In September, I sat in a circle with women living at Families in Recovery (FIRP), a residential treatment program in Norwalk for mothers rebuilding their lives after substance use.

They came into the room feeling “heavy,” “all over the place,” “exhausted.” This may not come as a surprise to you, First name.

One woman gestured toward her three-year-old son in the next room and whispered, “I just wish I could breathe right…for him”

By the end of our program — led by our facilitator Asha — the energy had shifted completely. The women spoke of calm, peace, and gratitude. Thankful for:

“My kids.”

“My growth.”
“Waking up, not craving a drink or drug.”
“Being able to wake up.”

One mother ran to get her 9-month-old and beamed with pride as she introduced her baby to us after the program. Moments like this are the heart of recovery — and they remind us why mindfulness matters.

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When I spoke with John Hamilton, CEO of our partner Liberation Programs (and the nonprofit leading FIRP), he said something that’s stayed with me:

“Gratitude is my litmus test for recovery—no matter the pathway. When someone starts sharing gratitude, it gives me a whisper of hope that they’ll be okay.”

John is a nationally recognized expert in addiction treatment and prevention and chairs the advisory board for the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. He shared how trauma makes it hard to feel safe — how you can’t “think” your way into safety.

“You have to reach the deeper part of the brain, the amygdala, so your world feels safe. I don’t think there’s anything more effective than mindfulness to get there.”

“People are looking for solutions. Since COVID, disconnection and loneliness have been universal. Your work builds hope.”

At CMP, we’re deeply proud of our partnership with Liberation Programs. Together, we’re supporting both the women in recovery and the staff who walk beside them — building compassion, calm, and resilience in the face of extraordinary challenges.

This work has rippled far beyond one program. This year alone, your support has allowed us to facilitate 150 courses, 276 community access sessions and 76 workshops, bringing mindfulness to communities grappling with unhealthy levels of stress, trauma, and disconnection.

In recognition of this commitment, CMP was honored as New Canaan’s first Recovery Friendly Workplace by Governor Lamont and the CT HUB — a distinction that reflects our shared vision for a stigma-free, supportive community and team where healing is possible for all.