Speaker Name: Dr. Christina Basedow and Tristan Mackenzie
Session Description:
Recovery is not defined by treatment alone — it requires sustained support, meaningful opportunity, and the resources to live a full life beyond diagnosis. Recovery capital — the internal and external assets that support wellbeing, purpose, and connection — plays a critical role in whether individuals thrive long after formal care ends. Drawing from both personal experience and professional leadership in a treatment setting, this presentation highlights how aftercare, housing stability, fitness, and peer support function as pillars of recovery capital that save lives and strengthen systems.
In my own journey of four years in recovery, I witnessed firsthand how access to supportive housing, structured aftercare planning, peer recovery communities, and fitness activities not only bolstered my resilience but also helped me build long-term stability and purpose. Professionally, I’ve integrated these pillars into organizational practice, working with multidisciplinary teams to create systems that extend care into meaningful support networks.
Participants will gain insights into practical strategies for embedding recovery capital into programming, including:
• Designing aftercare that anticipates real-life challenges
• Partnering with housing providers to secure safe, sustained living environments
• Leveraging peer support to build community and shared accountability
• Promoting fitness as a tool for physical and mental wellbeing
By centering recovery capital — and the systems that support it — communities can create pathways that not only reduce relapse but actively promote flourishing lives in recovery. This session bridges lived insight with actionable guidance for practitioners, policymakers, and peer leaders committed to system-level transformation.
Learning Objectives:
1. Explain the concept of recovery capital and its impact on long-term recovery outcomes.
2. Identify how structured aftercare and housing stability strengthen recovery journeys.
3. Describe the role of peer support and fitness in building resilience and wellbeing.
BIO
Tristan Mackenzie is an operations manager in a treatment setting and a person in long-term recovery for four years. Combining professional experience with lived expertise, Tristan is deeply committed to strengthening recovery systems that honor the whole person. He has worked collaboratively with clinical teams, peer recovery specialists, and community partners to expand aftercare supports, enhance housing stability, and integrate wellness practices into recovery planning. Tristan’s work emphasizes the importance of recovery capital — the internal and external resources that empower individuals to build and sustain meaningful lives in recovery. Drawing from both his personal journey and professional leadership, he advocates for systems that are accessible, compassionate, and recovery-oriented. Tristans insight will highlight practical strategies for building recovery capital through peer support, structured aftercare, access to safe housing, and fitness as a tool for resilience and long-term wellbeing