About Us
Our philosophy
Meet the founder
My name is Mike and I've spent the last 10 years working alongside people through some of the hardest moments of their lives.
My expertise in recovery is built on a deep, hands-on understanding of the environmental conditions, social determinants, and drug supply enabling the reality of substance use disorder in our communities.
I started my career in homeless outreach in Philadelphia, including for several years in Kensington - an epicenter of the opioid crisis in the United States. This foundation enabled progressive roles at preeminent institutions across the city and surrounding suburbs as a drug and alcohol counselor, a harm reduction educator, and a crisis response specialist. I've worked side-by-side with clinicians, police departments, public health leaders, and peer specialists alike to ensure that care reaches people where they are, when they need it most.
When it comes to sustainable recovery, one common thread I've observed irrespective of individual circumstances is that people get better when someone shows up for them - consistently, honestly, and without judgment. I also firmly believe that recovery and harm reduction are not in conflict. The willingness to genuinely meet someone where they are is not giving up on them. It’s the first step toward building the kind of trust that changes lives.
I’ve seen it work on the streets of Philadelphia, and I’ve seen it work in living rooms on the Main Line. That is why I founded Common Ground Recovery Partners.
Our approach
Why we're different
Real experience, real results
Most recovery professionals come from one world: lived experience, clinical training, or community outreach. Mike has all three. He understands the drug supply, the behavioral patterns of addiction, and the obstacles people face when they're trying to make a change. That knowledge makes him a more effective coach, a better navigator, and a more credible partner for referrers.
Strengthening the support system
Addiction doesn't happen in isolation - and neither does recovery. Families and caregivers are often the invisible backbone of the whole process. By the time a loved one reaches treatment, many families are running on empty themselves. Mike works with support systems as a core part of his practice, because recovery almost always depends on the system around the person, not just the person.
A partner, not a program
Mike's harm reduction background means he genuinely meets people where they are - including while they are still actively using - without withdrawing support or imposing conditions. Recovery is a continuum, not a finish line, and we partner with each individual to define what recovery means for them and what it looks like to get there.
Practical preparedness
Many organizations want harm reduction training but don't know where to find a credible, locally-rooted provider. Mike brings experience training communities and leaders across one of the most complex drug environments in the country. He now offers this service to workplaces, schools, athletic programs, and community groups through practical, evidence-based training and access to life-saving resources.
There at any and every stage
Major transitions - like discharge from inpatient treatment, returning from incarceration, or other circumstances can be disruptive. The weeks and months that follow are often when people - and their families - need the most support and have the least. Mike's work bridges that gap. He is present in someone's real life, alongside real pressure, helping new habits hold. He's not a replacement for clinical care. He's what makes it more likely to stick.