Look at Kristina Bryant today, and you are immediately met with a radiant smile, a warm laugh, and piercing green eyes that sparkle with life. She is a woman fully reconnected with her strength, her joy, and her purpose.
Six months ago, when Kristina first walked through the red doors of Shepherd House—Victory Programs’ residential recovery home for women and mothers—she was terrified. Facing a court-ordered placement during one of her life’s lowest points, she was so overwhelmed she could barely speak.
"When I came in those doors, I was so scared. I’m not the same person today. I have changed tremendously. I have flourished here.”
Her time at Shepherd House proved life-changing. Trading fear for community, she threw herself into the deep work of reclaiming her future.
Healing Through Sisterhood and Clinical Support
At Shepherd House, healing is built on shared connection. Kristina met weekly with her counselor, Erika, to navigate recovery goals and line up vital resources.
“Erika told me on my first day that six months would fly by, and she was right,” Kristina recalls. “Meeting with her every week was so important—she believed in me from the very start.”
Kristina also threw herself into therapeutic clinical groups, learning how to speak her truth and set healthy boundaries with the people she loves. She discovered a peaceful sanctuary in mindful meditation—a practice she struggled with in the past, but one that finally allowed her to clear her mind and reconnect with herself. Saturdays brought creative arts, where she painted vibrant canvases that now fill her bedroom walls with color, hope, and a reminder of how far she’s come.
Above all, Kristina built a lasting sisterhood with her housemates, developing a close, supportive bond with her roommate, Jamie. That connection shone through as they cooked dinner together before Kristina’s graduation, adapting recipes on the fly with shared laughter. To mark the occasion, Kristina also prepared her mother’s special zesty pasta salad to share with the house.
Bringing Recovery Tools Home
After graduating, Kristina returned home to Conway, New Hampshire, moving into an apartment directly below her supportive mother and sister, and reuniting with her eight-year-old daughter.
Leaving Shepherd House with her head held high, Kristina didn’t simply return to her life; she stepped into it with a renewed sense of stability and purpose. Knowing that early recovery requires intention, she worked with her team to carry the daily rhythms of Shepherd House back home. Together with her daughter, she maps out their days with dedicated time for recovery meetings, schoolwork, reading, and creative projects, weaving structure directly into their family routine.
Supported by a pre-arranged network of care—including a local primary doctor, counselor, and recovery coach—Kristina stepped into her next chapter fully equipped to handle whatever comes her way.
Looking back on her journey, Kristina shares her gratitude with a bright, steady hope: “I want to thank everybody at Victory Programs. It has changed my life. Now, I am happy. I see a bright light in my future.”