White Horse Recovery’s Center Ossipee Recovery Center

For many clients, especially those navigating early recovery, reliable transportation can be the difference between getting help and going without it, a reality that underscores the increased use of telehealth at White Horse Recovery.

“Telehealth allows people who might not seek treatment, because transportation is a huge barrier, to reach out for help,” said Eli Koester, MSW, LICSW, an outpatient counselor at White Horse Recovery. “Anybody who has a reliable internet connection and a safe and private space to meet can receive services through telehealth.”

Telehealth sessions are typically conducted by video, with expectations that clients participate from a safe, private space—not in shared living areas—and never while driving. White Horse also confirms the client’s location at the start of sessions to support emergency protocols if needed.

“We want people in front of a camera treating session like they were sitting in the office,” added Koester.

According to Matthew Plache, White Horse Executive Director, telehealth is particularly important for their clients.

“We service the northern part of New Hampshire, which is rural and spread out, so it’s important we do all we can to remove barriers to accessibility.”

Some of these barriers, noted Koester, are more complex. “Many people navigating recovery are in court systems and mandated to receive treatment,” he said. “However, many of them have lost their license, so being able to offer telehealth in those situations is very helpful.”

White Horse is also exploring expanded virtual programming, including the possibility of telehealth-based group services and intensive outpatient options, as community needs evolve.

“Telehealth isn’t a convenience add-on for us—it’s access to care,” said Plache. “When a person is ready for help, we want the door to be open that day, not weeks later because they can’t find a ride or can’t take the first step into an unfamiliar building.”

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.

Debbie Simon with her mother and daughter

When Debbie Simon moved her 85-year-old mother from Massachusetts to a New Hampshire nursing home, it felt ironic that she had just started to serve on the board of a recovery organization just miles away. However, for Simon, whose family has been touched by addiction across three generations, joining White Horse Recovery feels like divine timing.

“I feel sandwiched between two generations struggling with addiction,” said Simon, who recently joined White Horse’s Board after being moved by Board Chair Tony Fallon’s presentation at her church.

“As an adult child that has grown up with addiction, and now dealing with my daughter, that has been in and out of rehab for the past four years, I am feeling the familial and generational impact of the disease. But by the grace of God, and just for today, I am thrilled to have both generations sober and with me today.”

Simon’s personal journey mirrors that of many families served by White Horse. Growing up as a child of addiction with a brother diagnosed with schizophrenia, which she now believes was connected to his own addiction struggles, Simon didn’t find Al-Anon until her 50s. She initially went for her family history but soon discovered her own daughter was showing signs of addiction during her sophomore year of high school.

“When you grow up with addiction, you grow up too fast,” she explained. “You develop these protective instincts. I really think my calling is to protect and help people with this disease.”

That calling has taken on new meaning through her 25-year career in medical marketing, where she has worked on products for mental health and opioid addiction. Her professional expertise, combined with her lived experience, brings a unique perspective to White Horse’s mission to provide hope-filled help to those navigating addiction and mental health challenges.

“I was amazed by all the work White Horse does with so little resources,” noted Simon after learning about the organization’s four Recovery Centers across New Hampshire. “I love that it’s faith-based. Without faith, addiction is just too hard for anyone to overcome.”

As a Board member, Simon’s immediate goals include expanding White Horse’s visibility, particularly among young people who may not know these resources exist. She envisions community events that bring people together.

“There’s no way you can fight addiction alone,” she emphasized. “My goal is to get the message out there and bring people together. Maybe getting young people from White Horse out into the community talking about recovery.”

For Simon, serving on White Horse’s board represents more than professional service—it is a continuation of her family’s recovery story. This past Christmas, three generations gathered at St. Katharine Drexel Parish in Alton, New Hampshire—Simon, her mother, and her daughter, all navigating their own relationships with addiction and recovery.

“I look at Mary and think about what she endured for her son,” she reflected. “That’s kind of why I said yes to White Horse. It’s a higher calling.”

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.

Drew and Gracie Pedersen

“Addiction runs in the Pedersen family, but so does recovery now,” said Drew.

Drew’s battle with alcohol began at age 12 in the 1960s, escalating through decades of struggle with cocaine. After achieving 14 years of sobriety, he relapsed when Gracie’s older sister began using heroin. “Fifteen years of on and off drinking followed,” he said.

For Gracie, while awareness of addiction’s devastation came early, that knowledge did not prevent her own descent into alcoholism by age 22. The turning point arrived when her father initiated an impromptu intervention.

“A good friend sold me on rehab, made it sound like a vacation,” she said. “As soon as I ended up in rehab, I took accountability and took control over my own life.”

White Horse Recovery became their bridge to healing. Drew initially volunteered in 2018, as he wanted to “check the place out to make sure it was okay to bring [his oldest] daughter here.” When Drew brought Gracie to Whitehorse in 2022, staff member Kelsey Wentworth connected Gracie with New Hampshire Detox Center, which began her journey through treatment at Bonfire Recovery Services and then sober living at The Freeman House, both in Dover, NH.

“When I was in treatment, I had a dream to work in treatment,” said Gracie, who landed her first recovery job at Bonfire Behavioral Health’s residential facility in spring of 2023.

For Gracie, her focus is on empowerment. “I love helping people who don’t typically feel seen,” she said.

 

Drew finds purpose in crisis intervention: “I like helping people,” he said. “When things get a little crazy around here, I like that a bit, as long as it ends well.”

Their collaboration extends beyond White Horse’s walls through prevention work at Kingswood Youth Center, where Gracie engages in conversations with young people every other week. “I’ve brought people in to tell their story to the kids—I’m spreading awareness,” she explained.

The strength of both their recoveries faced its ultimate test when Gracie’s mother spent 10 weeks in a coma on a ventilator during COVID-19 restrictions. “It pushed both of us to our personal limits,” Drew said.

Though Gracie initially relapsed during the crisis, the experience ultimately reinforced their commitment to recovery and each other. For Gracie, who recently gained custody of her stepdaughter Ainsley, her focus is clear. “My goal is to be the best mom possible for my daughter,” she said.

For Drew, his goal is equally singular in its focus. “Keep breathing for as long as possible,” he said.

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.

From left to right: Certified Recovery Support Worker Drew Pederson, Tim Adams and his dog Jake, Recovery Coach Gracie Pederson, and White Horse Executive Director Matthew Plache

White Horse Recovery has been awarded a $35,000 grant from the Kendal C. and Anna Ham Charitable Foundation to purchase a dedicated transportation vehicle for its North Conway location. The Kendal C. and Anna Ham Charitable Foundation focuses on supporting the Mt. Washington Valley of New Hampshire, and Bridgton and Fryeburg, Maine communities in areas of human services, environment, and community development.

According to White Horse Executive Director Matthew Plache, the grant will eliminate many of the transportation barriers that often prevent clients from reaching detox facilities, intensive outpatient therapy sessions, recovery meetings, and essential support services.

“Many clients served by White Horse Recovery are homeless, lack vehicle access, or have lost driving privileges due to addiction-related issues,” he said. “Transportation is often the difference between someone getting help and falling through the cracks.”

Plache said White Horse’s existing transportation program has already demonstrated significant success at their Center Ossipee, Littleton, and Berlin locations.

“Research consistently shows that transportation barriers significantly impact treatment engagement and completion rates, particularly in rural areas where treatment facilities may be located far from where clients live,” 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.

Executive Director Matthew Plache at recent staff meeting

White Horse Recovery’s Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) is gaining recognition as a transformative approach to addiction recovery, combining 12 weeks of intensive group and individual counseling that has proven successful in helping clients reclaim their lives. However, the program’s innovative model faces sustainability challenges as insurance reimbursements fall significantly short of actual program costs.

The comprehensive IOP requires participants to attend three hours of therapy, three times per week, plus individual sessions—totaling 10 hours of clinical support weekly. This intensive approach, which costs approximately $12,000-$14,000 per client over the 12-week period, has demonstrated remarkable outcomes, including dramatically reduced recidivism rates and successful reintegration into families and communities.

“We don’t just save lives—we change them,” said Matthew Plache, Executive Director of White Horse Recovery. “When people complete our IOP program, they’re different people. They have their lives back, they’re no longer dependent on substances, and they have the tools and community support to sustain their recovery long-term.”

The program’s success extends beyond individual transformation. Recent data from the Carroll County jail shows that participants in White Horse’s recovery groups experienced a recidivism rate drop to just 30%. One recent graduate, who was facing a three-year prison sentence, completed the program and avoided incarceration entirely, now working toward employment and family reunification.

However, the program’s innovative intensity comes at a cost that is not fully covered by insurance. White Horse absorbs approximately $120 more per session than insurance reimbursements provide, creating an annual funding gap that has historically been supported through individual donors and county grants.

Recent reductions in county funding—from $150,000 to $100,000 over the past few years—have intensified the need for community support. “More than 95% of our IOP clients are Carroll County residents, and many are economically disadvantaged,” Plache noted. “We serve anyone regardless of their ability to pay because we believe everyone deserves access to recovery services.”

The program serves clients throughout Carroll County, with participants traveling from Bartlett, Conway, Jackson, Tamworth, Wakefield, and other communities to the Ossipee location. While alcohol remains the most common substance addressed, the program increasingly serves individuals struggling with opioid addiction, particularly fentanyl.

White Horse’s current Annual Fund drive aims to bridge these critical funding gaps, ensuring the IOP program can continue serving 6-8 clients at any given time while maintaining its high-intensity, personalized approach. The organization also provides additional services at no cost to taxpayers, including Smart Recovery groups at the county jail—a $70,000 annual value.

“Every person in addiction affects at least 10 others—employers, family members, friends,” Plache explained. “In a state where addiction and mental health challenges affect nearly 20% of the population, programs like ours provide hope and real solutions.”

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.

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.