For many, recovery begins in unexpected places. For Tyler Vaughn, 32, what started as a court-ordered treatment turned into a life-changing journey at Discovery Place located near Nashville, Tennessee. Most recently our trusted Admissions Coordinator, Tyler used his experience to help others find hope and healing where he once stood.
In this candid interview, Tyler opens up about his battle with addiction, his turning point, and how Discovery Place helped him rebuild a life of peace, family, and purpose.
A Chance Encounter That Changed Everything
Q: How did you end up at Discovery Place?
“I wound up at Discovery Place kind of through luck. I’d gotten arrested and was court-ordered to go through treatment, so I came back to Nashville to complete it. I’d heard about this place through another guy who told me to come, so I looked it up and saw that it was only a 28-day program. I made the call myself to try it.”
Q: You have a history of treatment centers. What made you pick this one?
“I’ve been to treatment centers all over the U.S., going through the revolving door of them for ten years. Honestly, the only reason I chose this place was because I found it on February 8th, and I had court on March 10th. When I looked it up online, it said it was a 28-day program, so I thought it was great that I could show up to court with a completion slip.”
From Resistance to Surrender
Q: Why was this one different?
“It was court-ordered, but when I was there and wanted to leave, the director of operations put me on the phone with my mom. I talked to her, and she told me some very hard truths. I learned how I’d ruined every holiday, wasn’t part of my kids’ lives, and hadn’t met my niece… I made the decision to surrender myself to this program.”
Tyler explains how Discovery Place felt like a family from the start—a sense of belonging he hadn’t felt in years. What began as a mandatory stay turned into a six-month commitment that transformed his outlook on recovery.
Breaking the Cycle
Q: Had your mom said anything like this to you before? Was this the first time you were court-ordered?
“I was court-ordered one other time. As for my mom, this was the first time she gave me some huge, hurtful, and hard truths… I ended up staying for six months at Discovery Place, beyond the required 28 days. This place felt like a family, and I felt part of something—which I hadn’t felt in a long time.”
Finding Purpose in Community
Q: If someone had told you when you came in that you would be here for six months, what would you have said?
“I would’ve said, ‘Absolutely not. I’m here to do my 28 days, then I’m gone.’ But something clicked. Coming to Discovery Place really is like a family—it’s such a good community… I started having fun. We were playing volleyball and joking around at night. I thought, ‘You know, this really isn’t that bad.’”
Tyler credits the Discovery Place community for showing him what connection and joy could look like in sobriety. What began as resistance soon became gratitude for a second chance.
Building a Life Beyond Addiction
Q: What was your plan before going in?
“I didn’t have hope for my future… I had given up hope that staying sober was possible.”
Q: Why go to this program?
“Don’t get me wrong, there are benefits to therapists, but there’s something to be said about someone who’s been there, done that, and gotten through it… Having someone who had been there and could lay it out—‘You need to do this, this, and this to recover’—was huge.”
At Discovery Place, Tyler found the power of peer-led recovery, guided by staff who had lived through addiction themselves. That experience offered authenticity and understanding that made the difference.
The Discovery Place Difference
Q: A lot of places have licensing or legal rules… How does that make this place different?
“Because we’re not beholden to insurance curriculum, we can give it to people straight and tell them the truth… Here, we don’t just give information—we help people start applying the lessons we’ve learned.”
Discovery Place’s model allows staff to share real experiences and practical tools. For Tyler, that honesty built trust—and ultimately, transformation.
Faith, Recovery, and Renewal
Q: Why do you think the 12 steps are so important?
“For me, the 12 steps have a big impact because they provide a spiritual experience. They gave me a shift in perspective and a new outlook on life.”
Q: People wonder why they can’t just go to a 12-step program for free. What’s the reason to come here?
“It’s really hard to just start incorporating recovery into your daily life… At Discovery Place, they help you put everything else aside and focus solely on recovery.”
A New Life, A New Role
Q: Tell me about your life today.
“I live a life I don’t deserve. I have two daughters; I’m active in their lives… I have peace—I had no peace before coming here.”
Q: What did you do here?
“I was an admissions coordinator. I got people in the door and showed them that there is a different way of life out there.”
Tyler used his experience to inspire others to begin their own journey toward recovery. His empathy and authenticity will always make him a lifeline for families seeking hope.
Family, Forgiveness, and Moving Forward
Q: How was reconnecting with your family?
“It’s been a long process. I was estranged from my family for 12 years… Now, my dad, brother, and I have great relationships. Once I was eight months sober, they were more convinced.”
Q: What do you say to people—something you wish you could’ve known?
“Getting sober is a journey. Pain is the catalyst… It takes what it takes for different people. I had to get to the point where I hated being me.”
Hope Lives Here at Discovery Place
Tyler’s story is a testament to what happens when surrender meets community. From hopelessness to healing, his journey shows that recovery is possible—and that at Discovery Place, hope is never lost.
If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, reach out to Discovery Place in Burns, Tennessee, to begin your own path toward lasting recovery.Is the Effectiveness of Alcoholics Anonymous? Evidence-Based Practice, Vol. 26, No. 8, 2023.
