04/11/2025
Huge shout out to Manny Lopez with Level Up IOP. If you have not met Manny, you need too. I have come to love and respect him over the past few years. Manny is an incredible example of someone strives to recover as loud as his active addiction was. Manny is always in service of his Clients or others in recovey. He is a great role model. Thank you for sharing your recovery story & resources with our Clients. The following is what our therapist had to say following his service today:
“Hi Sean,
I wanted to take a moment to share how impactful Manny’s visit was during group today. He was an incredible guest speaker who brought a powerful and heartfelt presence to the room.
Manny shared his life story—growing up in the foster care system, his time in prison, fatherhood, his decision to leave gang life, and his journey through substance use into recovery. What truly resonated with the group was his vulnerability and honesty. He talked about the turning point in his life being a judge who believed in him when no one else did. That moment of being seen and given a second chance struck a deep chord with many in the room.
He also opened up about the challenges of changing his entire mindset, choosing vulnerability, and being willing to stand alone in his recovery—especially when returning to his hometown meant facing judgment from those he once used with. His story about learning to trust again and rebuild a relationship with his wife after getting sober was deeply moving.
Manny brought a fresh and genuine perspective on healing and recovery. You could feel that he was speaking from the heart, and his message gave our group a real sense of hope. Several participants shared afterward how inspired they felt by his courage and transformation.
Thank you for helping to make guest speakers like Manny available to us. His visit made a meaningful impact, and I hope we can invite him back in the future.
Brittany,”
I love this so much! Thank you Brittany for your feedback and appreciation. Thank you Manny for your service and for the way you show up in the recovery communities. God Bless!