My name is Stephen Bohenko, i believe the Starting over sober program saved my life and taught me on how to live life on life's terms without alcohol and the use of narcotics. I've learned to love myself and how to love and respect others around me. This program got me on the life long road of recovery one day at a time. I am truly greatful to Mike Harris and the SOS program. I just celebrated my 2 years of sobriety on 6-6-2012.

I am the owner of The Starting Over Sober Program. It is unfortunate that there are those who will write such false information and not even sign thier right name. I have never had a John O in my program. Some people come from addiction life and expect to continue their behaviors even in a rehab or sober living program. Then when they are confronted with the truth and a person they can not manipulate they turn to ,, well just what you wrote because you could not make it in a tough program helping those who want help. Yes I advise anyone to surf the web. Lots of good comments stand out against the lonely rants of those that obviously need more help than I could provide. I wish you nothing but the best. Go work hard at recovery insted of trashing those who help the ones that want the help.

This program is a huge scam. No sobriety, no serenity. The counselor is abusive, sociopathic and should nevr be in the human services field. The owner of the program is sicker than any patient supposedly under his care. Take some time to surf the net and you will see what ex patients are saying about this terrible treatment facility. I honestly don't believe that the Massachusetts Department of Public Health really gives a damn about desperate people who go there thinking they may get some treatment.

this is a sickenig program i witnessed the house owner leading groups and informing clients there was a nice view hang themselves by the river and giving unwanted directions to the nearest liquor store. i was released from the program even after the longest length of sobriety i have ever had and after attending extra curicular aa and na meetings daily and beggining work for reasons that were explained to me that i was disrespectful in grou because i became angry with a member of group who did not live there who i found out was secretely writing reports of what was said in group. i had asumed group was a safe secure place. and for "not doing my best"when i was putting the most sincere effort into sobriety i have to date. thanks to members the aa and na community i am still sober to date. but it has been a trying effort after the mental and emotional abuse endured in this"progam". i am currently seeking and help from the state to stop this travesty that i can. and id like to warn those broken and in need of sincere help not to give this program the outrgeous fee you must pay to enter. most leave more broken then before. he informed my loved ones i can return to the program he aparently has seen how sick i was treated by him and would like to make it rite. i now work an honest program as my house members could see and i could see within my self. and honestly from my experience and in my opinion this man must be stopped.

I would like to take the opportunity to share my experience as a resident at the Starting Over Sober Program. I began my journey in recovery in April of 2008 after losing my family, home and employment to the disease of addiction. I was physically, emotionally and spiritually broken due to my alcoholism and had nowhere to turn. After a number of unsuccessful attempts to remain abstinent after various detoxes and sober living facilities, I was lucky enough to be referred to Mike Harris, the Owner and Program Director of Starting Over Sober. He was immediate in responding to my request for help. He was direct and passionate about recovery and the work it takes to be successful. I learned from Mike that I needed to dramatically change my behaviors, thought processes and actions on a day to day basis to regain sobriety. I have received significant knowledge about my disease. His program provides life couching as well as lessons from AA’s Twelve Steps and Big Book studies. His experience and knowledge of recovery has helped me reshape my life. His reputation and relationships with the court and correctional facility systems are solid. Through his support and guidance I now have many of the things back in my life that I had lost like my children and my health. Most importantly I have regained peace with myself. The Starting Over Sober Program has helped save my life. Danny B.

I never use to believe in Evil. I thought it was a label that people would throw around hundreds of years ago before we knew that mental illness existed. I no longer feel that way for I have actually seen it in action through this pathetic fraud. My God, has he hurt so many people. I just hope he doesn't have children. A shameless, selfish shell of a human being who is merely a sheep in wolf's clothing. He thinks nothing of committing perjury in court and breaking the Massachusetts Ethical laws, and is the epitome of a true coward for he can not get through a day without leaving in his wake, a web of lies. I mean, I realize that some people are insecure but how paranoid, dishonest, and cruel can one man be? You read about true Sociopaths in the paper, or see actors try (and often fail) to play the part on screen. But until you meet one, you really don't ponder about their existence.. Just read The Hare Psychopathy Checklist for the Traits of a Sociopath. I mean, unless you are his wife – who is probably forced into encompassing so much denial just to live with the terror and survive an additional day. Anyways here are the traits – I mean its scary how precise these concepts fall in line with this creature. 1)GLIB and SUPERFICIAL 2)GRANDIOSE SELF-WORTH 3)PATHOLOGICAL LYING 4)CONNING AND MANIPULATIVENESS 5)LACK OF REMORSE OR GUILT 6)POOR BEHAVIORAL CONTROLS 7)FAILURE TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR OWN ACTIONS 8)CRIMINAL VERSATILITY

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Starting Over Sober (SOS) has been closed since August, 2016. It got the point in which there only one or two people at SOS. The funding was no longer there for the owner, Mike Harris, to operate the program and the sober house. The house had a lot of fire and health code violations. The program wasn't run well. If weren't for the house manager, Wayne things would have been much worse. That said there is a new sober program in the house that SOS was in.. It's called 36 Green Street. The house was remodeled and brought up to code. Last year 36 Green Street became a certified sober house through the state of Massachusetts. There's a waiting list for people wanting to become a client there. It's good to finally see a good sober program in that house.

This program saved my life, It gives you the tools you need to live a life sober and healthy and be a productive member of society if you let it, it looks like some people still need to accept and be grateful they are still alive and this juggernaut of a disease has not taken them yet. I will pray for all those out there who are still sick and suffering and if you have someone in your life that needs help, well, this is the place to send them. When you are ready to accept and take responsibility for all the chaos you have created for all the loved ones in your life then you will be ready to start over sober. Defiance is part of the disease, it wants to keep you sick and suffering and this program will teach you how to accept and let go. The owner, Mike Harris is a no nonsense man, and most addicts who walk through the door are so full of nonsense they dont know how to handle the truth and what its going to take to become sober, this program OVER TIME, does work and thank God its out there.. Peace and love to all