In this heartfelt episode of Finding New Waters, B. Reeves and Justin McClendon sit down with Elizabeth Fikes, co-founder of Stonewater Adolescent Recovery Center in Oxford, Mississippi.
Elizabeth shares her family’s deeply personal story — watching her younger brother, Brian, struggle with addiction as a teenager, the shock of realizing how serious it had become, and the heartbreak of sending him to treatment. What started as the worst day of their lives became the beginning of a new purpose. Today, Brian is more than 20 years sober, and together, the Fikes family built Stonewater: a nationally recognized residential treatment center helping adolescent boys heal through a holistic, family-based approach.
Elizabeth explains the unique challenges of adolescent recovery, the importance of family involvement, and how Stonewater’s blend of clinical care, academics, structure, and purpose helps boys rebuild confidence and self-worth. She also discusses the upcoming Stonewater Summit Program, designed as a transitional space for graduates to continue growing before returning home.
Learn more about Stonewater: www.stonewaterrecovery.com
Timestamps
00:00 – Welcome & introduction to Elizabeth Fikes
03:00 – The origins of Stonewater and Brian’s story
05:00 – Sending her brother to treatment: “The worst day of my life”
07:00 – Why family healing became the foundation of Stonewater
09:00 – What it was like to be the sibling during addiction
12:00 – How fathers and mothers process addiction differently
15:00 – Building confidence and purpose through structure and dress code
18:00 – Teaching accountability and handling discomfort
20:00 – Why adolescent treatment is different from adult recovery
23:00 – The role of academics and emotional safety
26:00 – Debunking the myth that a child must “want help”
28:00 – The trauma siblings experience and how to heal it
32:00 – Family groups and peer mentorship
34:00 – The Stonewater Summit Program
37:00 – How to reach Stonewater Recovery
Powerful Quote
“The worst day of my life was the day my brother went to treatment. But it also became the best — because it saved his life and changed all of ours.” – Elizabeth Fikes
Guest Bio
Elizabeth Fikes
Co-Founder, Stonewater Adolescent Recovery Center
Elizabeth Fikes is the co-founder of Stonewater Adolescent Recovery Center, a residential treatment program for boys ages 12–18 in Oxford, Mississippi. Inspired by her family’s experience helping her brother overcome addiction, Elizabeth and her brother Brian founded Stonewater to provide a comprehensive, family-centered approach to adolescent recovery.
Stonewater integrates evidence-based clinical care, academics, trauma-informed therapy, and spiritual development to help young men rebuild their lives. Under Elizabeth’s leadership, Stonewater continues to expand with new initiatives like the Stonewater Summit Program, supporting families through every stage of the recovery journey.
Website: www.stonewaterrecovery.com
Resources Mentioned
• Stonewater Adolescent Recovery Center – www.stonewaterrecovery.com
• Stonewater Summit Program
• Family Systems in Adolescent Treatment
• Wellbriety Movement – www.whitebison.org
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