After multiple relapses, Peter rebuilt his life, and now helps others do the same through his role at The Hader Clinic.
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90-day rehab success rate: 83%
Medically supervised detox
Dual diagnosis treatment
Trauma-informed care model
Structured aftercare via app
Family support programs
Private hospital setting
Equine therapy included
For more than a decade, Peter lived in chaos, cycling through addiction, broken trust, and the fallout of methamphetamines, alcohol, and MDMA. Life as he knew it was in pieces.
Recovery didn’t come quickly, but Peter found his way back with time, support, and the right treatment. Today, he’s the Program Coordinator at The Hader Clinic, guiding others through the journey that transformed his life.
“My story is a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of recovery.”
Peter’s addiction didn’t just derail his career or damage his health; it robbed him of self-worth. He describes feeling like a shadow of the person he used to be, cut off from everyone he loved and stuck in a cycle he couldn’t escape.
By the time he sought help, his life was unrecognisable. The weight of guilt, shame, and fear made asking for treatment feel like a last resort, but it was also the beginning of everything that came next.
Peter’s addiction didn’t just derail his career or damage his health; it robbed him of self-worth. He describes feeling like a shadow of the person he used to be, cut off from everyone he loved and stuck in a cycle he couldn’t escape.
By the time he sought help, his life was unrecognisable. The weight of guilt, shame, and fear made asking for treatment feel like a last resort, but it was also the beginning of everything that came next.
Peter’s journey to recovery involved multiple relapses, each one followed by the choice to return, and the courage to try again.
Date: April 2013
After hitting rock bottom, Peter entered a 90-day residential program at The Hader Clinic. Despite intense anxiety and fear, he found a sense of safety and connection among peers and staff, people who understood what he was going through.
Date: July 2013
After completing the program, Peter relapsed. He returned for another 60-day stay and completed an additional 30-day intensive outpatient program, showing continued determination to break the cycle.
Date: October 2013
A ten-month relapse followed. Peter describes this as the darkest chapter of his addiction, marked by isolation, shame, and hopelessness. "That period,” Peter says, “was a stark reminder that recovery is not a linear path. But relapse, while painful, isn’t a failure. While this was a low point, it was not the end of Peter’s journey.
Date: August 2014
Peter re-entered treatment for a third time, this time committing to a 90-day program followed by nine months in transitional housing. This sustained support marked the foundation of long-term recovery.
Date: 2015 onward
After completing the transition program, Peter stayed connected to Hader. He began working as a Recovery Coach, eventually becoming Program Coordinator. Recovery became more than a goal; it became his calling. His story is one of persistence, humility, and courage, returning to treatment not out of shame, but out of hope that this time could be different. And eventually, it was.
Peter accessed multiple streams of care, from residential rehab and outpatient programs to transitional housing, each one critical to his long-term recovery.
Peter’s first major step in recovery was a 90-day residential program, which was the start of a long-term healing journey.
After his first relapse, Peter returned for 60 days of residential care, reaffirming his commitment to getting well.
Peter participated in an intensive outpatient program after residential care, helping him stabilise in early recovery.
A 9-month stay in structured housing gave Peter the foundation and support needed to maintain sobriety.
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Alongside formal treatment, Peter’s recovery was shaped by the people and practices that held him steady. Therapy, group work, and 12-step meetings gave him the tools to keep showing up for himself, long after his initial program ended.
Regular 1-on-1 counselling helped Peter explore the roots of his addiction and rebuild emotional resilience.
Peter didn’t find recovery alone; someone reached out first. Our intervention services help families create a safe, structured pathway into treatment for loved ones who are struggling.
Peter’s healing wasn’t his alone. Our Family Program helped his loved ones understand addiction, rebuild trust, and become part of the recovery process.
Peter remained connected after discharge through follow-up support and engagement with Hader’s digital aftercare.
We’re going to let Peter speak for himself on this one:
“Today, nearly eleven years after my last treatment, my life is unrecognisable from the chaos of addiction. I am healthier, happier, and at peace with myself. The family relationships that were once shattered have been mended. I am financially stable and have built a fulfilling career at The Hader Clinic, where I started as a Recovery Coach and have since worked my way up to Program Coordinator. Helping others navigate the path to recovery has given me purpose and clarity.
I maintain my recovery through regular 12-step meetings, therapy, and healthy habits. I surround myself with supportive friends and family who keep me grounded.
My advice to anyone considering rehab is simple: Take the leap. The process may be challenging, but it’s the most important investment you can make in yourself. You’re worth it.”
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Peter’s story isn’t an exception. If you’re ready to take the first step, we’re here to help you walk the rest. Reach out when you're ready.
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Peter’s journey took place across two of our core treatment settings: our licensed private hospital in Geelong and our residential rehab in Essendon. Each Hader Clinic facility is designed to support safety, structure, and holistic care. We also offer transitional housing and online programs to support long-term recovery across metro and regional Victoria.
Peter’s story took place in a facility backed by clinical rigour and national compliance. The Hader Clinic is a fully licensed private hospital, ISO 9001 certified, NSQHS accredited, and approved to provide services under DVA and NDIS. Our team meets the highest ethical and safety standards in the addiction treatment sector.
Peter isn’t alone. Thousands of people have come through our programs and reclaimed their lives; many have shared their stories to give others hope.
Peter’s recovery may have started with detoxing his body, but our goal was always to help me rebuild his life. That’s why every Hader Clinic program is grounded in a holistic model of care. We combine medical treatment with therapy, creative expression, mindfulness, physical movement, and social connection to support full-person healing and long-term recovery.
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Many members of our team bring not just professional expertise, but lived experience of addiction and recovery. We know what it's like to be on the other side, and we show up with compassion, honesty and hope.
The Hader Clinic has supported thousands of Australians through addiction recovery since 1997. Our approach combines experience, empathy, and evidence, with a mission to treat addiction as a health issue, not a moral failing.
Whether you're enquiring for yourself or a loved one, taking the first step can be daunting. Our team is here to answer your questions. Let’s have a chat.
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