family systems is her world. I have another person that does a lot of great individual work, and then I do have another person that does a lot of coaching in the family system. So yeah, that’s Petersen Family Counseling. And then yeah, I don’t know if we’re headed here. Am I jp here? Yes. in 2020 I got so many requests for families that were struggling with addiction outside of my state realm of licensing, that I talked to my lawyer, and she is like, you need to start another company, and you need to do different paperwork and you need to do coaching. And let’s be clear, coaching is you’re not going to be as in depth, you know. But that’s okay. So in 2020, I started the chronic Hope Institute and started doing coaching around the country. Wow.
Becky Coplen : Yeah, I love that the work is almost there for you before you say you’re ready for it. but I can tell in talking to you, you just love people, and I’m sure they feel very comfortable going to you in such a Difficult time in a family member struggling with addiction. So let’s maybe talk a little bit about the type of clients and what you’re seeing, and how it looks different from therapy for someone in addiction to coaching a family who’s trying to help or even step back, which I noticed on your website as well, that they have to take care of themselves as well. So let’s hear about some of those differences.
Kevin Petersen: Sure. So for the individual therapy for the so let me let me give you my philosophy. Sure. It made me popular. It may not be. And that’s okay too. Yeah. you’re never going to therapy someone sober. It just doesn’t work. And I know because I tried. I, as the client, you know. And then as the therapist I got super frustrated with that as well. And so what I realized is that my, my skills and my strengths, my gifts were to work within the family system and help them set boundaries and hold themselves accountable and hold their loved one accountable, and that that was the most successful approach to creating change in the family system. And if we can change the family system, we have a better chance of helping the individual get sober and stay sober. And so that philosophy is where I come from. we offer individual therapy, and we’re happy to work with people that are struggling with addiction. What they’re going to get a dose of is, well, if you want to get sober, these are the traditional methods to get sober. You don’t have to pay any. You know, you can go to a 12 step program. You can go to IOP, you can go to treatment. You know, that’s great.
Kevin Petersen: But if you’re just going to keep coming and seeing me every week and say, well, you know what, I got drunk again. Or I went out and did a bunch of drugs again. It’s like, that’s not I’m not doing you any favors as a therapist. So. Gotcha. Yeah, that’s kind of the philosophy. And so yeah, what I, I mean, my whole thing what happened is in 1990, my family circled the wagons and said, we love you, but we’re done. And we’re not doing this anymore. And until you’re willing to get help, we love you, but we’re going to keep you over here. Yeah. And I’d heard this before, you know, and I was like, oh, we’re going to do this again, you know, and and, you know, my work people would do it, my friends would do it, girls would do it. And I’d be like, oh, I’m for a new girlfriend. Time for a new job, you know? Yeah. Therapists would do it. I’d be like, time for a new therapist, you know? And so. But this time, they stuck to their guns, and they held their ground. And that’s what led me to getting sober in May of 1991. And I’ve been sober ever since.
Becky Coplen : Okay. Congratulations. That’s awesome. So, you know, a lot of times in mental health, you know, we’re always the empathic people and that type of thing. Do you run into people or family systems that are surprised when you encourage them to set the boundaries? Like, you know what I’m saying? Like it’s a little bit maybe I don’t want to know that it’s outside the box because I think it’s very healthy. But how does that look? Are people scared to say, no, we’re not letting them in their house or no, we’re not giving them money. Maybe talk about some of those details.
Kevin Petersen: Sure. No. And there’s two sides to that, right? Yeah. There’s the therapeutic approach which I definitely want to talk about. And then there’s working with the family. Here’s the thing. And this is so critical and so important to understand, you know, when it comes to you being a therapist and being empathetic and client centered and client driven, that’s great. Except with addiction, because if they’re actively using, they’re putting themselves in harm’s way and they’re, you know, they’re potentially doing something that could kill them or kill others. And so you can’t use the oh, what do you want to talk about? Or how does that make you feel process. You have to be like, so let’s talk about drugs and the alcohol. Where are you? What’s going on? Will you take a drug test? It has to be accountability. Accountability. Accountability. And and because you have to get the addiction, you know, under not control is a bad word. But arrested or you have to get you have to be addressing it constantly. If you’re not addressing it, you’re not doing your clients any favors. And I know that’s the opposite of what we get taught in graduate school. I get it, I totally get it. But that’s also why we’re successful is because we don’t dance. We’re like, oh no, no, until we talk about this, there’s nothing else to talk about, you know? Yeah. Now, working with the family, like you said, sure, there are plenty of times when I’ll have a conversation with a family and they’re like, yeah, we’re not going to do that.
Kevin Petersen: And then inevitably three months, six months, a year later, they’re like, so you remember when you said it was only going to get worse? I’m like, yeah. And you’re like, it’s worse. I’m like, I know I can’t begin to tell you the number of times I get a call from a treatment center saying, hey, thanks for the referral. And I’m like, what are you talking about? And then they’ll say, da da da da da da. I’m like, oh my God, that was a year ago, you know? And but that’s so by the way, I think the other thing I forgot to tell you is I wrote two books, about this chronic Hope and Families and Addiction. And the first one I wrote was called chronic Hope, Parenting the Addicted Child. And so I outlined the plan, the system that I use in here. And that’s so a lot of families will, like, catch me on social media. They’ll read a book, they’ll watch a video, and they’re like, okay, we’ve never done that. Yeah, we’ve never held him accountable. Him or her accountable? Yeah. And I’m like, okay, cool. Well that’s the only thing that works. And and so, you know we’re not bullies. I believe I believe in empathy and love and compassion. I believe in setting boundaries with love and compassion. But the answer’s no. Yeah. Yeah.
Becky Coplen : So no I hear that I love the realism and you know it is it’s like if someone’s under addiction their brain is not functioning you know. And so someone has to intervene. So I can totally understand that. And yeah thanks for clarifying that. And I love that you have your books. People can check them out. Either a they need the help or, you know, they want to think about going into this part of the field. Yeah. When we’re talking about addiction and substances, is it all across the board, alcohol, all different forms of drug activity. Okay.
Kevin Petersen: It’s alcohol, drugs and then processed addictions. Right? You know, sex, porn, shopping, gambling. Oh, gosh. I’m sure there’s others I’m forgetting. You know, food. You know, eating. Now let’s also be clear, I classify codependency as an addiction as well because that’s primarily what I spend most of my time with is, is people that are trying to control another person. Okay. And try to manage them, you know, handle them or take care of them. And it’s become an addiction for them. It’s become their life’s work is to take care of this person that’s struggling with addictions.
Becky Coplen : Yeah. So much very heavy when you’re working with the families, just, you know, a lot of times people meet with a coach or therapist once a week. Is it a little more intensive in the beginning and then maybe fans out to more time in between? How does the time frame look?
Kevin Petersen: Yeah, no, that’s a great question. So the system that I’ve kind of created, right? Is that so? Let’s say you call me and you’re like, you know, my husband or my partner or whatever. We use the proper term. Sorry.
Becky Coplen : You’re good. I have a husband. Okay, whatever.
Kevin Petersen: And that’s great. Yeah. And you can have whatever you want. I’m all in for everything. And then. But so is, you know, got a DUI or you struggle or, you know, fill in the blank and I’m like, okay, cool. Are you ready to start making some changes? Because a lot of times what they start with is, oh, I want to bring him in and so you can fix him. And I’m like yeah that’s not how this works. You know how this works is I’m going to help you change the dynamic of the relationship so that he has to take accountability for his behavior and his actions. And the way that’s going to happen is for you to take accountability for your behavior and your actions. And so the first phase is what I call triaging the crisis. You know, depending on where we are with the crisis. And by the way, this works with teenagers, adolescents, young adults. I’ve had 75 year olds, you know, so I helped the family set up a system of boundaries. There’s only three boundaries. No drugs, no alcohol. You have to go to work or school or some combination of the two. And that’s all about being self-supporting. And the last one is you have to work on your behavior and then there’s a boundary and they all say the same thing. Oh we tried that. It didn’t work. I’m like okay well what do you mean. Well he kept drinking.
Kevin Petersen: I’m like and then what did you do. And they’re like I don’t understand the question. I’m like, okay, what were the accountability and what was the consequences? And they’re like, oh, we didn’t do that. I’m like, okay, so setting a boundary and not having an accountability function and consequences or rewards is like driving past the cop who’s got a radar gun on you at double the speed limit and he just waves. Why would you slow down. You know there has to be accountability. And so that’s what I help them with. We set those three boundaries. We hold those boundaries. And instead of doing the old fashioned intervention, snatch and grab. Big emotional nuclear weapon blowout. I love you, but this isn’t working, and I want to help you. So if you are having if you can’t stay sober, we will help you find a way to stay sober. We’ll give you the support that’s necessary. If you can’t find a job or you’re struggling at school, we’ll help you with that. Will help you with your behavior with a therapist or whatever needs to happen. Iop program or whatever. But we’re not going to just sit there and go, oh gosh, I wonder why this isn’t working, you know? Yeah, it’s. And if and if you reject that help, then we’re going to have to talk about what the next step is, which may be, you know, some sort of separation. Okay.
Becky Coplen : Yeah. And just with accountability, when you’re helping the family, help the person who’s addicted. Would that be? You know, they’re suddenly handling all of the money. Do they? If they come across the substances, are they flushing them, throwing, or it’s all on the person and they’re just saying, if you’re not going to do your part, then I’m going to be removed or whatever it is we’re.
Kevin Petersen: Going to we’re going to put distance. I always tell the families, I’m taking you out of the addict management business. I don’t want you doing those things. That’s what you’ve been doing in the past, and it’s not working, by the way. Never ever, never ever, never ever flush medication.
Becky Coplen : Right. That’s true. I personally don’t have a lot of experience with it. I’m going by what I’ve seen in movies.
Kevin Petersen: I drink that water, you know.
Becky Coplen : I hear you. Yeah. Take it to the local place. That is a sign every few months or whatever and just.
Kevin Petersen: Go to most pharmacies. Have a box. Yeah. You just throw it in and it’s not. There’s not like somebody recording your name, you know, it’s just like, toss it in here, you know? So yeah, no, it’s really more about, you know, having transparency with your loved one and saying, you know, hey, I want to be clear that no, from from today forward, no drugs, no alcohol, and we’re going to drug test you and we’re going to get some we’re going to bring in a third party to do that. You know I’m not going to manage you. That’s not my job. It’s not my problem. But if you’re going to have a hard time with that, we will get you help. You know, we’ll get you a therapist or a coach or whatever you need, you know? Yeah. So it’s not. We’re not throwing anybody to the wolves, you know? Yeah, yeah.
Becky Coplen : But no, thanks for clarifying.
Kevin Petersen: Yeah.
Becky Coplen : Why don’t we talk a little bit about your work at the Jaywalker Lodge, which you were really excited to share, about which you work in family services there. And eventually, too, we’ll talk about how does your timetables look for these three big things that you’re a part of. Well, also personal life.
Kevin Petersen: What’s that? No, I’m kidding. I’m happily married. I have the most wonderful wife in the world. I can actually answer the last part first. I the right now my contractors get all the clients from Peterson Family Counseling and from the chronic Hope Institute. I’m a full time employee of the Jaywalker Lodge. I am the Director of Family Services, and so the Jaywalker Lodge is a 90 day program in Carbondale, Colorado. Men’s program for drug and alcohol and process addiction treatment. It’s been around for 20 years. It’s a phenomenal program. It’s very much what we call a community based engagement. So you’re not hospitalized. You’re not stuck in a room in an institutional environment. It’s, you know, the first couple of weeks we have what we call the landing, where you spend a couple of weeks there, sort of stabilizing. It’s a stabilization unit, but you’re still out and about, you know? Yeah, that’s kind of our philosophy is that the one of the worst things you can do to somebody is just contain them and expect them to try to get better. So, yeah, you know, the beauty of being in And the Mountains by Aspen, Colorado, there’s plenty of stuff to do, right? And and you’re building your network within your peers, your cohort that you’re in treatment with. And we do a combination of 12 step work therapy and psychiatry and then community based stuff. So, you know, the guys are out like cleaning up trails and cleaning up roads. And they’re giving back to the community. And so it’s really about teaching them how to be engaged with the world around them, you know, because a lot of times, guys that struggle with addiction have just isolated themselves down into this itty bitty little space, and they just don’t know how. Yeah. So that’s kind of the quickie version of the program. The first phase is 90 days, the second phase is another 90 days. And then a lot of guys stay up there and end up getting jobs in the area and then end up working for us. Wow.
Becky Coplen : Oh, I love that. You know, the giving back is amazing. And the outdoor I mean, I’m definitely not in this realm of work. I’m an elementary school counselor and then work with some families, but it’s like outdoors nature. We were just out west. It’s just so helpful. And I know, I know, it’s not for everyone, but, you know, getting out and doing some volunteering. I’m sure they’re voluntary if they’re in the treatment, but. Oh, yeah. You know, it’s fulfilling, even if you may not think it is at first. So that’s really awesome. I love that.
Kevin Petersen: Oh yeah. And that’s a big part of the 12 step recovery process as well is service to others and helping others. You know, here’s the irony, right? When I was in graduate school, like my first week there, I was walking across campus and I was talking to my sponsor in AA, and I saw the crest of the university, and it’s a Jesuit school. And it said Men and women in Service to others. And I told my sponsor I was like, you’re not going to believe this. And he’s like, oh, I fully believe it. You’re there for a reason, you know? I mean, you think you’re there to get an education. You know, like, there’s a much bigger purpose going on here, pal. Yeah, yeah. No.
Becky Coplen : That’s awesome. And, yeah, we need more of that. I mean, this society of everything about you all the time, it really ends up not being fulfilling for really anyone. Only a little bit.
Kevin Petersen: Yeah, well, you know what it is. I mean, to be totally honest with you, right? It’s feeding that whole dopamine hit of me, me, me. It’s because it just goes into your brain, processes up that dopamine, and it starts. It starts hitting all the same stuff as addiction, you know, and and it becomes sort of that never ending space where you’re never going to get enough. It’s, you know, we say, you know, one is too many and a million isn’t enough, you know? Yeah. And so that’s, that’s the phase that we want to get them disengaged from that process and start seeing that you can live life without drugs and alcohol or whatever your thing is, and you’ll do just fine. We’re not sentencing you to be boring, you know. Right, right. But a big element of that to sort of go back to your original question is the family and how the family system has to adapt and change also. Right? Because individuals come out of that family system. Now, I’m not blaming the family. Let’s be clear. That’s not how this works. The individual has to take accountability for their behavior and their actions. But the same thing goes into the family system too, is that they may have tolerated it or turned a blind eye to it, or even encouraged it. Who knows, you know, or they have a generational system that they just weren’t aware of, you know. Right. So it’s about what I spend my time doing at Jaywalker is actually working with the families all over the country. Educating them, meeting with them, doing therapy with them and then presenting them with this is what addiction looks like. This is what recovery looks like. This is what codependency looks like. This is what recovery looks like. This is what trauma looks like. This is what family recovery looks like. This is what communication looks like, and educating them into a new space so that when we bring everybody back together, we’re doing new stuff. We’re doing different stuff.
Becky Coplen : Yeah, total shift of lifestyle and purpose and all of that. So yeah. Yeah, you.
Kevin Petersen: Got to see you got it. All right.
Becky Coplen : Thank you. I guess, hire me though. So yeah, all that is amazing. And basically it’s like at this point in your career, you are working full time, for Jaywalker Lodge, and then I asse, checking in and having meetings with your businesses and the contract work that you do. So let’s talk a little bit on I know you do a lot on social media. Let’s talk about kind of the marketing, how you’re keeping these things going and maybe even in the past just for people who might be listening that are more on the front end, what would be some things you’d want them to know? How did you best use social media?
Kevin Petersen: Yeah. So for therapists that are just getting started or, you know, maybe they’re working somewhere else. And I’ll tell you what I did. I worked full time for a community mental health facility. And then I broke off like I was working Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday because I was doing a school based environment. And I don’t know why that was Saturday, but that’s just what it was. And so Friday I took Friday and made that my day and I opened up. I rented an office one day a week and created a private practice, you know, so I didn’t just graduate from graduate school and be like, I’m going to open up a practice, because the truth of the matter is, I wasn’t ready. I didn’t I didn’t know what to do, you know? I mean, the program I went to at Regis was wonderful and amazing, but I definitely needed more education and systems of how to do stuff. And, you know, I needed to deal with some stuff. You know, I needed to deal with some really gooey, interesting struggles and be like, oh, I can handle this. So that’s the first thing I would recommend is stick your toe in the water, you know, and just do a couple of pick up 4 to 6 clients a week on the side. Then the most important thing to do is what’s your niche? You know, you.
Kevin Petersen: So I have a degree in economics from USC and my undergraduate and in microeconomics, you know, what we talk about is what’s your specialty? What’s what makes you different from everybody else. Yeah. And so as a therapist, when I give advice to people that are starting out, I’m like, you’ve got to separate yourself from the crowd, you know, coming out and saying, I work with adolescents, teens, tweens, young adults, adults and geriatrics, and I do. Traa is not a specialty. Yeah. You have, you have to have a you know this is my specialty. Do I do other stuff? Of course I do. I’m trained and licensed, but this is my jam. This is my thing. If you talk to people in Denver, the therapeutic community, they’re like Kevin. Kevin does families and addiction. That’s that. That’s his thing. He and he is. That’s his world, you know. And they also know I do other stuff too. But that’s my jam. And so to me, for someone that’s starting out in a business that you want to separate yourself from the crowd and you want to create that specialty and that engagement. And the thing I always tell people is rely on your own personal experiences. You know, what did you come from? Because that’s going to be natural for you. Yeah.
Becky Coplen : So it’s kind of like when you go to the restaurant that has every single thing on the menu and then you know, it’s not going to be that good. No. As opposed to somewhere that has ten entrees, they know what they’re doing.
Kevin Petersen: Well, as I told my ex-wife, actually, we would go I she’d come full time. She’d come watch football with me at these sports bars and she’d order salmon. I’m like, what are you doing? You know, get a burger. You know. She’s like, this isn’t very good. I’m like, no kidding. Yeah.
Becky Coplen : I was somewhere yesterday that had prime rib sandwiches and prime rib and eggs, and we were all like this. This doesn’t feel right. No one ordered the prime rib for sure. Everyone was getting omelets and salads. Yeah, exactly. Oh, boy. So, on your social media, are you doing, like, reels? Are you doing advertising? How does that look?
Kevin Petersen: Yes and yes. I have not had a ton of success with the paid advertising, to be totally honest with you. Yeah. What I have done, kind of like I just said, the niching thing, you know, is, start doing more long lines. Like, I recorded a 12 part series of me explaining my journey recovery into my professional journey, you know? And so we post it each week, a three minute post on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. And I want to be clear, I’m not crushing it. You know, I’m not, I’m not big, you know, . That’s okay.
Becky Coplen : I know someone who got big and they got hacked. So, you know, it’s like.
Kevin Petersen: Yeah, exactly. But I get awareness from it and I get and that’s really all we’re looking for. And the other thing is don’t get caught up in like, and you know, how much traction you’re getting because you’ll spend your entire time chasing this invisible concept. What I tell people is just, you know, do your thing, you know, just be genuine, be authentic. Talk about yourself, talk about your experience, you know, and see what. And because that’s what’s going to resonate with people you know and be goofy. Be a little silly, you know, because honestly, I mean, I watch all that stuff. And in about 15 to 30s, if you haven’t caught my attention, I’m like, and we’re off, you know, and we’re moving and I don’t care. And you know, and I mean, I have to admit to having that attention span, but, you know, I’m not on there to get, you know, I’m not listening to a Ted talk. You know, I’m listening to a two minute gig, you know? Right. So, yeah.
Becky Coplen : Yeah. Hor is always good. Right. People want to laugh. And there’s so much serious, especially the work you’re doing. Yeah. You want to have some fun? For sure.
Kevin Petersen: Yeah. Yeah.
Becky Coplen : let’s talk about the next 5 to 10 years. And where do you see any major shifts, or have you thought of any more books that you want to write, anything in the future coming up?
Kevin Petersen: Well, in February I turned 60. And so I am 60 years old. I know I don’t look it. Absolutely not. I know I don’t look a day over.
Becky Coplen : You’re like a college student in your Harvard shirt, for sure.
Kevin Petersen: By the way, I’m wearing this. I’m pimping this because my niece, who graduated from Vanderbilt last year. And she was. Her name is Samantha Wyman, and she was the number one graduate in the sociology program at Vanderbilt. And her professors all encouraged her to go get a PhD in sociology. And guess where she’s going? Oh, well, I know, I was like, what? Yeah.
Becky Coplen : Vanderbilt. Top of the class to Harvard. Very impressive.
Kevin Petersen: Yeah, I know that’s what she got. This is a Tommy Bahama shirt, which is all I. It’s all I wear because I live at the beach.
Becky Coplen : Yeah.
Kevin Petersen: So where am I in ten years? happily at Jaywalker Lodge and happily having my side business is doing just fine. I love working at Jaywalker Lodge. The team is amazing. Everyone there is super committed to the welfare and the experience of the client and the client family. Okay, and I really feel good about that. As my wife says, I’m a team player, I like, I like to hang, I like people, I like hanging out and having fun. Even though I live in Florida and they’re in Colorado, I go out there about once a month.
Kevin Petersen: And we do a family experience also. And I run that. So I would kind of say this is probably this engagement that I have right now is just fantastic. Is there another book? Yeah. And my wife, my wife was the one that, like, twist my arm for me to write the books. she’s like, you need you need to write a book about your personal journey, your personal experience. Because she’s like you have. I lived in Spain for six months and drove a tractor, you know, and I and she’s like you, you just out of the blue drop stuff like. Oh, yeah, dinner with the Duke and Duchess of Wellington. And people are like, what? Right. And I’m not like, you know, name dropping. I’m like, oh, yeah. Well, I mean, they just lived down the street, so we went.
Becky Coplen : Yeah.
Becky Coplen : You weren’t afraid to go knock on their door.
Kevin Petersen: Well, yeah.
Kevin Petersen: Well, it was the one farm to another farm in Spain. But yeah. Yeah. You know, but she’s like, you know, you just people really enjoy your story. So just.
Kevin Petersen: You need to write.
Kevin Petersen: Your story and tell your story and that. So that’s probably the next thing I’ll do.
Becky Coplen : Yeah, okay. That’s exciting. We’ll have to look for that in the future for sure. Yes. And the books that you’ve already written, I’m sure, I’m sure are available on Kindle, Amazon and all the places.
Kevin Petersen: And audible and, uh. Oh, yeah. It’s. And then for therapists, I actually offer a training program as well on how to do the kind of work that I do. and it’s on my website, chronicle.us. There’s a tab that says for professionals, it’s $497. It’s three hours of me lecturing and explaining. It’s a class. It’s an online class. Okay. And and you get both books, you get a workbook. There’s all sorts of PDFs. So it really if you if as a therapist, you find yourself engaging with people that are like, you know, my husband, my wife, my kids are struggling, this is a quick way of getting a lot of education fast, and you’re not going to be an addiction therapist. This is a family.
Kevin Petersen: So yeah.
Kevin Petersen: Yeah.
Becky Coplen : . That’s awesome. I love all the ways that people can read now their phones, their Kindles, by the actual book. Whatever it is, you listen.
Kevin Petersen: Yeah.
Becky Coplen : Listen. Yes. I am not a big fan of listening, but other people I know love it, so I, I love listening.
Kevin Petersen: Yeah. I’m.
Becky Coplen : You want to pretend someone’s in the room with you because you’re an extrovert, so. Oh, exactly.
Becky Coplen : well, we’ve got a lot of information. I’d love the work that you’re doing. Is there anything else you feel like you wanted to share with anyone, whether on the business side of mental health or just something about your practice that you’d want our listeners to know?
Kevin Petersen: Well, you know, I would say if you’re a clinician or a new clinician and you want to learn more about families and addiction.