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.

Julie Nave

Julie Nave, MA, LPC, is the Clinical Director at AnchorPoint in Prescott, Arizona, with over 25 years of experience in behavioral health, mental health counseling, and addiction recovery. She provides clinical leadership and oversight to ensure trauma-informed, evidence-based care that supports long-term healing for individuals and families. Julie holds a Master of Arts in Counseling from Northern Arizona University and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Communications from the University of Wisconsin. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor, independently credentialed by the Arizona State Board of Behavioral Health since 2004, and is certified in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Her focus on professional development, quality improvement, and individualized treatment planning reinforces AnchorPoint’s mission to facilitate transformative change in a supportive and faith-aligned environment.

Donald R. Middleton Jr., DO

Dr. Don Middleton is a board-certified physician who has practiced his whole career in Arizona serving patients for two decades in family practice and, for the last 8 years, specifically in addiction medicine. He attended Northern Arizona University where he obtained his pre-med degree in Biology and Nutrition. His medical degree from Western University of Health Sciences was followed by a Family Medicine residency from Flint Osteopathic Hospital before moving back to Arizona to start his practice and family. During his career he has served various roles in medical education, including Director of Medical Education at Phoenix General Hospital, co-director of family medicine at AZCOM, and founder and director of medical clinics at Midwestern University Glendale campus. Currently, Dr. Middleton practices addiction medicine at the internationally renowned Meadows Behavior Health, and as medical director for Vital4Men, a chain of men’s health clinics in the Phoenix area. His community service includes acting as the mission’s medical director for Christ Church of the Valley to Kenya and Mexico, CEO and director for the international Christian addiction recovery ministry The Dunamis Initiative, and as the national chairman of addiction medicine for the Christian Medical/Dental Association. He also serves on the Board of trustees of the Arizona Osteopathic Medical Association, and the board of directors of Crossroads Inc, the largest addiction rehabilitation hospital in Arizona. He has been married to Tracy for over 30 years, has four amazing grown children, and loves spending time with his three grandchildren.

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.