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“The reason we are so frustrated is that the game we are playing is too small for who we really are—and it’s killing us.”
—Victor Lee
Welcome to the forefront of recovery innovation, where 41 years of lived experience meets clinically grounded practice. As the architect behind the 3-Day Recovery Residency powered by the Transformation Suite, I have dedicated over 26 years to teaching and facilitating recovery that transcends traditional methodologies. My mission: to elevate the stabilization gained during treatment, guiding individuals toward profound self-actualization.
Clinical Empowerment: My stories come from my mess and my masterpiece—41 years of relentless self-work, learning, and growth. Drugs weren’t my problem; my thinking was. I model what real change looks like.
Evidence-Backed Engagement: I share personal experience through clinically proven methods that resonate emotionally, are empirically supported, and drive true engagement.
Facilitative Leadership: I thrive in high-stakes environments, navigating complex group dynamics to ensure every “plane takes off and lands smoothly,” even on a short runway.
Elevating Self-Actualization: Recovery must go beyond abstinence. Only a few will embrace the challenge at first, but I cultivate an environment for honest self-examination, active engagement, and collective fun. “I am one of them”—just at a different stage, and together, we transform the room.
Sobriety alone isn’t enough. None of us wants to stay stuck—what matters is what we do next. Let’s talk about how we can bring the lived experience of recovery to life and open the door to a partnership that elevates your offering and your mission. Together with GBB, we can break through barriers.
From Adversity to Advocacy
I grew up with poverty, child abuse, and the void left by my father walking out at age five. That early adversity pushed me to excel—by 21, I’d worked my way into aerospace engineering, contributing to projects like the Space Shuttle Orbiter and Apache Attack Helicopter. But addiction caught up with me, and by 1985, I was homeless and at rock bottom. When I relapsed 21 days into treatment, I had nowhere to go. That moment of desperation forced me to surrender, bringing radical humility and accountability into my life.
Recovery demanded more than abstinence; it required a complete redesign of my character, my thinking, and my ways of being. I rebuilt my life through treatment, 22 months of aftercare, four weekly 12-step meetings, and ongoing therapy. Becoming a single parent, I learned to invest deeply in my children while continuing to invest in myself.
Today, with over four decades in recovery, I’m a retired SUD therapist, speaker, coach, three-time author, and four-time scholar. For the past two years, I have brought together my best work as a group facilitator to create the 3-Day Recovery Residency, powered by the Transformation Suite. My mission: to help clinical leaders and teams bridge lived experience and behavioral science, inspiring lifelong transformation focused on post-treatment realities.
“Resistance isn’t about not wanting to change—it’s about facing what we have to do to truly grow.”
Mission:
To bridge lived experience and clinical excellence—empowering individuals, families, and organizations to break through survival and achieve lasting transformation.
Vision:
A future where recovery means self-mastery, purpose, and possibility for every life, every team, and every community.
GBB Inspirational Recovery bridges the gap between clinical stabilization and radical self-actualization. With over four decades of lived recovery and 26 years of professional facilitation, we empower individuals to break through the ceiling of abstinence—transforming survival into high-performance, purpose-driven living.
Through our Lived Experience Approach and brand-specific workshops, we dismantle “Obstacle Illusions” and equip every person with the mindset, skills, and self-belief to realize their inherent worth and limitless potential.
01
Organization
Founder of Getting Beyond Barriers 2010 & GBB Inspirational Recovery 2023
02
Education
Gonzaga University
Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership (Minor: Servant Leader) BHS, AAS , Graduate Landmark Education
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Clincial Background
Retired SUD Primary Therapist | Alumni of Gaudenzia.org Treatment Ctr
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Professional Skills
26 Years of Professional Speaking & Strategic Facilitation
Executive Recovery Coach
Family Recovery Coach
Certified Trainer, Arizona Dept. of Corrections
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Published Author
Making Sense Out of:
3-book series
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VolunteerFacilitator
Gaudenzia ORG, PA
Recovery Café Chandler, AZ
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Inductee, National Society of Leadership & Success (2012)
Radical transformation is more than moving from bad to better—it’s about shedding limiting beliefs and daring to step into possibilities we may never have considered. This shift demands action: the moment we name what holds us back, we reclaim the power to choose a new path.
In recovery, radical transformation isn’t about becoming a “better” version of who we were—it’s about becoming someone brand new. It’s the process of releasing old stories, patterns, and pain so we can claim a future that was once unimaginable. Sobriety is just the beginning; real change happens when we face what’s hidden, do the work, and allow ourselves to be remade from the inside out.
The work is like passing through the eye of a needle—challenging, yes, but on the other side is far more than abstinence. It’s a whole new experience of ourselves, our relationships, and our purpose.
When we look within and release what no longer serves us, we make room for everything we truly need and deserve. The old falls away, and all things become new.
Sandy F.
My son’s mother passed away several years ago (37 years sober, RIP)
“Treatment can feel heavy, but Victor’s energy was electric—bringing real joy, humor, and a sense of victory. He didn’t just teach us; he helped us forgive ourselves and become who we’re meant to be.”
“I was hiding behind my usual excuses, but Victor made it safe to drop the mask. He guided us right through the inner turmoil we were avoiding with so much grace and truth that I finally stopped running from my past.”
“Seeing someone who was once homeless and struggling stand there with 41 years of continuous freedom changed my entire perspective. Victor doesn’t just talk about recovery—he shows you that an extraordinary, purposeful life is actually within your reach.”
“Most speakers just talk at you, but Victor created a room where everyone mattered. He pulled us out of our shell, brought out the group-within-a-group dynamic, and gave us a chance to speak our truth without judgment.”
“Hearing where he started versus where he stands today blew me away. He is living proof that your past does not get to dictate your future, no matter how dark things once were.”
.
“His words hit you in your heart, your mind, and your spirit all at once. Victor brings a level of lived authority and practical wisdom that leaves you deeply moved and ready to take full ownership of your life.”
In 1998, with 13 years of sobriety, I started volunteering in youth detention centers and schools. It took time, but I learned that real change always begins with genuine connection—a single question or moment of silence can transform the room. When that photo from my first training resurfaced, it reminded me exactly why I do this work.
Whether with youth, adults, staff, or clients, my mission never changes: support, uplift, and inspire true engagement. I approach every group with humility and partnership, knowing lasting transformation begins when people are moved not just by me—but by their own participation.