Licensed Addiction Counselor · Montana

Stephanie Ford-Sanders

MSLM, LAC — MSW Candidate, December 2026

Recovery is personal. Healing is possible.
You were made for this.

Start Your Journey Free Resources
Love-Centered Care Shame-Free Healing Your Path Is Yours Alone You Were Chosen To Heal No One-Size-Fits-All Connection Is Medicine Love-Centered Care Shame-Free Healing Your Path Is Yours Alone You Were Chosen To Heal No One-Size-Fits-All Connection Is Medicine
About Stephanie

Where leadership meets love in recovery

  • Master of Science in Leadership & Management (MSLM)
  • Master of Social Work (MSW) — Expected December 2026
  • Graduate Certificate in Addiction Counseling
  • Licensed Addiction Counselor — State of Montana
  • Currently serving at Choices for Change Counseling, Superior MT

I became an addiction counselor because I believe every person is uniquely chosen to heal — and they deserve someone in their corner who meets them exactly where they are, with love and without judgment.

My approach is rooted in the conviction that there is no formula for recovery. Every person carries a singular story, a singular set of strengths, and a singular path forward. My work is to walk alongside you on yours.

With a background in leadership and management, I understand how systems work — and how individuals can get lost inside them. I bring that systemic thinking into the counseling room, always seeing the whole person, not just the presenting problem.

"The opposite of addiction isn't sobriety — it's connection. And connection begins with feeling truly seen."

My Philosophy

The principles that guide every session

01

Love as Foundation

Every interaction begins with unconditional positive regard. You will never be shamed in this space. Love is not a soft approach — it is the most powerful force in sustainable recovery.

02

You Were Chosen

I believe the people who find their way to recovery have been singled out for it — called toward something greater. The struggle is not a mark against you. It is part of the journey you were meant to take.

03

Tailored to You Alone

There is no cookie-cutter path here. Your treatment, your goals, your pace — everything is built around who you are, not a clinical template. One size never fit anyone.

04

Connection Is Medicine

Loneliness is one of the deepest drivers of addiction. Building real human connection — to yourself, to others, to something greater — is at the heart of everything we do together.

05

No Shame. Ever.

Shame is not a catalyst for change — it is a barrier to it. This is a judgment-free space where honesty is safe, setbacks are expected, and your dignity is always protected.

Free Resources

Learning, tools & support — at no cost

Guide

Understanding Addiction: It's Not What You Think

A compassionate introduction to the neuroscience and humanity of addiction — for individuals, families, and anyone who wants to understand without judgment.

Coming Soon
Worksheet

Your First SMART Recovery Goal

A guided worksheet to help you write your first specific, meaningful, and achievable recovery goal — in your own words, on your own terms.

Coming Soon
Teaching

The Connection Cure: Why Relationships Heal

An in-depth look at the research and lived experience behind connection as the antidote to addiction — and practical ways to build it in daily life.

Coming Soon
Client Tool

Recovery Companion App

Daily check-ins, personal journaling, SMART goal tracking, and a direct line to support — built for clients who want to stay connected between sessions.

In Development
Get In Touch

Ready to take
the first step?

You don't have to have it all figured out to reach out. A single conversation can change everything. I'm here — with no judgment, no pressure, and no agenda but yours.

Thank you — I'll be in touch soon.