Counselor Charlie Clemence of Journey to the Way joins Dr. Scott to unpack recovery through a whole-person lens—how core beliefs shape emotions, emotions drive behavior, and why every relapse is “emotional first.” Charlie shares his Four A’s of Change (Awareness, Acknowledge, Accept, Action), his in-the-field counseling approach that builds trust, and a simple spiritual practice to reshape the inner narrative. A practical roadmap for turning vulnerability into momentum and finding a pathway to peace.
Dr. Scott: Today I want to welcome Charlie, a drug and alcohol counselor. On this podcast, I bring in other health professionals—anyone involved in the jigsaw puzzle we call health. It’s not just chiropractic, nutrition, or exercise; there are many pieces. Mental health can pull everything else down. You can be perfect in other areas, but without the mental side, it drags you backward. I’d love for you to share your story—what you do, where you do it—and we’ll make sure people know how to contact you.
Charlie: My journey into counseling and psychology began around 2009. I lost a job in 2008 when the economy crashed and had to decide what to do with my life. Up to that point, I only had a high school diploma and was just trying to get through life. I’d been in recovery since 1995, learning what it means to be in a healthy relationship with myself and others. That was a struggle I didn’t understand for a long time—and I think it’s a universal struggle.
Dr. Scott: Absolutely. Life is relationships.
Charlie: Exactly. When I began viewing everything through the lens of relationship, I had to start with my relationship with myself. From 2009 into 2010 I realized I was in a major life change, challenging everything I thought I knew. I’d been deeply religious and went through years of deprogramming from a rigid mindset. Around 2010 my wife suggested I go back to school.
Dr. Scott: In your 40s—that’s a big step.
Charlie: It was. But we took the journey together. I studied psychology, took every class I could, and instead of a master’s, I found a mentor who helped me qualify for licensure as a drug and alcohol counselor in Tennessee. I started working in the field in 2010—first as a tech in behavioral health and addiction treatment. The more I learned, the more I saw how recovery and mental health are intertwined.
Dr. Scott: Many people focus on changing behavior alone.
Charlie: Right—and that’s temporary if you don’t address mental health. I noticed a pattern: every relapse I’ve seen—my own and others’—was emotional first. Behavior follows emotion. Those emotional reactions come from core beliefs formed by our experiences—parents, teachers, culture, life events. We build narratives about who we are and what we deserve.
Dr. Scott: Can those narratives be recalibrated?
- Charlie: Absolutely. I use a simple framework I call the Four A’s of Change:
- Awareness – Without awareness, I repeat the same patterns
- Acknowledge – I have to talk about what happened; silence keeps me stuck.
- Accept – Accept reality as it is, not as I wish it were.
- Action – Choose actions to change what I can.
I won’t change what I don’t accept, won’t accept what I don’t acknowledge, and can’t acknowledge what I’m not aware of.
Dr. Scott: That’s powerful. Momentum builds with each step.
Charlie: And it requires vulnerability and intimacy. Many Americans don’t feel safe being vulnerable, so we build walls to protect ourselves. But healing requires openness.
Dr. Scott: Triggers happen, crises arise, and core beliefs resurface.
Charlie: Exactly. A decade can pass, and a major relapse can still occur if the core belief hasn’t been addressed. That’s why acceptance is crucial in the equation.
Dr. Scott: Mental health also connects to physical health and nourishment.
Charlie: It does. I ran marathons for years and thought I was being healthy, but I wasn’t paying attention to diet, sleep, the nervous system, and inflammation. I learned that what I ate affected not only my body but also my brain. I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in the late ‘90s. Medication didn’t seem to help and sometimes made things worse, so I kept asking questions and adjusted my lifestyle—exercise, nutrition, and recovery practices.
Dr. Scott: Distance running has a huge mental component, but it’s only one piece.
Charlie: Right. I tried to lose weight and feel better, but following standard carb-loading advice left me heavier and more fatigued—physically and emotionally. I started questioning the food system and listening to clinicians who discuss the links between diet and mental health. Over time I realized health is a full puzzle: exercise, nutrition, sleep, relationships, recovery work, and mindset.
Dr. Scott: You also “walk the walk” as a counselor.
Charlie: I try to. I’m willing to do the work myself. My approach can be unorthodox: I like to see clients in their natural environment. If a family calls about addiction, trauma, or mental health issues, I often visit their home first to understand their reality. Later we may meet in my home office. Trust is everything. Sometimes I’ll take a client for a hike or put a kayak on the water—changing the environment can make it easier to open up.
Dr. Scott: In recovery, we often say people, places, and things must change. That’s hard within a family system.
Charlie: Exactly. When home isn’t safe, change is short-lived. People need strategies to protect themselves and create safer dynamics, even if the environment can’t change overnight. Progress is rarely linear—forward steps, setbacks, learning. I’m working with a young client who needed a safe place to process before bringing issues back to the family. That alone improved communication.
Dr. Scott: It always begins at home—with self.
Charlie: I’m a Christian, and I believe every recovery is spiritual—not necessarily religious, but spiritual—because it’s about relationship and love. I encourage people to choose one word each day that represents love to them and commit to living it. Over time that practice reshapes the inner narrative. For me, LOVE stands for Living Our Values Every day—the “V” is the foundation.
Dr. Scott: Beautifully said. I appreciate your approach—it’s unique and artful. We all have different gifts; thank you for sharing yours with the community.
Dr. Scott: Your business is called Journey to the Way. What does that mean?
Charlie: In Scripture, Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” As a counselor, I see my role as helping people find a pathway to peace. Journey to the Way is a journey to peace. It begins with a single step. We don’t have to make the journey alone—once we start, we’re never alone. It’s a journey to the way, the truth, and the life available to all who are willing to explore it.
Dr. Scott: I love it. Keep doing what you do—you’re changing lives.
Charlie: Thank you, Scott.
Dr. Scott: You’ve been listening to Beyond the Adjustment, where we talk with health-minded professionals to create a healthier community.