John Cates is an expert at helping individuals and families cope, heal, and recover from substance abuse problems. John is world renown as a therapist, author, speaker, and designer of successful inpatient and outpatient drug treatment programs.Recipient of multiple awards, the National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC) named John Counselor of The Year for the United States in 2001. John has a Masters Degree in Counseling, he is the co-author of "Recovering Our Children: A Handbook for Parents of Young People in Early Recovery," and the founder and Chief Executive Officer for Lifeway, a substance abuse (APG) Alternative Peer Group program serving young people across the nation for over 28 years. Since 1976. John has also specialized in creating sober schools that offer students in recovery a safe place to learn in a chemical-free supportive environment.