Justine and Blain are a dynamic duo at the heart of Red Door Recovery, a Wellington-based alcohol and drug treatment center, where they dedicate their lives to helping others overcome addiction. Both come from a background steeped in lived experience, having navigated their own paths of personal transformation.
Blain, who once faced the darkest depths of addiction, has emerged as a powerful advocate for recovery and change. As the Director, Intake Manager, Group Facilitator, and Recovery Coach at Red Door Recovery, he draws on his personal journey to guide others toward a brighter future. Blain is also deeply involved in facilitating programs for at-risk youth through the LSV and teaching Addiction 101 for Blueprint for Learning. His passion extends beyond his professional life; he is driven by a desire to create a positive impact on society and to break the cycle of addiction for his young daughter, ensuring she grows up proud of the legacy he is building.
Justine, a therapist and facilitator at Red Door Recovery, brings a wealth of experience and compassion to her work. Previously, she co-founded the award-winning Awhi Yoga and Wellbeing studio, and her contributions to the community earned her the Local Hero New Zealander of the Year award. As a mother of three teenagers, Justine is passionate about healing trauma, mindfulness, and turning suffering into a powerful purpose. Her work is not just a profession but a mission to transform lives, guided by her belief in the possibility of turning pain into growth.
Together, Justine and Blain bring their lived experiences and deep knowledge to their shared mission of helping others. Their hope is simple yet profound: that their journey will touch and change the lives of those they encounter, offering hope, healing, and the possibility of a better tomorrow.
Talking Points
Understanding Addiction & Trauma
Addiction touches every facet of current society. Having an understanding the addiction is more than just the use of alcohol and drugs and the drivers or trauma/disconnection that lead to unsuccessful self soothing gives us the capacity to support family, friends, colleagues and staff who suffer in an impactful way. Justine and Blain share from a lived experience standpoint, experience in working in drug and alcohol treatment centre and the therapeutic aspects of addiction and recovery.
Understanding Addiction & Trauma
Transforming challenges into purpose & legacy
Both Justine and Blain have lived experience in addiction, challenging life circumstance and prison/criminal life (Blain), growing up with a father in prison, addiction and crime (Justine). They are both examples of people that have transformed their suffering into purpose, doing the mahi to heal and creating a legacy and positive impact on society while changing the lives of others daily in their work at Red Door Recovery. They both believe that no matter what a person has suffered, everyone has the ability to thrive and inspire if supported in the right way.
Transforming challenges into purpose & legacy
Healing in relationship
Whether healing in an intimate relationship or healing through our friendships or work relationships as human beings we are wired for authentic connection. Our life experiences can create limiting beliefs and unsuccessful ways of relating to each other that impact the quality of how we communicate and relate. Blain and Justin facilitate group therapy & dialectical behavioural therapy groups daily that draw out limiting beliefs, uncover the patterns that leading to disconnection and teach ways to be self aware and make the changes required to connect authentically, communicate effectively and feeling fulfilled in the way we relate and inspire as human beings. Blain and Justine are also a couple and share on how our closest relationships can be our greatest triggers and our greatest opportunity for growth and healing.
Healing in relationship
