About Norman

My understanding of recovery comes from lived experience — as someone who has walked through it personally, and as someone who has spent decades listening to others do the same.

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Alongside my own recovery, I bring long experience supporting people navigating substance use, shaped by close relationships and steady, practical work over time.

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I first entered treatment more than 35 years ago, and since then I’ve remained closely connected to recovery in many forms. I’ve been a client in two of British Columbia’s leading treatment centers, sponsored dozens of men through Alcoholics Anonymous, and worked in shelters on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Each of these experiences deepened my understanding of addiction, recovery, and the very real conditions people face when they’re trying to change their lives.

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At one point, I also stepped away from the city entirely, spending two years working on a floating fishing lodge on British Columbia’s central coast. That time — remote, physically demanding, and stripped of distraction — reinforced the importance of routine, responsibility, and showing up consistently, even when no one is watching.

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Recovery, for me, has never been a straight line. It has unfolded across decades of experience, setbacks, and learning — leaving me with less certainty about outcomes, and a deeper respect for how personal, complex, and non-linear change can be.

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What I’ve learned is that people don’t need to be fixed or pushed. They need space to be honest, time to make sense of what’s happening, and someone steady enough to stay present without rushing them toward conclusions. That belief now guides how I work with individuals and families — calmly, carefully, and with attention to what actually helps in real life.

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If you’d like to talk, we can start with a short, confidential conversation. There’s no pressure to decide anything right away — just a chance to see whether working together feels like a good fit.