AARON BARNES IS SMART, KIND, FUNNY, AND GROUNDED IN COMPASSION, WITH A SOLID NETWORK OF RESOURCES
Three years ago, on our family’s darkest night of the soul, I cold-called Aaron Barnes, after finding his website. I had two adult children in the depths of depression and alcoholism, and we were all discouraged after trying everything (or so we thought). In our first conversation, Aaron led with grace and good humor, and as we made a plan,I could feel relief and hope uncurling in my soul.
Three days later, Aaron arrived in our home town on the east coast to live with us and support our 26-year-old in finding the right path to recovery. Aaron lived with us for three weeks, and during that time, he offered many different scenarios, getting more and more creative as he got to know us better. Finally they hit on living on the west coast with a residential sober coach for 3-6 months. This approach was personal, it was kind, and would not have the group dynamics and tensions that had been overwhelming in past rehab situations. Aaron traveled with our kid and made sure that they were settled in the new place. The coach that Aaron referred us to was remarkable, and we finally felt that we had people who really got it. Almost three years later, this young person is still sober and feeling very confident in it. They have gotten a job in the field of their dreams, and they are happily ensconced in the 12-step-community.
A few months later, Aaron flew to California at the request of our older child, who, at 29, was ready to talk about recovery and rehab. Aaron’s flexibility and genius showed up in this case, because the situation was dramatically different, necessitating a different approach. Together they agreed upon a small, trauma-informed rehab center and again, Aaron escorted them to the program and ensured they were safe and happy before leaving. To say that this place was the perfect fit is an understatement. Aaron’s careful, analytical and kind placement process ensured that it would be life-changing, and again, almost three years later, they are sober and launched in a career they love.
In the interests of privacy, I am omitting detailed descriptions of the hardest work we all did with Aaron – there was fear and resistance on all sides of the family, and Aaron facilitated many hard conversations with skill, well-researched perspectives and an open heart. Over the past three years, Aaron has stayed in touch with all of us, and we can feel secure knowing that he is there if we need anything. He is family to us. We had tried other “concierges”, “coaches” and “dual-diagnosis programs” but nobody does the real work of walking by somebody’s side like Aaron Barnes!!