Build Emotional Resilience in Recovery

When I started my sobriety journey, I faced a wave of emotions that felt almost unbearable. After years of using substances to numb my feelings, experiencing everything without any filters was overwhelming. There were days I felt raw, exposed, and terrified of my own reactions. A colleague often says: “We are emotional people who hate our emotions.” This sentiment rings true for so many of us in recovery—feeling deeply is in our nature, yet those same feelings can be painful, messy, and hard to accept. But learning to embrace them has been one of the most valuable parts of my journey. In this article, I’ll share tips that have helped me and others in sobriety normalize emotions, making them more manageable and a source of strength rather than fear…. Read more

Sarah Montes

Sarah Montes is a Registered Practical Counsellor, Master Practitioner in Clinical Counselling RPC, MPCC and a Canadian Certified Addiction Counsellor, CCAC, dedicated to helping individuals and families move from the chaos of addiction to the clarity of recovery. As the founder of Sarah Montes Recovery & Associates, she provides a compassionate bridge between clinical expertise and the profound insight that only lived experience can offer.

Sarah is dually credentialed through the Canadian Professional Counsellors Association (CPCA) and the Canadian Addiction Counsellors Certification Federation (CACCF). Her robust clinical foundation is built upon specialized training in:

Internal Family Systems (IFS) & Addiction, and Trauma-Informed Professional Addiction Studies

Having held key roles in withdrawal management , as a primary counsellor in residential treatment, and providing one-on-one therapy in various clinical settings, Sarah understands the full continuum of care.

Sarah operates within the Biopsychosocial-Spiritual model, ensuring that healing addresses the whole person—mind, body, community, and spirit. She empowers her clients to reclaim their sovereignty.

A hallmark of Sarah’s practice is her commitment to the family behind addiction. She works extensively with partners, spouses, parents, and loved ones, providing the guidance needed to navigate family dynamics, establish healthy boundaries, and foster collective healing.

Beyond her private practice, Sarah is a prominent voice in the recovery community. She contributes significantly to the field through professional development, public speaking, and advocacy, working tirelessly to reduce the shame and stigma surrounding addiction in all its forms.

Whether working one-on-one or speaking to a crowd, Sarah’s approach remains rooted in empathy, deep understanding, and an unwavering belief in every person’s capacity for a fresh start.

https://www.sarahmontesrecovery.ca
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Communicating Your Recovery Needs

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No Booze, Just Boos: How to Enjoy a Sober Halloween!