Episode 95: Allies in Recovery (https://alliesinrecovery.net)

Written By Susie Gurley

In this powerful episode, I am joined by three amazing guests—Kayla Solomon, licensed clinical social worker, along with Allies in Recovery family members Carolyn and Kenneth. Carolyn and Kenny outline their journey with their son’s addiction, which included a suicide attempt, overdoses, developing an eating disorder, and their discovery of Allies In Recovery. Carolyn and Kenny share how Allies has been a major lifeline for them during their son’s battle and now 14 months of sobriety. Kayla adds in her clinical knowledge and expertise as a group facilitator for family members. All three guests share about the CRAFT method that Allies teaches family members, which stands for Community Reinforcement and Family Training. The CRAFT method is an evidence-based method taught as an eLearning program, along with live, weekly training and support groups. The guests emphasize the importance of community for loved ones of those who struggle with addiction along with how invaluable the toolbox CRAFT teaches loved ones and family members. Kenny and Carolyn discuss how they had to change the way they were relating to their family member, and how critical that has been for their own well-being as well as their relationship with their son.

To learn more about Allies In Recovery go to https://alliesinrecovery.net/. Allies in Recovery also has a podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/coming-up-for-air-families-speak-to-families-about/id1227530792.

Susie Gurley

Susie Stapp Gurley was born and raised in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. She married her college sweetheart, Dan Gurley, shortly after graduating from TCU with a degree in advertising and public relations. In her first career, Susie worked in college admissions and academic advising. Simultaneously she pursued a master’s degree from The University of Central Missouri in sociology and then worked for the Sedgwick County, KS Department of Aging as a case worker. Susie stepped away from the professional world in 1997 to become a stay-at-home mom. She spent the majority of the last 25 years as a wife, mother, and volunteer, primarily in her church and her three children’s schools and activities.

Susie became a mental health advocate after her youngest son became a teen spokesperson about his battle with depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. In 2018, at the age of 15, Will founded the You Matter Festival, a music festival promoting mental health awareness and suicide prevention. Will shared his personal mental health struggles with the 1,000-person crowd, which started his role as a local KC teen advocate for mental health. Because of Will’s involvement, Susie recorded a video #Zeroreasonswhy (https://zeroreasonswhy.org), a Kansas City area organization working to end teen suicide in the Johnson County, Kansas area. This video was viewed over 10,000 times, which was the impetus of the Just A Mom podcast. Susie decided that she needed to follow the brave trail blazed by her son and became an outspoken advocate for parents of children who struggle with mental illness. The Just a Mom podcast launched in September of 2022 and encourages parents to know that they are not alone and there is hope.

Susie served as the Executive Director of the You Matter Festival and is currently on the Friends of Johnson County Mental Health Board. Susie has grown three children, two daughters-in-law, and a son-in-law.

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