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Testimonials
In Their Own
WORDS
When we began the "Beyond the Barriers" program in 2022, we had every reason to believe the approach would be effective given our six year track record of success working with those coming out of homelessness and overcoming addiction. However, there were many unknowns and challenges.
We began to see and hear significant changes that were taking place both inside and outside the classroom. We wanted to understand why. We began providing anonymous surveys and conducted over 12 hours of video interviews with some of the inmates to hear, in their own words, why this program was impacting them.
The following testimonials are answers to the open ended questions in the anonymous surveys as well as powerful videos from inmates that describe their life experiences before and after the "Beyond the Barriers" program.
What makes BTB curriculum
more/less effective?
What makes the facilitator
more/less effective
"Troy connects with us on a level of equalness. He walks through the same struggles I have with my past."
"He teaches from personal experience making everything much more relatable."
"The way his own life ties into the class and how he can keep us all listening and tuned in."
"The facilitator help me understand what the problem is and how to focus on fixing it instead of treating it. Treating it doesn't work and won't until you get to the problem which is faulty core beliefs."
"Uses curriculum to reach people with diverse backgrounds. The man is BOLD!"
"Troy explains everything very clearly and communicates back with us very seriously."
"Because Troy, you are a genius and innovator, and I would love to help and dedicate myself and my time to helping you with this program and feel I could be a massive contribution to this program, and offer my time as a volunteer and not for money!"
"He makes me want to change."
"Confident, respectful, and considerate."
"He has designed the most efficient understanding of cognitive thinking process that works for me."
"Friendly, understanding, relatable."
"I like the way he talks, it's real. He speaks with truth. I believe a man who speaks freely without a filter is a f***** honest guy."
"He is understanding and doesn't come across as all knowing and is willing to meet you where you are."
"Real."
"He is on point and upfront."
How has the BTB program impacted your life if at all?
"It gets to the core of the problem instead of coping with the problem. This helps change the problem instead of the symptoms of the problem."
"It gets to the root cause of what is actually causing my depression and anxiety instead of finding ways to mask it."
"Beyond the Barriers has helped me reset my faulty beliefs, and helps me to not let no one control me. I'm lovable, important and valuable."
"BTB actually equips me with usable, realistic tools to step back, analyze my behavior, and change how I think, feel, and act."
"It is a whole new system and in real world and non-classroom situations, one is able to actually apply these steps and strategies and see an instant outcome with immediate positive results!"
"It has life changing ways to change your life. It's the most beneficial thing I have ever gone through."
"It explains and gets down to every little detail of understanding."
"Because it is related to problems I never felt like talking or even opening up about."
"BTB has taught me to really get to the core of the problems I deal with and also teaches me not to personalize reactions from others because they maybe going through their own problems."
"He put this CTM into play now 3 times and I've attended COG and every other class since 2000 and this be about the only f***** class that hit me like a ton of bricks. It works!"
"It has helped me really dig deep into my past and present hurts and teaches me how to overcome them to where they don't affect me like they used to."
"It has brought to light many questions I've always thought about and has given me insight into my own emotions and behaviors more so than any other time in my life."
"Because I can talk to my family without letting my emotions taking over my thoughts."
"Shown me why I feel and act the way I do. Helped stop feelings become poor decisions Daily!"
"I truly thank Troy White for helping me change my thinking, and it's changing my behavior, my outcomes, my beliefs, everything about my actions, my thoughts. Thank you, Troy White. God Bless You."
"I'm a better man for this!"
"It really helps me think in a more positive way than before. It's much easier to understand and follow than other programs I've tried."
"It helped me with my anger and how I look at myself and I love telling others about using it."
"I believe I am lovable important and valuable."
"It has totally changed the way I think about things happening that I have no control over when I usually would have a bad reaction."
"Major changes and makeover."
"I am no longer letting people control me. He showed me how to control my situations and past problems and gives me a better understanding as to why my past issues control and dictate my actions today."
"It has helped me think about my thoughts, change my thinking, and see a whole difference in what I believe. It has really made an improvement in my life, and I don't let what others do or say impact my life where I react in a negative way."
"I started talking civil with my Dad and before I didn't talk to him but now it's a start. Thank you. I am more of an adult then I was before this class."
•
"It makes me feel better about myself and want to attend more to become a better person and find better reasons to stay sober and be better."
•
"It's helped me to become more aware of how I treat situations in life. How I react to them and understand what's wrong with my situation and how to react to it in a positive way."
"It has led me to look at situations from a different standpoint instead of from the view of a person scorned."
Understanding the Impact
Understanding the Impact
Hear six different inmates describe their lives of abuse, violence, crime, and addiction and how "Beyond the Barriers" gave them the tools to overcome them.
Hear six different inmates describe their lives of abuse, violence, crime, and addiction and how "Beyond the Barriers" gave them the tools to overcome them.
Video Interviews
Personal Journeys: an in depth view
Mike Ertelt
"The first time I was shot I was 4 years old. The first time I was introduced to a needle I was 11 years old - my dad shot me up."
Bobby Hawkins
"I had a firm hold on life until about three years ago, she passed. When she passed, I went dark... I didn't see the light until I walked into this class."
Jamie DeCoteau
"It wasn't until I started using the meth is where I started getting violent."
Personal Journeys: an in depth view
Understanding the Impact
Hear six different inmates describe their lives of abuse, violence, crime, and addiction and how "Beyond the Barriers" gave them the tools to overcome them.
"The first time I was shot I was 4 years old. The first time I was introduced to a needle I was 11 years old - my dad shot me up."
Mike Ertelt
Understanding the Impact
Hear six different inmates describe their lives of abuse, violence, crime, and addiction and how "Beyond the Barriers" gave them the tools to overcome them.
"I had a firm hold on life until about three years ago, she passed. When she passed, I went dark... I didn't see the light until I walked into this class."
Bobby Hawkins
Understanding the Impact
Hear six different inmates describe their lives of abuse, violence, crime, and addiction and how "Beyond the Barriers" gave them the tools to overcome them.
"It wasn't until I started using the the meth is where I started getting violent."
Jamie DeCouteau
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