My Story Is Survival — My Work Is Helping People Recover

"I write openly about my journey through childhood sexual abuse and addiction, and I now support people who are working to change their relationship with alcohol and rebuild their lives one step at a time."

Most survivors spend years believing their story is “too much,” “too messy,” or “too painful” for anyone to understand.

I know, because I’ve lived it. This site is where I share the truth about healing after childhood sexual abuse, the reality of recovery, and the strength it takes to rebuild a life that was torn apart too young.

I’m Matt Penn: survivor, author, recovery worker.

I write openly about trauma, addiction, and healing , not to give therapy or advice, but to show other survivors that they’re not the only ones still trying to figure it all out.

If you’re here to read, learn, relate, or just feel a little less alone, you’re in the right place.

And if you’re working on changing your relationship with alcohol or breaking old patterns, I also offer one-to-one recovery coaching built on lived experience and honest conversation.

Here, the truth gets to exist without shame.

And recovery — from anything — gets to be real.

  • Affordable Recovery Coaching

    I offer one-to-one recovery coaching built on lived experience, straight-talk guidance, and real-world tools that help people break old patterns, rebuild their confidence, and move forward with clarity and support.

    Discover recovery coaching 

  • CSA Survivor & Recovery Coach Blogs

    CSA survivor and recovery coach blogs give us a place to speak the truths we were told to bury, connect with others who get it, and turn our lived experience into strength, clarity, and community.

    Check out the blogs 
  • CSA survivor story

    Read My story

    During my own recovery journey I wrote an Amazon bestselling book to help raise awareness to the connection between addiction and childhood trauma.

    Read my story 

Why I Do This...

My mission is to help people break the cycle of destructive habits and take back control of their lives, one real conversation at a time.

I believe recovery isn’t about perfection, strict rules, or pretending you’re fine, it’s about understanding what’s really going on underneath the behaviours and building the confidence to make different choices.

Through lived-experience coaching, I help people recognise their patterns, find their strength again, and take small steps that add up to a life that actually feels worth living.

If You're a Survivor Reading This…

You are believed. You are not alone. You are not broken, you are rebuilding.