Unlikely Journeys, Inc

12/25/2025

12/19/2025

Our Founder will have some art in this exhibit! Danielle was a group participant in this. She is grateful for this art group because it inspired her. She learned she could engage in art again despite her mobility (use of only 1 arm/hand) from the stroke a few years ago. We are excited for Danielle!

12/19/2025

https://youtu.be/X8HReAlhbrc?si=-IpXs6kPRZf3r_6Q

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

12/18/2025

Yesterday, with the TOWER men at Hamilton County Jail, we went over relevance, situational awareness, and the connection between cause and effect.

We discussed relevance as knowing when and why something is important, along with understanding how it connects to an outcome. Some of the questions we explored included the relevance of our friends to the choices we make, what is relevant to a successful job interview, and which factors are relevant to the job or career we want in the future.

Next, we talked about situational awareness and becoming more aware of what’s important in different settings. We discussed the environment of jail and prison, as well as the various aspects the men have encountered in jobs they’ve held.

To lighten the mood (I wish we would have gotten pictures!), we drew a giraffopotamus. Hearing the men laugh was such a good moment.

Lastly, we worked on if–then statements to clearly see the relevance of cause and effect. Some of the statements were serious, while others had the whole class laughing.

We’d say it’s been a successful day!

12/13/2025

Today we spent time at Hendricks County Work Release facilitating a LEGO® Serious Play workshop.

Through hands-on building and meaningful conversation, participants explored growth mindset, failure, and success—and how each plays a role in personal growth and change.

Here are a few reflections shared by participants:

"Thank you for being so relatable"

“Good dialog and conversation.”

“A good way to network.”

“It helped me confirm that what I believe I am struggling with is real.”

“It was very helpful and taught me to take the time to think, always give 100%, and never be afraid to ask for help.”

We’re grateful for the opportunity to create spaces where reflection, connection, and hope can grow—one conversation (and one build) at a time. 🧱

12/12/2025

We had a wonderful time at the MHAI Mental Health and Addiction Symposium today. Lots of great information with a lot of wonderful people doing work to move our state forward.

12/11/2025

Wednesdays are quickly becoming our favorite day!

Yesterday, we returned to the Hamilton County Jail to work with the men in the TOWER Program.

We continued exploring the time map we started last week and talked about the importance of keeping a calendar to track goals, progress, and direction. We also discussed making to-do lists and how checking items off can create a natural dopamine boost. Then we learned how to write SMART goals by breaking down what they are and practicing them together.

At the start of group, we created a working agreement, and at the end we completed a “plus and wish” list. A few of the pluses the men shared included: “I’m learning communication by being in here,” “I’m learning life patterns and can see them when written down,” and “I like the practical application.”

Yesterday was especially meaningful. One man opened up about something he struggles with and became emotional when we talked about pluses and wishes. He shared that he usually shuts down and isolates. At one point, we discussed how our small daily decisions create our current reality. In that moment, he chose to do something different. We are grateful that, after only two group sessions, this is already becoming a brave space for some.

This work by peer recovery coaches is both rewarding and essential alongside other modalities.

12/06/2025

Recovery Coaching Ethics — ICAADA

In Indiana, recovery-coach credentials are overseen by ICAADA. Their Certified Peer Recovery Coach (CPRC and CPRC-A) credentials require agreement with the ICAADA Recovery Coaching Code of Ethics.
You can review ICAADA’s credential and ethics information here: https://icaada.org/credentials-2/

Why Ethics Matter in Recovery Coaching

Ethics safeguard the heart of recovery work — trust. Because coaches walk beside people at vulnerable moments, boundaries, professionalism, and integrity help ensure support is safe, empowering, and person-centered. Ethics prevent harm, protect autonomy, uphold accountability, and reinforce that lived experience is a gift — not a power position. When coaches operate ethically, recovery spaces remain respectful, dignified, and rooted in hope.

12/04/2025

Today, started the 1st day that Unlikely Journeys went into the Hamilton County Jail to bring The R Rules to the men in TOWER.

We talked about drivers and barriers to having people in our lives to support us or cause us to not be our best selves, drew a picture or used words to represent what we want in the future, discussed values and the men have a homework assignment that our founder, Danielle, calls value mapping.

Value mapping is where we list a value we want. Then, we brain storm ways that we can show that value and what we do that our actions say we are not following it. Lastly, we started a "time map", where we put an event on each, since birth, on a calendar with a few spaces being left for the future.

We think today was productive and successful. Building relationships is important and we hope that that we are beginning to. People remember how one makes them feel instead of remembering what was said (the full quote is attributed to Maya Angelou).

11/27/2025

Happy Thanksgiving from Unlikely Journeys!