Exploring Life & Business with David Hampton of David Hampton, CPRC

Today we’d like to introduce you to David Hampton.

Hi David, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I came to Nashville as a songwriter and musician in 1987. I had two different music publishing deals and played for several artists. After being on the road for a few years, by 1996, my wife, Tricia, developed a very progressive case of MS which led to me leaving the road and accepting a position as the director of Worship Arts at Christ Community Church in Franklin, TN where we were already attending. CCC was an amazing experience in many ways. I had the opportunity to work with many very gifted and talented people. Doing that type of work in the Greater Nashville area affords one a very rich opportunity to work with some extremely gifted musicians and artists. Our daughter and only child was only five-years-old at the time. Ironically, when I was on church staff, my drinking escalated as my wife’s illness escalated. I was having some serious issues with depression and being a full-time caregiver at home. Alcohol worked for me until it didn’t. Alcohol also helped me cope with some very deep emotional and personal issues that I had never addressed, regardless of my wife’s illness or the pressures of a high-profile job. Ultimately, by 2000, I found myself in full-blown addiction and alcohol dependency. I drank daily and heavily for about another five years, including Sundays! I finally got sober in 2005 with the help of a 12-step program, some intensive outpatient work, a great sponsor, multiple therapy visits which continued for many years (and still occasionally), and a lot of deep spiritual exploration. Tricia’s illness continued to escalate as I lived in sobriety and recovery. She spent the last seven years of her life confined to a hospital bed in our home and ultimately died in 2013 from complications due to progressive MS. I continued working at CCC full-time until the winter of 2014. then was made a part-time employee (staff cuts due to numerous internal shifts), hired back full-time in 2015, and then left permanently in August of 2016. In the time leading up to Tricia’s passing, I knew that I would likely be making some huge life-altering decisions regarding my vocation. I began pursuing certification in addiction recovery work. I received a CPRC (Certified Professional Recovery Coach), allowing me to go into private practice by the time I left CCC for good in 2016. I started a completely new vocation at fifty-five years old and joined a very gifted group of counselors in Brentwood, where I now have a private practice and see clients daily. Additionally, I have written two published books, wrote regular recovery-related articles for recovery-based web resources and magazines, and co-host a weekly podcast, The Positive Sobriety Podcast,, with my recovering friend, Nate Larkin.

Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
In many ways, it was a much smoother transition than I thought it would be. I had already been active in the mainstream recovery community of Franklin and Nashville since getting sober in 2005, so the adjustment to living in the recovery space vocationally came very easily to me. The challenging part was that everything in my life had changed when I started this work. I have written two published books regarding recovery and spirituality. I had to rebuild my network of relationships (leaving a church is grief work because, in many ways, you cease to exist in the life you had). And I was responsible financially for everything from office rent, malpractice insurance, liability insurance, taxes, and no specific guarantee of the amount of money I would take home each week. I had to work very hard to connect with people and places who could be a good referral base for me and keep encouraging voices around me, constantly reminding me why I was doing this. I have to say it was one of the most frightening and yet freeing seasons of my life.

As you know, we’re big fans of David Hampton, CPRC. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about the brand?
One thing that might make me somewhat unique in the space of recovery work is that I am both a recovering person and a clinician. I work with people on all segments of the spectrum of substance use disorders and unwanted behaviors. I think it is important for people to realize that recovery from addiction is grief work, trauma work, helping people find their voice in their own lives, and identifying the resentments, trauma, anxiety, and isolation that keep them sick. The behavior is a symptom of other things that have gone unaddressed for too long. Walking with people in some of the most personal aspects of their lives is a privilege I don’t take lightly. Every day I hear things that make me shake my head internally and wonder how some people can walk in the pain of their reality every day. The cost of addiction is high. The losses are often heartbreaking. When people agree to work with me, I tell them that this is a marathon, not a sprint. Recovery is disruptive. It calls out all the things in our lives that aren’t working. It reveals false beliefs we have tried to hold on to. It reveals the counterfeit spirituality many of us have been taught and tried to maintain, and it impacts relationships with loved ones who may have never met the sober version of us. There is no way to go through that process unscathed. Recovery is a miracle in many ways but can be a very tense experience, especially early on. I work with spouses, family members, and partners of those in recovery as well as helping them set realistic expectations and boundaries and learn what is and isn’t helpful as they try to support their recovering loved one. Some days, I help people find treatment facilities. Some days, I help assess the level of dependency someone may have. Some days, I’m walking through a marriage that isn’t working due to all the deception and secrecy that goes along with addiction. It is a deeply rewarding and often exhausting day!

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I think my ability to empathize and listen makes me engage deeply in what I do. I also believe that knowing the side of the pain a client is in first-handedly gives me some credibility with the clients.

Contact Info:

• Website: davidhamptoncprc.com

Image Credits
Scouse House Photography