Meet Kelsey Wentworth

Meet Kelsey

My name is Kelsey Wentworth, and I have been working at White Horse Recovery since the summer of 2021. I began as a peer support worker in the Resource Center in Ossipee and later became a Certified Recovery Support Worker.

From the beginning, I’ve had a heart for those suffering from addiction. When I first entered this field, I believed that showing tough love and promoting the same path I had taken in recovery would help others. Over time, however, I’ve come to deeply appreciate the power of connecting through active listening, motivational interviewing, and expressing love grounded in my Christian beliefs.

People in addiction often carry heavy burdens of guilt, shame, and remorse—they don’t need me to remind them of that. Instead, I’ve embraced the principle of “first, do no harm,” or nonmaleficence. Through experience, I’ve seen this principle play out in different ways—whether it’s setting boundaries and promoting accountability, or offering hope and faith when others can’t yet see it for themselves.

As someone in recovery myself, I understand the importance of accepting others exactly where they are. White Horse has always fostered a positive and supportive environment that makes this possible.

Over the past four years, I’ve not only progressed in my career but also discovered more about who I am and how I can genuinely help others. I’ve witnessed individuals at their lowest points—often cast aside by society—walk through our doors and be welcomed by staff who truly believe in their potential. Watching them grow into the best versions of themselves has been incredibly rewarding.

Currently, I’m working toward the hours required to become a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor. White Horse has been supportive and flexible in helping me pursue this goal. They’ve also encouraged me to explore my personal interests, such as working with inmates and facilitating groups for both men and women at the Carroll County Department of Corrections.

In a field where compassion fatigue is real, finding areas that bring job satisfaction has helped me feel valued and heard. For that, I am deeply grateful to be part of the team at White Horse.

Meet Mitchell Henderson

Meet Mitchell Henderson

Q: When did you move to New Hampshire, and what brought you here?

Mitchell: My wife and I moved to New Hampshire in the fall of 2022. We had been living in Oregon, where I worked in churches and nonprofit ministry. After having our son, we felt it was time for a change and wanted to be closer to my wife’s family—her father is a priest in Conway. She had a remote job, so we made the move, and I took some time off to stay home with our son for about six months.

Q: How did you get connected to White Horse Recovery?

Mitchell: While looking for jobs here, I asked my father-in-law to ask around. I was getting my master’s degree in ministry and leadership and was looking for a way to serve the community—specifically in faith-based or human services. The biggest needs I saw were in elderly care, mental health, and substance use. My father-in-law introduced me to Mitch, the founder of White Horse, who’s also on our board. At the time, there was only an entry-level recovery coach position open, but after meeting Mitch, Eric, and some of the team, I felt drawn to the mission and decided to join.

Q: What strengths do you bring to your role at White Horse?

Mitchell: My background in Christian ministry and nonprofit work helps me bring a compassionate and service-oriented approach. I’m not in recovery myself, but I see that as an opportunity to offer a different perspective. Lived experience is a superpower—I don’t have that, but I do bring the ability to sit with people, listen, and care deeply. From a Christian perspective, I believe we’re all broken people in need of hope and strength.

Q: What has your journey looked like within White Horse?

Mitchell: After starting as a recovery coach, I was quickly given the opportunity to manage our North Conway center. That role allowed me to use my leadership and communication skills, and eventually, I became the RCO Director overseeing all four centers. One of my goals has been to identify and amplify the unique strengths each team member brings—whether it’s lived experience, compassion, or personal connection to addiction. Peer support is such a powerful and unique model.

Q: What originally inspired your shift from engineering to ministry and service?

Mitchell: I actually went to college for mechanical engineering because it made logical sense. But during my junior year, I got involved with a campus ministry and had a real conviction that God was calling me to help people. I finished the degree but accepted a church internship knowing I wasn’t going to pursue engineering. From there, it’s been a journey of discernment that led me here to New Hampshire—and to White Horse, which I see as the place I’m meant to serve.

Q: What are your goals as RCO Director?

Mitchell: The practical side is improving systems, data, and staffing across all centers. Metaphorically, I think of it as seasons—we’ve been in a pruning season, and now we’re in a planting and preparing one. Hopefully, in a couple years, we’ll be in a growing and harvesting season. Ultimately, I want us to be a strong community presence and a hub for those affected by substance use and mental health issues.

Q: What do you want people to understand about your role as someone not in recovery?

Mitchell: I try to be upfront—I’m one step removed. I have friends and family affected by addiction, but I don’t claim that as my direct experience. Still, I believe it’s an issue that touches every community. Even if you’re not personally impacted, there are ways to help—by learning, listening, and responding with compassion instead of judgment. It’s easy to distance ourselves from uncomfortable realities, but healing comes when we embrace them with empathy and action.

Meeting Brokenness with Compassion

Can you tell us about your role at The Shed in Berlin?
I’m a recovery coach here. I work one-on-one with people who come in. I’ve only been at The Shed for about a month — yesterday actually marked my one-month anniversary!

Would you share a little about your journey leading up to this work?
I’ve struggled with addiction since I was 18 or 19 years old — pills, meth, heroin. In 2017, I lost custody of my two daughters, who were just four years old and a year and a half at the time. After that, I went on a downward spiral. I felt like I wasn’t worthy of anything. I became homeless, lived in abandoned buildings, and eventually went to jail for failure to appear in court. After signing a plea deal, I got out a week early — but things got worse. Someone told the drug dealers that I had turned them in, and suddenly I was being hunted.

It was around then that I found out I was pregnant with my son. I realized I had three choices: go back to jail, end up in a body bag, or go into recovery. I chose recovery — and I’ve been sober for five years now.

How did you rebuild your life after that?
Shortly after entering recovery, I met Adam Hammell, the owner of Exile Burrito. I was fresh into sobriety and asked him to take a chance on me — I promised he wouldn’t regret it. After I started working there, I began fighting to get my daughters back. I had to travel frequently to North Carolina for court hearings, which was really expensive. Adam believed in me so much that he paid $4,000 to help cover the costs. Thanks to that support, I won custody and brought my daughters back here.

What was working at Exile Burrito like for you?
Technically, it wasn’t a recovery-friendly workplace, but in reality, it absolutely was. That job and the support I got there changed everything for me. Over time, Adam stepped away from the business to work at the prison again, and I managed Exile for the last three years. We not only supported employees but also helped addicts and the homeless — giving out food, getting people into rehab. It became a real mission for me.

What led you to working with White Horse Recovery?
When Exile closed at the end of February, I realized I could take that same spirit and use it here at White Horse, but this time with formal training. I had been involved with White Horse from early on — even gave a speech on opening night at The Shed. It just clicked for me.

Also, a few years ago, my mom had moved to Berlin and offered me a bus ticket to come start fresh. I took the chance. The community here rallied around me — Family Resource Center, Northern Services, the Doorway program at AVH — everyone helped me without expecting anything in return. That was so different from what I was used to. It made me want to give back even more.

What have you seen in your time working at The Shed?
A lot of people come in just looking for connection — even if they’re not ready for rehab. Some do go to rehab and we’ve had some beautiful success stories. But we’ve also lost people. Since I started here, two people who came through have overdosed and passed away. It’s tough, but it’s a reminder of how crucial this work is.

What’s your main goal moving forward?
My goal is to meet brokenness with compassion, acceptance, and grace — the same way I was met at Exile. Even though that place is closed now, the spirit lives on. I owe my recovery to the support system I had there. It helped me find faith again, rebuild trust, and get my children back. I want everyone who walks through the door here to feel genuine care — no strings attached.

Adam from Exile played a big role in your journey. Can you tell us more about your relationship with him?
Adam has spoken at events about how important a recovery-friendly workplace is. He says he measures the success of his business by my story. Addiction hit close to home for him too — his older brother struggled for much of his life. Supporting me gave him a different perspective on recovery and what real support looks like. Adam was always there for me. If I needed anything, I knew I could call him. I want to be that person for someone else now.