WE PARTNER WITH YOU — NOT PREACH TO YOU

A NOTE FROM THE FOUNDERS

Our paths first crossed many years ago through recovery, and from the start, our connection was built on deep friendship, mutual respect, and a shared reverence for the joy and abundance that comes with living beyond gambling. We’ve remained close ever since, fueled by a common belief: that a life of freedom from addiction isn’t just possible — it can be joyful, vibrant, and deeply meaningful.

Over time, we witnessed how elusive sustained abstinence could be for so many. And even among those who managed to stop gambling, we often saw lives still marked by anxiety, trepidation, emotional pain, or a sense of flatness. We’d experienced that “more” in our own lives, and felt drawn to help others experience it for themselves — not just freedom from gambling, but a deeper kind of freedom: one that brings peace, connection, and a renewed sense of purpose.

Brian often says that gambling addiction, painful as it was, became the on-ramp to a spiritual and practical life far more fulfilling than anything he imagined — even before the first bet.

Sal’s favorite reminder is: “A joy shared is a joy doubled; a trouble shared is one halved.” Those simple truths became part of a shared philosophy: that recovery isn’t about staying stuck in what went wrong — it’s about moving forward through gratitude, community, and whole-person growth.

That philosophy is what eventually coalesced into The Recovery Partners — not as a brand-new idea, but as a natural extension of the work we’ve been doing for years: walking alongside others, sharing tools, and offering hope through lived experience.

While traditional recovery paths have helped many people find stability, we saw a need to go further — toward whole-person growth, deeper meaning, and fuller lives that aren’t defined by gambling at all, but by purpose, connection, and real joy.

We’re honored to share this journey with you — not just the spirit behind it, but the practical tools we continue to use every day to live full, connected, and joyful lives.

WELCOME TO THE RECOVERY PARTNERS

– Brian & Sal

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HOW WE’RE DIFFERENT — AND WHY THAT MATTERS

We’re not doctors. We’re not licensed therapists, and we don’t pretend to be.

We are individuals who have lived through the pain, secrecy, and chaos of gambling addiction — and emerged stronger, living full, happy lives beyond it. Our work is rooted in real-world recovery, not just theory.

Our approach draws from what works — traditional recovery programs, professional therapy, spiritual practices, behavioral and cognitive tools, and honest trial and error. We’ve distilled what works into a flexible, compassionate framework focused on long-term change.

To be clear: we are not a replacement for clinical therapy, medical treatment, or other self-help and recovery resources. If additional therapeutic support would serve you, we encourage it — and we’ll help you find it. Our role is to offer grounded, relatable guidance based on lived experience — a different kind of support for those ready to walk this path.

YOUR PARTNERS

BRIAN S. ALPER

CO-FOUNDER, COACH, CEO

Brian’s deep understanding of gambling addiction comes not from textbooks, but from personal experience—through his own recovery and through years of walking alongside others on their healing journeys. Grounded in lived experience, hard-won insight, and a genuine commitment to helping others.

  • Over the years, Brian has supported countless individuals in twelve-step programs, led large-group presentations, spoken on podcasts, and shared his story publicly to raise awareness about the hidden dangers of gambling addiction. His approach blends compassion, authenticity, and practical wisdom drawn from real-world recovery—not just theory.

    Brian is also a Certified Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist, a designation that complements his broader experience. He holds a B.A. in Government and Psychology from The University of Texas at Austin.

    A lifelong surfer and motivational speaker, Brian brings humility, empathy, and unwavering dedication to each client he supports. His personalized, empowering approach helps individuals move forward with clarity, strength, and renewed purpose.

SAL GUARINO

CO-FOUNDER, COACH, COO

Sal Guarino is a life coach, writer, and longtime New Yorker living in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. His second-greatest superpower—just behind sniffing out the best restaurants anywhere—is his deep, instant empathy for others, a gift he credits to his mother.

  • Sal has been drawn to helping others since the age of 18, combining a BA in Psychology with decades of eclectic life experience and street-smart insight. At just 22, he became one of New York State’s youngest-ever Credentialed Alcoholism Counselors. His approach blends candor, compassion, and a bit of classic East Coast edge — all in service of helping others find freedom and clarity.

    Though he’s spent the last 24 years in digital advertising, helping companies grow by cultivating human potential, Sal never left the heart of the helping professions. His life is grounded in a close-knit circle of spiritually dedicated friends, and he believes deeply in recovery as a journey toward emotional abundance, not just abstinence.

    If handed a magic wand, you’d find him strolling San Miguel’s cobblestone streets with his wife Alejandra, swapping stories with his two adult daughters, coaching others toward lasting change, singing a cappella standards at local karaoke, and savoring great food with great company.

    Sal is proud to bring his lived experience, creative spirit, and wholehearted commitment to The Recovery Partners.

FREEDOM IS JUST ONE WAVE AWAY.

Whether you’re just starting to ask questions or ready to take the next step,
we’re here to listen, support, and walk alongside you.

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FAQ’s

  • The Recovery Partners is a one-year, peer-based coaching program for people struggling with gambling. We combine lived experience, structured support, and compassionate accountability to help you rebuild your life. Our approach is personalized, non-clinical, and deeply practical.

  • No. The Recovery Partners offers peer-based coaching — not clinical therapy or medical treatment. Our coaches draw on lived experience to provide personalized, strength-based support. We’re also happy to coordinate with your therapist or recovery team if you’re working with one.

  • No. You don’t need to have stopped gambling to begin. If you’re ready to examine your relationship with it — or even just explore the possibility of change — we’ll meet you right there.

  • While we believe strongly in the value of community-based recovery, The Recovery Partners program offers a more structured and personalized path. We provide one-on-one coaching from people who’ve been through it — offering both practical tools and emotional support, grounded in real experience.

  • Absolutely. Our program is designed to complement other recovery tools. Many participants continue with therapy, attend groups, or follow other paths while working with us. We don’t claim to be the only way — but we’ve built a practical, whole-person method drawn from years of lived and professional experience.

  • All of our coaches have personally experienced gambling addiction and long-term recovery. We know that healing goes beyond just stopping the behavior. Our coaches are trained in The Recovery Partners framework and bring empathy, clarity, and hard-earned insight. We’ve lived it — and now live well beyond it.

  • We offer four support options, each built to meet you where you are. Whether you need a quick reset, a more structured plan to build momentum, or a full-year partnership to reshape your life, you’ll have one-on-one support from coaches who’ve walked this road and already built happy, gambling-free-lives. Learn more about the programs here.

  • Yes, when appropriate. Family integration is often recommended and can be a key part of lasting recovery. If involving loved ones supports your process, we’ll help bring them in — in a healthy, constructive way.

  • Relapse isn’t failure — it’s feedback. If it happens, we’ll process it together, strengthen your tools, and keep moving forward. We may even reframe it as a “prolapse” — a falling forward — if it leads to greater insight and commitment.

  • Yes. Everything you share in coaching sessions is private. We respect your confidentiality fully and operate with discretion and trust at the core of all we do.

  • Just book a free consultation. You’ll talk directly with a coach, get your questions answered, and together we’ll decide if this is the right fit for you.