The Doorway to Recovery’s
Sober Living Testimonials

Meet Jay

“I will forever be grateful to DTR for giving me the structure that I needed to adjust to my ‘new normal’…”

I entered the Doorway to Recovery program in June 2016, moving into one of the Westmore houses directly from two weeks of Inpatient Treatment for alcohol addiction at the Brighton Center. During my first month at Doorway, I completed the IOP program at Brighton, while working part-time and adjusting to my new life in recovery. I would go on to stay at the house for almost 9 months, and during that time, I completed a job search for a full-time position which led to a new career path. I got involved at local AA meetings and found a Home Group that encouraged me in my journey. The location of the house allowed me to be close enough to family and friends that I could rebuild the relationships that had been affected by my addiction.

The structure of the DTR program helped me to readapt to a normal, productive daily routine. Things like daily chores, a curfew and being required to attend 12-step meetings gave me the foundation I needed to build a stable life again.

I will forever be grateful to DTR for giving me the structure that I needed to adjust to my “new normal.” While there were certainly challenges that I faced, I was in a safe environment that allowed me to grow in my recovery. I met wonderful people whose stories matched my own and whose journeys would encourage me in a sober lifestyle.

Doorway is the only experience I have with a three-quarter house and I am extremely grateful that it was one which successfully helped me transition into a productive life again.

Rebekah P.

“Today my wife and I believe he has finally become the man God wanted him to be …”

My son who is in his 40’s has been in The Doorway to Recovery program for two years. It’s a very disciplined and structured program and frankly it took him a few months to adjust. While he had a lot of treatment in the past, he had never lived in an environment anything like what The Doorway to Recovery offers. Today my wife and I believe he has finally become the man God wanted him to be. Irrespective of what the future may bring, we will always be grateful to Mark Burchell and The Doorway to Recovery for giving him the added assist that he needed to find recovery in AA. We will be forever thankful to Mark Burchell and The Doorway to Recovery.

“I owe my sobriety to The Doorway to Recovery”

Before The Doorway to Recovery, my life was unmanageable. I dated many people, moved from place to place, lived in many different cities. Everywhere I would go, my problems would follow me. My parents could not stand me, my family worried and lived in fear around what I was going to do next. I lied, stole, cheated, and broke promises. I was so far in denial from drug use that I did not even know I was doing anything wrong. Teetering on homelessness, I made my last stand at my grandfather’s house.

After weeks of continuous drug use, I had found it nearly impossible to stop using. I used drugs to keep me going, and drugs to slow me down. I had no money, nearly lost my job, and had lost almost everything that I had owned. I needed help, and by the grace of God, I realized it. I went through a Detox Program and shortly after moved into The Doorway to Recovery’s men’s home in Plymouth. I was very shy, didn’t talk much, and kept to myself. All of this changed.

Through the structure and program rules at Doorway, I was able to make my AA/NA meetings, live in a clean orderly home, and develop friendships like none I have ever known. I owe this to the Doorway to Recovery. I owe my sobriety to Doorway to Recovery and my sponsor. Mark Burchell, the founder of Doorway, has been there along the way when I have sobriety relating issues that I struggled with. Whenever I had a problem I would go to Mark, he was always there to help me out.

Today I live a new life. God has put me in a position where I am able to help others, a place where I am able to give freely the gifts which have been given to me. While speaking with my parents, they are amazed at the transformation which has taken place in my life. They have said many times “Mark’s program has really helped you.” I live a life that is happy, joyous, and free. My life is a new life, thanks to The Doorway to Recovery.

“It did not come easy …”

I have known Mark Burchell for 10 years any my wife has known him much longer. During which we watched him build and be successful at several business ventures. It did not come come easy, he toiled diligently day and night. His formula for hard work and perseverance eventually, in the long run, as in most business encounters, paid off. Like most of us he didn’t get rich but made he and his family a comfortable living. He is very much a family man. He didn’t push forward to gain fame and notoriety but again, to make and keep his family stress and worry free.

My wife met Mark Burchell before myself through Alcoholics Anonymous. Both had quite a bit of time in, but his service work far exceeded everyone elses by a great margin. He went far out of his way for many who needed help starting and staying on their choosen path. When someone needed a ride to a meeting he was there, a shoulder to cry on, he was there, good solid advice on what to do and how do to it, he was there. His efforts helped and saved many.

But he ahd a greater dream to do the same on a larger scale, he founded The Doorway to Recovery which helped people in need of sobriety in a bigger, better, and more ways. Through this organization he leased housing for those in need of a structured environment. One of those were from myself and my wife of which we can attest that every aspect of all business dealings were handled in a professional manner.

In conclusion, we know Mark Burchell to be an outstanding individual. We know him to be honest and forthright on all levels. We know of no other person who did so much for so many.

Sincerely,

Mark D. and Frances A. Palmer

“The Cooley Home was different.”

We pulled up to the Cooley Home on Fathers Day 2007. Waited for Mark after the radio program. Here we go again … another recovery house. Adam had been to others without success.

We met Mark, he was nice and considerate. He showed us around and took us to the room where Adam would sleep.

I had been in recovery homes that were so filthy I wouldn’t sit. The Cooley Home was different. Clean. Neat. The rules on the wall. Even “how to” clean. Mark explained what would be expected from Adam. The meetings, signing in and out etc. He had the tools and support at DTR to stay clean. The rest was up to him.

He was clean one week. At 1AM Mark called me and said Adam used and had to be removed from the house. He could return when he was clean. Through the course of time, Adam was at DTR. He relapsed and returned to Brighton Hospital, then St. Mary’s – family meetings and social workers. Adam was a patient of Dr. Fox for a year.

Mark helped with whatever the course of action called for. He stayed on his case but let him know he cared. He made Adam house monitor, but he wasn’t ready to be trusted with money. Mark never gave up on him and let him know there was always a place if needed at DTR.

Adam is clean for 3 years now. He works full time, can train men in 5 departments. He has been made manager of second shift with keys to the doors. That’s what DTR did for him. It’s where it finally clicked.

I will ALWAYS be grateful to Mark Burchell and DTR.

Mark has a deep conviction and commitment to those in recovery. The proof is all of this time put into the program. Late nights, hospital runs, interventions, and on and on. To this day, he remains a friend to our family.

We would recommend DTR to any family in crisis with drugs or alcohol.

God bless you, Mark and DTR!