Our Program

What To Expect

SIX DAYS A WEEK

Men’s Groups

“Go with what is.”
Tom Martin ~ Founder & Lead Coach

Six days a week, we gather for our men’s group. Men speak honestly about what’s going on, and in turn can be challenged by other men to look deeper.

Tom Martin leads these groups drawing on nearly 50 years of lived experience in recovery, and a background in addiction counseling. His experience helps men see their blind spots before they become relapses.

“Go with what is” is a statement made frequently by Tom. This encourages men to listen to their gut rather than their head, which has so often gotten them into trouble. By going with “what is,” men get to experience a new way of living — practicing honesty, courage and trust.

WEEKLY

Equine Work

“Something about the outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man.”

Equine work is one of the more unique elements of our program. Each week residents work with Kathi, our Equine Specialist, at a nearby ranch. Horses are acutely sensitive to human emotional states — they respond to presence, not performance. Men who struggle with connection often find something unexpected in working alongside a horse.

Kathi has been working with horses for 35 years and brings an invaluable perspective to our program at New Beginning Ranch. Following each session, residents gather for a brief group discussion — exploring what came up and what it might reveal about the relational patterns that hinder their recovery.

DAILY

12-Step Community

Residents attend three SAA meetings per week — one in Missoula, and two at the house where men who have attended the Ranch before are invited to join online or in person.

Six days a week, men attend an AA meeting in the nearby town of Hamilton. Even though many men at NBR are not alcoholic, the overlap in programs and the age-old wisdom that comes from AA is immensely helpful to the sex addict.

Men are strongly encouraged to find a local SAA sponsor and begin working the steps soon after arrival. The rhythm of meeting attendance builds structure, accountability, and community roots that sustain men long after they leave our program.

SIX DAYS A WEEK

Morning Meditations

Each morning, our program begins with a spiritual reading followed by 20 minutes of stillness. Men learn how to meditate by focusing on their breath, or on a short word or phrase that helps them in their recovery.

By beginning the day in stillness, men have the opportunity to connect with themselves and their Higher Power before the day begins. This becomes a grounding point that men can refer back to when stressors or difficulties show up throughout their day.

WEEKLY

10th Step Review

“Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.”
STEP TEN

We incorporate a 10th step into our program weekly, where men at the ranch gather after dinner to share uninterrupted about their week.

Through a structured inventory, men get to see their week through a different lens — owning their part in resentments, taking stock of where they fell short, and naming what they’re grateful for.

THROUGHOUT

Accountability & Technology

Structured accountability is woven into daily life at the Ranch through peer check-ins, house meetings, and a culture of recovery that makes it hard to hide. The house manager meets with men daily, formally and informally, to help with accountability and to address any difficulties that may arise with technology.

Technology presents unique challenges for men navigating sexual compulsivity. Unrestricted internet access in early recovery is one of the most common relapse triggers. We help men build practical boundaries using accountability and filtering software like Canopy, and by encouraging simpler phone alternatives like the Light Phone and the Mudita Kompakt — devices that remove the pathways that make acting out easy.

THE SETTING

MONTANA

Many men arrive at NBR from environments saturated with screens, noise, and the exact triggers that fed their compulsions. The Montana setting is part of what makes our program different — men get to explore nature, breathe clean air, and experience something larger than themselves as part of their daily recovery. The Bitterroot Valley provides a reprieve from the chaos of modern life, allowing men to focus on the work they need to do in order to recover.

Located on a forty acre ranch and surrounded by the Bitterroot and Sapphire mountain ranges, New Beginning Ranch makes it easy for men to slow down and reconnect with nature, themselves, and their Higher Power.

RECOVERY & ENJOYMENT

THE OUTER CIRCLE

SAA coined the term “outer circle” to describe the activities that bring men life while they are living in recovery. Recovery isn’t just about stopping the behaviors that cause distress — it’s about rediscovering and recovering what makes life worth living.

Throughout the day, men engage in structured programming, but they also have a fair amount of free time. During those hours, men are encouraged to hike the surrounding areas, learn a new hobby, play golf and other sports, or pick up an instrument. Enjoying the process of recovery is central to our program — we want men to learn how to thrive, not just survive.

AVAILABLE

Therapy Partnership

We partner with Megan MacKay, LCPC, CSAT — an independent licensed therapist and certified sex addiction therapist whose private practice serves residents who choose to pursue clinical support during their stay.

As an experienced CSAT and licensed therapist specializing in trauma and sexual addiction recovery, Megan brings a depth of clinical expertise that complements the structured work happening at New Beginning Ranch.

Residents engage with Megan directly as her own private practice clients.

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

A week at New Beginning Ranch

Schedule subject to change based on the availability of Megan and the needs of individual residents.