Holdfast Recovery

Brendan McDonough

Brendan was on the verge of becoming a hopeless, inveterate heroin addict when he, for the sake of his young daughter, decided to turn his life around. He enlisted in the Granite Mountain Hotshots, a crew of elite hotshot firefighters based in Prescott, Arizona. Their superintendent, Eric Marsh, was in a desperate crunch after four hotshots left the crew, and seeing a glimmer of promise in the skinny would-be recruit, he took a chance on the unlikely McDonough, and the chance paid off. Despite the crew’s skepticism, and thanks in large part to Marsh’s firm but loving encouragement, McDonough unlocked a latent drive and dedication, going on to successfully battles a number of blazes and he eventually wins the confidence of the men he came to call his brothers. Then, on June 30, 2013, while McDonough–“Donut” as he’d been dubbed by his crew–served as lookout, they confronted a freak, 3,000-degree inferno in nearby Yarnell, Arizona. The relentless firestorm ultimately trapped his hotshot brothers, tragically killing all 19 of them within minutes. Nationwide, it was the greatest loss of firefighter lives since the 9/11 attacks. After the unfathomable loss of that day, McDonough suffered from seemingly insurmountable bouts of depression, Post-Traumatic Stress, and issues with alcohol. But the light of hope that inspired him to keep living in one of his darkest moments—his family who needed him—inspired the firefighter to fight on against depression, addiction and to inspire others to find their best selves, even if that means often looking beyond the self. Building a sense of brotherhood within communities gives McDonough great joy – because it helps this fighter honor the legacy of his 19 lost, but not forgotten, brothers. Brendan has done much to provide support for both veterans and first responders, as they are close to his heart. Through a nonprofit organization 22KILL, he was recognized for his service and received the key to the city of Fort Worth, Texas. He currently speaks as a motivational speaker for many public and private events. While medical(PTSD) problems forced him to give up his career as a firefighter, he believes that his larger purpose in life is to help others recover from trauma like he suffered and to offer treatments such as faith BASED counseling and therapy for recovery. Post-traumatic stress disorder and alcoholism, opioid addiction are particularly common among the demographics Holdfast Recovery treats due to the trauma individuals face in these careers. Brendan’s life was much like that of the people who walk through the doors of Holdfast Recovery today. It took hard work to get where he is, but his faith has made it possible to free him from the shame and guilt that was holding him prisoner. His relationship with Jesus and Christian-based treatment has helped him heal and help others do the same. With the support of his friends and family members and the Prescott community, Brendan McDonough now has created purpose from his pain by establishing Holdfast Recovery. Fellow first responders and men who are struggling with drugs and alcohol have a safe harbor to recover and free themselves from addiction just as Brendan did.

Tim Hayden

Tim is passionate about serving others, leading people to Christ, and more specifically breaking the stigma of addiction and mental health in the Church and across the world. Tim merges his desire to further the Kingdom with 18 years of experience in the Corporate IT world where his background has ranged from working for small startups to leading national teams at global software companies. Tim graduated from Mount Vernon Nazarene University with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing, and Communications. Tim and his wife are active in their church community serving in the youth department, marriage mentoring, and life group mentoring. In his spare time, Tim enjoys spending time with his family in the great outdoors camping, mountain biking, and snowboarding.

Jason White

Jason has 10 years of sobriety and gives all the glory to God. He is actively involved in a 12-step program in his community. Jason was in and out of institutions/jails the majority of his youth and adulthood until getting clean in 2010. Jason found Christ when he was locked up in a maximum-security prison. Through the grace of God, he never returned to that lifestyle. Today Jason is dedicated to carrying the message of hope and faith that God changes lives and is willing to help anyone because he believes everybody deserves a chance like he had. Today Jason is a successful businessman who specializes in business development. Jason has a deep dedication to serving others who are still struggling with addiction and his continued involvement in the client's lives is driven by his love of God and his belief in the Holdfast program.

Terry A. Vaughan, M.D., F.A.P.A.

Dr. Terry Vaughan is a physician specializing in psychiatry who has over 20 years of experience treating psychiatric and addiction patients in Prescott, Arizona. She graduated with her medical degree (M.D.) from Indiana University School of Medicine in 1993. Afterwards she began her internship in internal medicine at St. Vincent’s Hospital and completed her psychiatry residency in 1997 at Indiana/Purdue University. She began her career as Medical Director of a geriatric inpatient psychiatric unit and outpatient clinic with Tenet Hospital Corporation in Crawfordsville, Indiana. Starting in 1999 Dr. Vaughan moved to West Yavapai Guidance Clinic in Prescott where she was promoted to medical director and supervised a medical staff of 16 physicians and mid-level practitioners over her tenure of 10 years at the clinic. She started her private practice, Psychiatric Services Of Prescott in the year 2010 and has been seeing private patients in her office while consulting with and treating patients in residential treatment centers over the last 10 years. Dr. Vaughan has also served as medical director of an inpatient detoxification center and has significant experience in treating withdrawal and medication assisted management of addictions, including certification for treatment with Suboxone. Dr. Vaughan has experience in treatment of dementia, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder as well as anxiety disorders, substance dependence, process addictions, gambling disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, developmental disabilities and neurocognitive dysfunction due to traumatic brain injury, autism spectrum disorders as well as psychotic disorders. Dr. Vaughan has passed board-certification testing in general psychiatry and works with both adults and adolescents. She is a member of the American Psychiatric Association and is a fellow of the APA. One of her greatest honors was being selected as one of the country’s exemplary psychiatrists in 2009 by the national alliance for mentally ill (NAMI).

Jeffrey E. Hansen, Ph.D.

I have been married for 44 years to a wonderful woman and have two amazing children and one granddaughter who is the apple of my eye. I have passions for motorcycling, reading, traveling, public speaking, writing, playing with our three dogs, and spending time in the great outdoors. I have a B.A. in psychology from the University of California at Berkeley, an M.A. in psychology from the University of Arkansas, and a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Arkansas. I completed an American Psychological Association-approved internship at Silas B. Hayes Army Community Hospital in Fort Ord, California, and a post-doctoral fellowship in pediatric psychology at Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma, Washington. I am licensed in Psychology in the State of Washington (PY- 1695) and in the State of Arizona (PSY-005450). I have worked as a pediatric, adolescent, and adult psychologist in the Army for 10 years, in private practice for 25 years, and more recently at Madigan Army Medical Center for the last 7 years where I serve as a senior staff member providing pediatric, adolescent, and adult psychological services and consultation to Madigan clinics, and, as a graduate medical education faculty member, training for and supervision of practicum doctoral students and clinical psychology interns. Life is full of unlimited opportunities and joys if we choose to live in connected harmony with our creator, one another, and our beautiful world. My heartfelt commitment is to others find this balance using Biblical, evidence, and neuroscience-based psychotherapies.

Deborah Pallett

Deborah Pallett completed her master's degree to become a physician assistant at the University of Iowa. She has over 20 years of experience beginning with primary care. She has also worked in the fields of oncology and dermatology prior to specializing in psychiatry. Deborah has worked in detox and treatment centers providing psychiatric care for clients struggling with drug, alcohol, and process addictions. Prior to completing her training as a physician assistant she worked in the field of environmental education and holds a master's degree in experiential education from Northern Illinois University. She received her undergraduate degree from Northern Arizona University.

Lance Haney

Mallory White

Drew Steele

Zeek Terraza

Zeek Terraza serves as a dedicated and compassionate Treatment Service Navigator at Holdfast Recovery, bringing a unique perspective shaped by his own journey of transformation. Having achieved sobriety on July 4, 2022, Zeek draws upon his lived experience to connect with individuals entering treatment, offering guidance grounded in empathy, understanding, and authenticity. In his role, Zeek is committed to ensuring that each person receives the same unwavering support that once helped him reclaim his life. He deeply understands the power of persistence in the recovery process and the profound impact that genuine care and consistent encouragement can have on someone’s path to healing. Beyond his professional responsibilities, Zeek is passionate about physical wellness and enjoys spending time outdoors. Whether playing sober softball, hiking, or cheering on his favorite sports teams, he embraces an active lifestyle that supports both his physical and mental health. His greatest sources of inspiration are his friends and family, whose steadfast support has played a pivotal role in his recovery and continued personal growth. Grateful for the second chance he has been given, Zeek is honored to be part of the Holdfast Recovery team, where he strives each day to help others find hope, healing, and a renewed sense of purpose.