Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Mason.
Hi Katie, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
On April 2nd, 2018, I made a decision that would ultimately change the entire trajectory of my life as I knew it. I (very reluctantly) quit drinking alcohol. The events that led me to this decision aren’t really relevant because this is a positive story, not a bad one. I didn’t want to quit, but I knew I probably should, at least for the sake of knowing that I could. That’s the funny thing about alcohol… it is so tangled up in every aspect of our society and culture that we go most of our lives drinking without even asking ourselves why. Then one day we wake up and we realize that we are the only ones responsible for the late nights, the hangovers, the forgotten memories, and the drunk texts.
I am also a mental health therapist and I was running a successful private practice back home in Mississippi. When I made the decision to get sober, I was terrified, especially of what people in the professional world might make of this “problem.” I opted out of AA… a decision, I was told, was “very risky” because apparently, the world still believes that you have to actively work the 12 Steps in order to stay sober. Some people need it, and it’s worked for tons of people. I, however, was not one of those people. My drinking was a way of life, a way to maintain friendships and to perform better at karaoke, and socially acceptable behavior that everyone in my circle did. Quitting meant that I had to put all of that on hold, and I knew I needed to learn how to take care of myself through it.
I found myself in a yoga class at my local gym on day 3. The hangover was gone and I was feeling a little more human, but I also knew I needed to stay busy or else I’d be back at the bar before I realized it. In that one-hour class, things began to shift. I began to feel again, very slowly at first, but it was there. And that feeling was equally intoxicating.
On my 100th day of sobriety, I had found new, personal empowerment. I decided it was time to embrace my journey, to come out of hiding, and to start talking. So like most humans, I went to Facebook and I shared my story. This was my first lesson in transparency… some people will love you for it, others with hate you for it. In my sobriety journey, I practiced yoga, meditation and went to a lot of my own therapy. I traveled alone to Costa Rica at 18 months sober to live in the jungle and learn how to teach yoga. I began learning and understanding my boundaries, opening my eyes to the things in my life that weren’t serving me, and finding out who my true friends were. Some stuck around when I got sober, most did not. But I was also learning how to be okay with that, and I found myself feeling a new peace that I never felt when I was drinking.
I began noticing shifts in my counseling practice as well. My clients wanted to discuss their own vices more openly, and others were getting curious about exploring the question of “why do I feel like I HAVE to drink, even if I don’t really WANT to?” I get a shift within myself as well…something telling me that people need another way. People need other options outside of the 12 steps. People need empowerment, community, and the realization that quitting drinking doesn’t automatically mean you have a problem…it means you have the self-respect to understand your wants and needs and to follow your own personal boundaries with it.
Jump ahead three or so years and I’m here in Orlando. My partner, Holly, got an incredible job offer and we decided it was time to pack up and have some new experiences. I decided that I didn’t want to be a traditional counselor anymore, and moving here meant that I had the freedom to write a new script for myself. I started a sober meetup group just to see if we could make some friends. Within three months, the group grew to over 120 members, all of which shared similar stories of craving community connection, friends, and alcohol-free fun. I also decided to utilize my yoga training and dive into opening a new recovery program called Sanghaal (a Sangha for all people) Holistic Recovery, which utilizes a mind-body approach to recovery and creates a space for a community where no one is forced to admit they are powerless to anything! But it doesn’t stop there, I also went headfirst into buying a food truck trailer, simply named The Sober Bar Orlando, where I can offer people options if they choose not to drink. We will be serving specialty mocktails, smoothies, kombucha, and other alcohol-free beverages and we have the ability to take it anywhere in the state, openly promoting that sobriety is openly accepted, with no shame.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I’m a firm believer that challenges are what truly changes us. We have to sometimes undergo these periods of pressure and stress in order to crack open and bloom. The first few months of my recovery were very emotional. The months after I came out publicly about it was even more of a roller coaster. People automatically labeled me as an alcoholic, even though I’ve never openly attached myself to that label. I knew that the only way to break this stigma was to openly talk about it, and lots of people didn’t like that conversation.
Moving to Orlando has also been a challenge. I dove headfirst into a gigantic calling, to embrace this very taboo subject and melt the negative perceptions enough to help people realize they have a safe space to explore themselves deeper. I wouldn’t say the road has been smooth at all… but what adventure is?
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Sanghaal Holistic Recovery offers a unique approach to recovery that steps outside of the traditional confines of the 12-step program. Whether you are actively navigating sobriety, if you are looking to redefine your boundaries and limits with substance use, or if you are curious about how to heal anxiety and trauma holistically, our unique program can work for you. We offer a wide range of coaching services, yoga classes, and community support groups to make sure you have plenty of resources any time you need them.
Our vision has always been centered around creating a community where you don’t have to drink in order to have a good time. We want to connect you with like-minded people and help you develop lasting connections and support as you navigate your personal recovery journey. That’s where The Sober Bar comes in! Operating food truck style and popping up throughout Central Florida, you will find us serving up delicious and healthy mocktails, kombucha, smoothies, and more. We want to create a conversation surrounding substance use and help people recognize that it is possible to live a vibrant, full life outside of addiction. We are on a mission to start a revolution of individuals who are empowered, connected, and free from the vices that suppress their highest potential.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
My partner Holly has been my biggest cheerleader. She has believed in every idea I’ve presented and she has never allowed me to give up on myself.
My friends stuck around when I got sober. They, too, never stopped believing that I was capable of whatever I decided to put my energy into.
My teachers and peers from Blue Osa. This dream began to surface in that jungle in Costa Rica and I found a huge part of myself there that I had been missing for a long time. That experience changed my life.
My clients, for challenging me to be the best therapist I could be and for appreciating the fact that I tend to be a little untraditional in my approach to healing.
Contact Info:
- Email: Recoverorlando@gmail.com
- Website: www.recoverorlando.org
- Instagram: Instagram.com/recoverorlando
- Facebook: Facebook.com/recoverorlando
