Success is Subjective: Real People. Raw Stories. Embracing a Non-Linear Life!
Interviews of people who took a break from life at one point or another to get help, grow up, or just to reassess their life direction. Some guests struggled with depression, anxiety, substance abuse, a death in the family, or just decided college was not the place for them. These stories are all-to-real, and yet we don't talk enough about how common it is for those who took a gap year to defer college, went to college and took a break, or those who struggled launching into the workforce post-college graduation. This goes out to all the young adults and parents of young adults who are struggling and contemplating what will happen if they walk away right now.
Success is Subjective: Real People. Raw Stories. Embracing a Non-Linear Life!
Episode 338 - Felony to Faculty: How Tom Bannard Built Recovery Support on a College Campus
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
What happens when a student in recovery returns to a campus built around drinking culture?
In this episode, Tom Bannard shares his own path from addiction, legal consequences, and a felony conviction to leading one of the largest collegiate recovery programs in Virginia. Now the Assistant Director for Substance Use and Recovery Support at VCU, Tom explains why most college campuses are not designed for students navigating addiction — and what it actually takes to change that.
Joanna and Tom discuss readiness after treatment, the real risks of rushing back to school, and what families should look for when considering a collegiate recovery program. If your student is in recovery and thinking about returning to campus, this conversation will challenge assumptions and offer clarity about what support truly means.
Tom’s Resources:
Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)
LinkedIn: Tom Bannard
Instagram: @ramsinrecovery
Connect with Joanna Lilley
Therapeutic Consulting Association
Lilley Consulting on YouTube
Email: joanna@lilleyconsulting.com
#TherapeuticConsulting #LilleyConsulting #Successful #TherapeuticPrograms #Therapy #MentalHealthMatters #MentalHealthAwareness #Podcast #PodcastCommunity #TheJourney #SuccessIsSubjectivePodcast #TheUnpavedRoad #PFCAudioVideo #CollegiateRecovery #RamsInRecovery #TomBannard #VirginiaCommonwealthUniversity #VCU