Meet Recovery Café
Recovery Café was founded in Athens, Georgia, with a commitment to helping individuals understand substance use, develop healthier behaviors, and make meaningful changes in their lives.
Today, Recovery Café offers structured online ASAM Level 1 outpatient programming for Georgia residents. Our approach emphasizes practical recovery education, personal accountability, guided discussion, and respect for each individual’s circumstances.
Our work builds upon the experience and educational philosophy of founder Larry Walton, with current program development and operations directed by Steve Patterson.
Our History and Professional Background
Larry Walton
Founder | Retired Clinical Social Worker | Addiction Treatment Educator
Tommie L. (Larry) Walton III founded Recovery Café after establishing a distinguished career in behavioral healthcare beginning in 1973.
A longtime advocate for compassionate, person-centered addiction services, Larry embraced approaches such as motivational interviewing, harm reduction, and the stages-of-change model during an era when many treatment programs emphasized more rigid methods.
His professional experience includes clinical social work, addiction counseling, professional training, and mentoring future behavioral health professionals. His work with the University of Georgia and other organizations contributed to his longstanding involvement in the Athens recovery community.
Larry also developed a teaching philosophy he describes as “Learning to Learn,” emphasizing curiosity, adaptability, and the ability to apply new knowledge to individual circumstances.
Larry retired from regular clinical operations in September 2024. His experience and educational philosophy remain an important part of Recovery Café’s history and development.
Steve Patterson
Program Development, Group Facilitation & Operations
Steve Patterson began working with Recovery Café founder Larry Walton in 2015, initially participating in recovery education and group discussions. His involvement expanded into group facilitation, program development, and outpatient recovery services.
His work focuses on developing and delivering structured ASAM Level 1 outpatient programs that emphasize behavioral understanding, personal responsibility, harm reduction, practical recovery skills, and meaningful participation.
Steve is an author and recovery education professional whose published work includes This Is How It Feels to Heal, the Healing Pathways series, and An Independent Counselor’s ASAM Level One Group Facilitator Guide.
His professional background includes recovery coaching education, counselor training, curriculum development, and group facilitation. He has been associated with the Georgia Addiction Counselors Association and NAADAC and has completed training in recovery coaching and related educational methods.
Before entering recovery services, Steve spent more than 17 years in digital sports journalism and media management, including founding and developing UGASports.com. He also served as a noncommissioned officer in the U.S. Army Infantry.
Today, his primary focus at Recovery Café is maintaining a structured, accessible online outpatient program while developing educational resources for participants and recovery professionals.
Allison D. Hardy
Clinical Social Work | LCSW, LISW-CP
Allison D. Hardy is a licensed clinical social worker with professional experience supporting adolescents and adults facing behavioral health and mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, trauma, and substance use concerns.
Her clinical background includes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing, Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT), and mindfulness-based approaches.
Allison emphasizes individualized care, practical therapeutic strategies, and helping people strengthen the skills needed to navigate difficult experiences and improve long-term wellbeing.
Our Approach to Recovery
Recovery Café recognizes that substance use and behavioral challenges do not affect everyone in the same way. Clinical recommendations, personal histories, living environments, relationships, and individual circumstances all influence the recovery process.
Our online ASAM Level 1 groups emphasize structured educational topics, active participation, personal accountability, and practical behavioral change.
Participants explore subjects including cravings, relapse prevention, emotional regulation, decision-making, relationships, recovery environments, and individualized recovery planning.
Our goal is to provide a respectful, professional environment where individuals can understand their circumstances and develop skills that remain useful beyond the completion of a required program.
Learn More About Recovery Café
Recovery Café offers live online ASAM Level 1 groups for eligible Georgia residents, with Monday evening, Tuesday morning, and Tuesday evening options.
To learn more about our program structure, scheduling, and enrollment requirements, visit our ASAM Level 1 Online Georgia program page.
Contact Recovery Café
Have questions about our online outpatient services? Complete the form below, and we will help you understand the next steps.