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Testimonials

John F. Kelly

PhD, ABPP, Chief, Division of Addiction Treatment and Prevention, Mass General Brigham AMC; Elizabeth R. Spallin Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School; Founder & Director, MGH Recovery Research Institute; Founder & Director, National Center on Youth Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery; President, American Board of Addiction Psychology, Boston, MA

“I’ve had the great pleasure of knowing Phil and Sandy Valentine for the past 15 years, during which time I’ve observed their outstanding national leadership and vast and enduring impact in addiction recovery services and advocacy. I would recommend them both without hesitation.”

Michael Askew

Deputy Director, Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Greater Myrtle Beach Area, SC

“I’ve known Phil and Sandy Valentine for 25+ years and have worked with both on a professional level. Phil is an inspiring visionary whose work has touched the recovery community internationally with his lived experience, knowledge, and compassion in recovery coaching, training, program development, board governance, and leadership. Sandy, with her lived experience, knowledge, and commitment to the recovery space, will surely bring a welcoming consultant service to our community.”

Stacy Charpentier

Executive Director, Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR), Hartford, CT

“Phil and Sandy bring decades of personal recovery and professional leadership to their consulting work, offering unmatched vulnerability and insight. Phil’s mentorship helped shape my purpose and leadership, and together, they are an extraordinary team dedicated to elevating the recovery community.”

Annette Dale-Perera

International Consultant in Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Prevention, Middlesex University, United Kingdom

“Phil Valentine is an inspirational leader and excellent trainer in recovery mentoring. I recommend Valentine Recovery as a valuable consultancy resource for individuals and businesses.”

Angel Traynor


Founder/Director, Serenity Sistas, Annapolis, MD

"Phil Valentine changed my life. His approach to training and mentoring is like no other I’ve encountered. His resilience and strength during his Appalachian Trail adventure taught me to keep moving forward. ‘Continue’ is my mantra on many days. I would recommend Phil and his lovely wife, Sandy, in this—and any—endeavor of Valentine Recovery. Thank you, Phil, for teaching me that what I have is enough!”

Alison Knopf

Editor, Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly, Carmel, NY

“I have known Phil Valentine professionally for years (decades!) and admire his work. Recovery is not replaceable. He has given me some of the best quotes ever.”

Peter Townsend

RCP, Sligo, Ireland

“Phil Valentine’s training helped shape the coach I am today. His genuine, compassionate approach to recovery has stayed with me ever since. Excited to see Valentine Recovery Consulting take off — the recovery world is better with Phil and Sandy in it.”

Arno and Janice Groot

Ellington, CT

“This team will be a team to remember for years to come. We love this connection of two people who have been in our lives for many years; both are spiritual, trusted, truthful, and communicate with love. We are blessed.”

Helen O’Donnell Pare

Miramichi, New Brunswick

“Phil came to Maine to present at a Coalition conference 20 years ago. He enlightened us with tremendous stories and the wealth of recovery work that CCAR was doing—and continues to do. He changed the audience forever.”

Morgan Dotson

CEO, M&I Recovery Housing/Services, Lynnwood, WA

“I want to thank my mentor Phil Valentine for the drive he instilled in my son and me. We’ve had great success in our recovery endeavors because of the strategic processes he taught us. I would recommend anything Phil and Sandy Valentine have to offer. They’re the best!”

Leslie Lakota Landwalker

Albany, NY

“Phil Valentine has been a mentor to me and to so many others. His Appalachian Trail video brought tears to my eyes and inspired me to continue, not quit, and to put a face on recovery. We do recover. There is hope. We are blessed as a recovery community to have Phil as our friend.”

Karen Ablondi

MPH, LCSW, LADC, Founder & Executive Director, Shoreline Recovery, New Haven, CT

“Any organization that has the opportunity to work with Phil and Sandy will benefit from their expertise, professionalism, and passion for all things recovery. I wholeheartedly endorse Valentine Recovery Consulting.”

Jesse Osmun

Recovery Coach & IAP Certified Life

“Phil’s own words got me excited about becoming a recovery coach. If Phil can excite someone like me to be a coach, I can only imagine what a great coach he will be for anyone who works with him and Sandy.”
Coach, New Haven, CT

John Swartz

Manager, Windham Recovery Community Center, CCAR, Willimantic, CT

Phil and Sandy Valentine know recovery. They understand the importance of treating each individual as the primary source of growth and healing in their own lives. They also understand what it takes to operate volunteer-driven Recovery Community Organizations and have demonstrated their passion and commitment to recovery time and again. If ever there were two people I’d want in my corner when facing challenges beyond my skill set, it would be Sandy and Phil.

Yolibel Lebron

Director of Administration & Human Resources, CCAR, Hartford, CT

"Sandy and Phil Valentine are passionate, experienced leaders dedicated to helping people and empowering organizations to thrive."

Shannon Egan

Founder/CEO of Recovery Movement Consulting

“I met Phil and Sandy early in my own recovery journey, at a time when they were leading the new, modern recovery movement and showing the nation what peer-led services could truly look like. They paved the way for lived experience to become a driving force in healing for people like us. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of hearing them speak countless times at conferences and following their work, and I remain in awe of them. They are not only people I look up to — they are brilliant minds, compassionate hearts, and two of the top experts in this field.”

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