Andrew Thompson, RPRS
Supervisor of Peer Services
Andrew Thompson, Registered Peer Recovery Specialist (RPRS), serves as the Supervisor of Peer Services at Mainspring Recovery. Over the past three years, Andrew has grown within the organization, starting as a Residential Assistant (RA) and then serving as a Group Facilitator, Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS), and RPRS before stepping into his current role. His greatest strength is pairing lived experience in recovery with professional knowledge, which lets him meet clients where they are with understanding, compassion, and hope. Andrew believes everyone deserves the chance to recover through a consistent, person-centered approach, and that lasting recovery is possible for anyone willing to pursue it.
Andrew is completing an Associate of Science degree in Sociology and a Certificate in Substance Abuse Counseling and plans to continue on to a Bachelor’s degree at ODU Global. He knows multiple recovery pathways well, including Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Celebrate Recovery, SMART Recovery, and Dharma Recovery. His background in restaurant and landscaping management shaped his leadership philosophy of leading by example and working alongside others. Those experiences, together with his personal recovery, give him a practical and compassionate perspective that guides his work every day.
At Mainspring, Andrew’s main focus is building and strengthening the peer services program while supporting both clients and staff. He provides one-on-one peer support, facilitates recovery groups, works with the clinical team, helps staff across departments, and makes sure every client feels valued and supported throughout treatment. He believes that when staff work together within a strong system of care, clients have the best chance to succeed. His goal is to help make Mainspring a place where people want to come for healing and where employees are proud to build their careers, which supports the organization’s mission of restoring hope, strengthening lives, and supporting meaningful, sustainable recovery.
Andrew’s leadership comes from gratitude for those who helped him in his own recovery. He is passionate about showing others that life can become meaningful again and that people are worth investing in. He hopes to build a team that enjoys coming to work, keeps growing professionally, feels heard, and knows their contributions matter, and he stays committed to learning from those around him and becoming a better leader every day. The LOCASH song “I Love This Life” reflects his outlook, both personally and professionally. Andrew loves what he does, where he works, and the life he has today, and he believes recovery has given him a purpose far greater than he ever imagined. People who meet him quickly notice his enthusiasm, optimism, and appreciation for life. One principle continues to guide his work: “Easy Does It.” Recovery is a process, meaningful change takes time, and lasting success comes one step at a time.