I’m Andy Saunders, a licensed clinical social worker, licensed clinical addictions counselor, and person in long-term recovery. I founded Sustenímus because I care about what happens on both sides of the therapy room: the experience of the person seeking help and the support, preparation, and judgment of the professionals providing it.

My path into this work has been personal as well as professional. My own experiences with addiction, recovery, and the criminal justice system have shaped how I understand accountability, opportunity, and lasting change. I know what it means to rebuild a life, encounter barriers, and benefit from people who recognize your potential. Those experiences continue to inform my commitment to respectful care, practical support, and the belief that people deserve opportunities to move forward.

I began working in addiction treatment as a substance use and recovery technician at Fairbanks, supporting people in residential care and learning the daily work of treatment from the ground up. I later returned to school and earned my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work from Indiana University, with graduate study focused on mental health and addictions.

Since then, my clinical work has included residential treatment, intensive outpatient programming, individual therapy, and services for people involved in the criminal justice system. I have worked with organizations including Life Recovery Center, Emberwood Center, Aspire Indiana’s Mockingbird Hill Recovery Center, and Bridges of Hope. Across those settings, I have facilitated therapy and psychoeducational groups, completed comprehensive assessments, developed treatment plans, supported transitions in care, and collaborated with multidisciplinary teams. I currently provide individual therapy through Evermore Therapy & Wellness Group.

That range of experience has given me a practical understanding of how treatment programs function day to day. A thoughtful curriculum matters. So do clear staff roles, useful documentation, sound clinical decisions, and a team that has somewhere to turn when the work gets difficult. I’m interested in helping organizations connect those pieces so their programs work well for both clients and staff.

My experience also extends beyond direct clinical care. Through the Indiana Addictions Issues Coalition and Mental Health America of Indiana, I worked on legislation, policy, community outreach, and recovery-focused initiatives. That work included collaborating with community organizations, treatment providers, public officials, and people with lived experience to strengthen recovery resources and address barriers to care. It helped me understand how decisions made at the organizational and policy levels affect the options available to an individual seeking help.

Education and community service remain an important part of my work. I serve as a panel member with Indiana University’s ECHO programming, contributing to case-based learning and discussion with professionals working in addiction and behavioral health. I have participated in opioid fatality review efforts and serve as board chair of THRIVE RCO. These experiences keep me connected to the broader recovery community and to the value of bringing different perspectives together.

Through Sustenímus, I offer clinical consultation, program development, professional supervision, and training. My approach is collaborative, direct, and grounded in the realities of the work. I enjoy helping clinicians build confidence and judgment, helping organizations turn ideas into workable programs, and making complicated processes easier to understand and use.

My clinical perspective is informed by trauma-informed care, motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral approaches, and respect for multiple pathways to recovery. I also bring specialized training in addiction and co-occurring gambling concerns. Across these areas, I value curiosity, ethical practice, and a willingness to keep learning.

Outside of work, I enjoy time with my partner, Tony, and our dogs. My own life continues to remind me that growth depends on connection, support, and the space to keep becoming who we want to be.

“Strength Through Connection” is the idea behind Sustenímus—and a reflection of how I try to approach this work: supporting people, strengthening teams, and helping good ideas become care that makes a difference.