Our Story

Several years ago Debb and Robb Holub began down the road of recovery when they acknowledged they needed to find help for their son. At 18 years old, Joey Holub was spiraling down the dark road of addiction when he agreed to enter a wilderness treatment center, leaving behind his family, friends, and an upcoming high school graduation. In wilderness treatment, Joey began to work on the issues surrounding his substance use. At the same time his parents were learning about the disease of addiction and the ways it affects a family. Through firm but gentle counseling, the Holub’s realized that their entire family was now in recovery.

After the completion of his wilderness therapy program, our son needed convincing this was only the beginning. Joey agreed to a long-term extended care treatment program. It was at this program that Joey met a counselor who would later have an impact on his life. They immediately connected through their shared passion for music. At the program our son attended a music curriculum was created in which young men were able to compose, perform and record music. Joey thrived during his time in the music studio. He discovered he had a gift for composing music and singing. In addition, he realized that he could use music to delve into and explore those darker regions of his emotions – a place he avoided going during his regular therapy sessions.

Eight months later, Joey returned home. The family was not properly prepared by the program for his return home but their son wanted to come back to familiar surroundings. The addiction rehab program did not send Joey home with clinical recommendations for transition nor did they send him home with a relapse prevention plan. Robb and Debb were not aware that they needed to ask for these tools to help them support Joey in his recovery.

Two months later while walking and under the influence, a car traveling 45 mph struck him. Medical professionals that helped save Joey’s life said that it was truly a miracle he survived considering he had multiple fractures of his left leg and severe head trauma. Joey was alive, yet he remained in a coma for several weeks. During this time  The Holub family struggled with the possible loss of a son.The program hadn’t stressed to the family and Joey what alcohol and long term drug recovery really looked like. He left the program’s care knowing he could not manage cocaine, but with the delusion he could manage alcohol and marijuana, that misconception landed him in a hospital bed fighting for his life. Doctors and nurses had been preparing the Holub’s for the worst as nobody could really tell how much brain damage had been done from the accident.

During this time several miracles took place that lead to Joey’s recovery.
He awoke from his coma while mouthing the words to his favorite song and playing the air guitar. Five and a half weeks, three surgeries, and many procedures later the Holub’s were able to take their son home. The recovery from his injuries, especially the head trauma, was going to be a long, painful road for Joey. His accident had left him with a temporary brain injury, however, he had not lost his ability to enjoy or play music. Knowing and understanding now this near fatal and painful experience the Holub's wanted to give back for the miracle they had received. After careful consideration and planning Shadow Mountain Recovery became a reality.

It was clear a highly focused alcohol and drug rehab program where everything that took place was in the spirit of recovery was sorely needed. A program where staff would plan activities and recovery work allowing residents to look forward to waking up every day to things they actually enjoyed doing. A place where all these options would be avenues to recovery and life skills, constantly opening people up to deeper work on themselves.

It was agreed that this new program’s mission would be to educate and lead young men and their families on the road to a lifetime of recovery. From that moment on things seemed to fall into place at an unbelievable pace. They located and purchased a magnificent property in Taos, New Mexico that was perfectly suited for this new program’s purposes. The name Shadow Mountain is derived from the mountain that the property is located on. Talented and versatile staff were located and hired. After several months everything was in place and Shadow Mountain Recovery opened their doors to their first student in May of 2007.

Joey who had been a gifted left handed pitcher in high school one year later had made a full recovery and with a rod in his leg from the accident was throwing 80 – 85 mph fastballs and complete games for the Shadow Mountain baseball team. Today he has made a lifetime commitment to sobriety and actively works his program and is licensed to provide advice and treatment counseling at the Holub family program in Taos.

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