Resources for Parents
Because Recovery is a Family Journey
When a young man enters recovery, it’s not just his life that changes; it’s yours, too. At Pivot, we know that parents play a vital role in helping their children move forward in life—even as adults. That’s why we’ve built a program that supports and encourages the whole family system.
Whether your son is transitioning out of wilderness or residential treatment, trying to build a new foundation in college, or simply learning to live sober for the first time, our team is here to guide your whole family through this next chapter.
What Parents Should Know About Transitional Living
Many parents tell us the same thing: “I know he’s doing better, but I still don’t know how to keep it that way.” That’s where Pivot comes in. Our program offers structure, support, and gradual independence across three, age-specific campuses, in a welcoming community designed for young men.
Most of our residents are ready to take ownership of their recovery and start building an independent life after substance abuse or mental health challenges, but we don’t expect them to get there overnight. Instead, we use a phase-based approach that allows residents to take on more responsibility as they grow. From rebuilding routines and relationships to holding a job, finishing school, or getting back into college, every phase is tailored to match your son’s readiness—not an arbitrary timeline.
Most of our residents are with us for about eight months—some more, some less. By the final phase, they’re living with nearly total autonomy, while still operating within our support structure. That final stretch matters. It’s where residents put their skills into practice in real life, so that when they move out, they’re not just clean and sober; they’re ready.
From Our Family to Yours
Pivot transitional living is owned and operated by the Barrasso family, based right here in Tucson. Our Executive Director, Daniel Barrasso, MSW, and Clinical Director, Tiffany Barrasso Gallego, work closely together with their family members to bring healing and hope to yours.
Tiffany shares, “We’ve been doing this a long time, and we understand what families go through. If you’re like many parents we talk to, you’ve probably felt unsure, exhausted, maybe even helpless at times. You’re not alone—and you’re not expected to figure this out by yourself.”
At Pivot, we’ll keep you in the loop and walk with you through this process. That includes:
Bi-weekly progress updates from our team
Monthly family therapy sessions, focused on communication, boundaries, and rebuilding trust
Guided home visits that are purposeful—not just a weekend off, but time to practice what’s being learned
Ongoing collaboration between you, your son, and our team, with a shared goal: helping him stand on his own
We also recognize that your role is changing. Our team helps parents move from managing their child’s life to supporting their young adult’s independence—with the right balance of involvement and space.
Parent to Parent: What to Expect
"Hello! My husband and I returned a few days ago from our trip to Tucson for Alex's graduation from TL. We had a really great trip helping Alex get moved into his new apartment with another TL grad. The graduation ceremony was amazing! I mean that word does not begin to describe the evening, Alex, and the community he has built through his time with you.
I want to express to you the very deep gratitude I have for the program and all of you wonderful supportive people who are a part of the program and have been part of Alex's recovery and "growing up" process. As I sat at the big long table with staff, alum and fellow clients at the TL graduation, and listened to the words spoken by everyone, I was overwhelmed/overjoyed by the strong, supportive, recovering community who love my son and have his back.
As a mother living a thousand + miles away, I cannot begin to express the feeling of peace I have knowing how strong Alex's "Tucson Family" is. I am so proud of the work Alex has done. I know the road is very hard for him at times. I am grateful that my husband and I had the support to continue to help Alex stay on the path he has been on. I have no illusions that things are all easy from here on out. He is a person with many ups and downs (which can be deep) but he has two years of sobriety under him, strong recovery, friends, staff, more maturity and a family that will do anything to support him.
Thank you so much for everything!"
Former Pivot Transitional Living Parent
A Note on Length of Stay
Parents often ask how long their son will stay in our program. The answer is, however long he needs. The minimum amount of time required to complete the program is six months. However, the average length of stay is 8 months, as more time is often needed to successfully complete all treatment goals.
Advancement through the phases includes concrete milestones, such as graduating the intensive outpatient program and completing 90 meetings in 90 days, as well as behavioral milestones that indicate that your son is ready to advance to the next phase.
In addition, we find that any length of time less than six months leads to a mentality we call “Short Timers Syndrome.” This makes it difficult for a resident to invest in and commit to the process of the program. We end up hearing statements such as, “I am only going to be here for 3 months, so what’s the point in getting a job”? Or we hear, “What’s the point in reaching out to create relationships if I am leaving soon anyway?” This mentality and these statements tend to create difficult barriers for our residents to overcome—unless they are with us for a minimum of 6 months.
The final phase of our program is crucial to the success that we strive for after graduation. During the final phase, we simulate independent living as much as possible, while still providing feedback to your son based on our observations of his successes and challenges this new responsibility presents. This is where later success is best measured as their success in this phase of the program indicates a huge level of internal commitment and motivation–both of which are vital to a successful and healthy recovery.
You’re Part of Our Tucson Community
With Pivot, you won’t just be getting updates. You’ll be part of a team—and part of a community. We host regular parent calls, alumni events, and educational opportunities that connect you to other families who’ve walked the same road.
Some of the strongest relationships formed at Pivot are between parents who didn’t know each other before, but who understood exactly what the other was going through.
Ultimately, it’s vital to remember that recovery doesn’t happen in isolation. It’s a process of connection, fellowship, and honesty, and that includes you as well as your son.
Have Questions?
We’d be glad to talk with you about what’s ahead, and how Pivot can support your son—and your whole family.