Activity – Ken Dunn – Straight Up Care

Ken Dunn

• 11 months, 3 weeks ago

On Monday, I received the Trailblazer Award from the Addiction Professionals of North Carolina (APNC). I’m proud of this award. I’ve been working in this field for a little less than two years. This is affirmation that I’m where I belong and doing the work I’m meant to be doing. I still have a lot of work to do.

This award is given to “someone who recognizes the value of being the place where people who use drugs come to heal. This person creates a welcoming environment, innovates best practices, and encourages those who need help to find a recovery path that works for them. Ken’s work spreads hope and joy through nature, community, and shared experience. As a person in recovery himself, Ken focuses on the power of peer support and the role that peers play in the treatment and recovery process.”

I’m not the first person to do this work. In fact I was inspired by my friend, Kera, who does similar work. And I received wilderness recovery coaching from Adventure Recovery. I’ve received lots of support and encouragement from friends and family…. And even some people who barely know me.

Still, my own recovery allowed me to follow my own wisdom and to listen up my higher power to take the steps to do this work and to adapt when the time was right. I’m putting my own touches on this thing. And I’m still listening. More will be revealed.

Thanks for the continued support.

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2 Comments
- Whitney
  11 months, 2 weeks ago
  
  This is amazing! Congratulations!!
  - Ken Dunn
    11 months, 2 weeks ago
    
    Thank you!

Ken Dunn (aka Katbird)

Recovery Coach/Group Facilitator/Chief Joy Facilitator

Recovery is not the end of fun, it's just the beginning.

My recovery journey started at the end of a 12 year marriage. I knew things needed to change. After starting to meditate for intrusive thoughts, I started attending a Buddhist-based and mindfulness-based recovery program. That was a life changer for me.

After 2 years in recovery, I still wasn't happy. Things were supposed to be better but, I wasn't feeling it. I attended Codependents Anonymous and made progress, however, that didn't feel like the end of the story.

I got back into backpacking and started spending more time outdoors. I eventually decided to attempt to hike the Appalachian Trail. After 5 month and 2193, I completed it on October 4, 2020 during the pandemic. During that time, I realized I wanted to follow a life of purpose.

Shortly thereafter, I took experiential recovery coaching training. I immediately recognized that to be the path I was meant to follow. Within 4 months I left my previous career of 30 years to work in peer support.

In the meantime, I started attending Adult Children of Alcoholics and Dysfunctional Families. I am continuing to recover from the complex PTSD (CPTSD) that I experienced.

Over the course of my 7 years in recovery, I have seen how engaging in meaningful fun activities has improved my mental health and well-being and how I can learn valuable life skills from them.

Recovery is not the end of fun, it's just the beginning.