White Horse Recovery Embraces Faith-Based and Secular Approaches to Healing

White Horse Recovery Embraces Faith-Based and Secular Approaches to Healing

White Horse Recovery continues to demonstrate its commitment to inclusive, comprehensive care by offering faith-based and secular support options for individuals and families facing substance use disorders and mental health challenges.

Dr. Brad Mathias, an Anglican priest and White Horse board director who serves as faith advisor, emphasized that the organization’s approach recognizes the diverse spiritual needs of those seeking recovery. “We’re all recovering—it’s just what we’re recovering from,” he explained. “For White Horse, having optional involvement of a faith track is one more tool in the toolbelt.”

The organization’s inclusive model ensures that people of all backgrounds feel welcome, regardless of their beliefs, an approach that Executive Director Matthew Plache noted reflects White Horse’s core values. “Recovery is deeply personal, and we meet people where they are,” he said. “Whether someone finds strength in faith, community, clinical support, or a combination of approaches, our doors are open to all.”

Mathias, whose personal experience includes witnessing addiction’s impact across all social and economic lines, brings a unique perspective to the board. “My best friend was a medical doctor whose life was destroyed by oxycodone,” he said. “I’ve seen how substance abuse can reach into any social class—there’s no respecter of persons.”

Research supports the integration of faith-based elements in recovery programs. “When you go through recovery on your own, you have a certain amount of improvement,” Mathias explained. “When combined with a community of faith, that doubles…Faith-based support gives you one more point of stability that really gives you endurance.”

White Horse’s commitment to inclusivity means that both spiritual and secular support is always available. “We want people to know that whether they’re seeking secular or faith-based support, they’ll find a welcoming, judgment-free environment here,” added Plache. “Our goal is to provide hope and healing in whatever form works best for each individual.”

White Horse’s approach has yielded positive results in communities across northern New Hampshire, as Mathias pointed to real-world examples of successful recovery that combine clinical treatment with spiritual support. “I’ve worked with families where marriages were destroyed by addiction—and through the combination of White Horse’s work and connection to a faith community, I’ve seen remarkable recoveries,” he said.

White Horse serves adults and families throughout northern New Hampshire with locations in Ossipee, North Conway, Berlin, and Littleton, through intensive outpatient programs, mental health treatment, peer support services, and community programs.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Plache noted that part of their mission is to ensure no one is turned away due to inability to pay. “Our mission is to provide hope, healing, and recovery for everyone,” he said. “We meet this mission by honoring the full spectrum of human experience and belief to ensure that every person who walks through our doors feels seen, valued, and supported.”

If you or someone you know is struggling, you are not alone. White Horse Recovery offers services for those ready to start their journey to recovery. For more information, call 603-651-1441, Ext. 1.

Get Started Today

 

Recovery is possible. Take the first step toward a healthier, more fulfilling life.

White Horse Recovery Expands Access with New Vehicles for Client Transportation

White Horse Recovery Expands Access with New Vehicles for Client Transportation

White Horse Recovery, a nonprofit behavioral health center serving the North Country and Lakes Region, is taking a significant step to remove accessibility barriers with the purchase of two new vehicles dedicated to client transportation.

According to Executive Director Matthew Plache, the impact is clear. “These vehicles will allow us to be more mobile and have a greater impact,” he said. “Right now, we only have one van.”

With these additions, he said they will be able to transport more people to appointments and intensive outpatient programs, making it easier for clients to get the help they need. The new vehicles will also enable White Horse Recovery to become credentialed with Coordinated Transportation Solutions (CTS), which provides Medicaid transport.

“Any of our Medicaid clients will be able to get rides from us, and we’ll be reimbursed for it,” he added. “There’s been a huge barrier trying to get CTS to transport our clients because they don’t have enough drivers. Now, we can step in and help fill that gap.”

For those without Medicaid, Plache said no one will be turned away. “Everyone is treated equally and accepted as they are,” he added.

Founded in Center Ossipee, New Hampshire, White Horse Recovery has grown from a small organization into a leading nonprofit with 28 employees across four locations, providing both mental health and substance use disorder services.

If you or someone you know is struggling, you are not alone. White Horse Recovery offers services for those ready to start their journey to recovery. For more information, call 603-651-1441, Ext. 1.

Get Started Today

 

Recovery is possible. Take the first step toward a healthier, more fulfilling life.

White Horse Recovery Lights the Path Forward During National Recovery Month

White Horse Recovery Lights the Path Forward During National Recovery Month

As National Recovery Month shines a spotlight on the millions of Americans in recovery, White Horse Recovery is taking action with three powerful community events that demonstrate the life-saving impact of recovery support services.

“Recovery Month isn’t just about celebration—it’s about action,” said Matthew Plache, executive director at White Horse Recovery. “While we honor the courage of those in recovery, we’re also working to ensure that everyone in our community has the tools and support they need to save lives and build futures.”

The organization’s National Recovery Month programming includes:

Candlelight Vigil – Saturday, September 13, 6:00-9:00 p.m. at 141 Main St., Littleton. The community will gather to remember those lost to addiction, lighting candles to honor remarkable lives and support grieving families.

Narcan Training & Distribution – Tuesday, September 16, 5:30-6:30 p.m. at The Shed in North Conway. This free, public training teaches participants how to respond to opioid overdose emergencies, with complimentary Narcan kits provided to all attendees.

Recovery Month Open House – Thursday, September 25, 5:30-7:00 p.m. at The Shed North Conway. Community members can meet White Horse’s Recovery Coaching team and learn about walk-in peer support services, including one-on-one coaching, support groups, family resources, and community programs.

These events come at a critical time. According to the CDC, more than 107,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2023, while the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reports that over 46 million Americans have experienced a substance use disorder. However, SAMHSA data shows that 75% of people with addiction eventually recover.

“Every person we reach through Narcan training could be the difference between life and death for someone’s loved one,” added Plache. “Every family member who connects with our support services gains tools to navigate this journey with hope instead of despair.”

Founded in Center Ossipee, New Hampshire, White Horse Recovery has grown from a small organization into a leading nonprofit with 28 employees across four locations, providing mental health and substance use disorder services throughout the state.

For more information about White Horse Recovery’s National Recovery Month events, contact Meagan Fells at meaganf@whitehorseac.com.

If you or someone you know is struggling, you are not alone. White Horse Recovery offers services for those ready to start their journey to recovery. For more information, call 603-651-1441, Ext. 1.

Get Started Today

 

Recovery is possible. Take the first step toward a healthier, more fulfilling life.

Personal Experience Fueled Compassionate Care at White Horse Recovery

Personal Experience Fueled Compassionate Care at White Horse Recovery

For Tammy Loiselle, Executive Coordinator at White Horse Recovery, supporting those struggling with addiction and mental health challenges is more than a job—it’s a calling shaped by personal experience.

Loiselle, who joined White Horse Recovery after decades in home and medical care, brings a deeply personal understanding to her work. “Addiction runs in my family,” she said. “My father was an alcoholic, and my brother lost his life to alcoholism. I know firsthand how hard it is to find help—and how important it is to have someone who listens.”

White Horse Recovery, a nonprofit behavioral health center with locations in Ossipee, North Conway, Berlin and Littleton, offers comprehensive substance use disorder and mental health services for all ages. Loiselle’s journey from caretaker to advocate reflects the organization’s mission, which is to meet people where they are and provide support without judgment or financial barriers.

“I’ve seen people come in who are a complete wreck and, after going through our programs, thrive,” Loiselle said . “It’s so rewarding to see that transformation.”

She said White Horse Recovery’s team is known for its empathy and dedication. “Our counselors are some of the most phenomenal people I’ve met,” she added. “They’re here because they want to make a difference.”

Loiselle wants the community to know that help is available, regardless of insurance or ability to pay. “The hardest step is walking through the door,” she said, “but we’re here, and we care.”

If you or someone you know is struggling, you are not alone. White Horse Recovery offers services for those ready to start their journey to recovery. For more information, call 603-651-1441, Ext. 1.

Board Member is on a Mission

Board Member is on a Mission

For Board President Tony Fallon, White Horse Recovery’s mission to support individuals facing mental health and substance use challenges is deeply personal. After offering pro bono services to White Horse for several years, Fallon found himself turning to the organization when his own son sought help for addiction in 2021. White Horse helped facilitate his son’s placement in a treatment facility — and today, he is in recovery. This experience, according to Fallon, helped shape his own mission, which is to destigmatize addiction by reframing it not as a failure, but as a process of navigation. “We all navigate all sorts of stuff — financial, grief, etcetera,” he explained. “How about we just let addiction be another thing to navigate rather than thinking of people as an addict first as opposed to a person… People are not things, not labels, not diagnoses.” Another component of his mission is to increase annual fundraising revenue at White Horse to $1 million. “I know in New Hampshire we can get there because so many people are touched by this — addiction affects everyone,” he said. His mission has already begun in earnest, as he recently “took a leap of faith” and publicly pledged $10,000 in support of White Horse at the Mount Washington Chamber Expo in April. “Other people started donating on the spot,” he said. “I value this organization a lot, and I want it to succeed.” Fallon’s architectural firm, Tony Fallon Architecture, is also a sponsor of White Horse Recovery’s Annual Benefit Event, themed “Unshackled: Breaking Barriers, Building Futures,” on Friday, June 6. The event will feature several speakers, including keynote Suzanne Thistle — a licensed alcohol and drug counselor with over 20 years of clinical leadership who is a three-time author and adjunct professor at Plymouth State University. “It’s going to be a wonderful event with inspiring stories,” added Fallon. “Addiction can be challenging and disheartening, but White Horse provides a hopeful way to help people navigate it with compassion and care.” Founded in Center Ossipee, New Hampshire, White Horse Recovery has grown from a small organization into a leading nonprofit with 28 employees across four locations, providing mental health and substance use disorder services.

If you or someone you know is struggling, you are not alone. White Horse Recovery offers services for those ready to start their journey to recovery. For more information, call 603-651-1441, Ext. 1.