Julie Maida Sober Mommies Founder Twenty Years Sober

Julie Maida has been in abstinence-based recovery since May of 2000, and has worked in the field of addiction since 2002. In 2012, after the birth of her youngest son, she battled a severe bout of postpartum depression, OCD, and agoraphobia; which made it impossible for her to keep up with her 12 step recovery responsibilities.

Julie realized how much recovery support can often depend on regular meeting attendance, and how lonely it can feel without such support. She started thinking about women who, for whatever personal reasons, choose not to attend 12 step meetings or do not practice complete abstinence. She wondered if they felt as lonely in their process as she did at that moment.

In May of 2013, she “came out” about her personal recovery in a post titled I Got Sober Today, on her blog Next Life, NO Kids. The post received an incredible response, and alerted Julie to the need for a supportive, judgment-free community for moms in and contemplating recovery.

Sober Mommies, Inc. was born in May of 2014, and soon after became a registered 501(c)3 charitable organization. Julie believes ALL women deserve to have a supportive and encouraging tribe. She created Sober Mommies to connect women with a community full of acceptance for all walks and stages of recovery, and to help moms build their tribe.

The members of Sober Mommies understand the unique struggle, shame, stigma and guilt often associated with where substance use/abuse and motherhood collide. Sober Mommies offers a platform for sharing stories, promoting identification and self-forgiveness, and an opportunity to receive and provide peer-to-peer support and mentorship.

ReadJulie’s story Follow her on Facebook!

If you would like to request for Julie to speak at your upcoming event or conference, please contact her directly at julie[at]sobermommies.com.

Previous Speaking Engagements:

  •  “Recovery, Heartbreak, and Hope”: DMH, Children’s Behavioral Health Knowledge Center Symposium and Gailanne Reeh Lecture
  • Parenting in Recovery: SAMHSA/BRSS TACS Webinar
  • Event Speaker: Massachusetts Advocates, Children’s Trauma and Learning Policy Initiative
  • She Recovers NYC Presenter – Sober Blogger Team – Live Broadcasts
  • Recovery Today Interview w/ Sherry Gaba: Breaking The Recovery Mold

(listen here)

Julie’s writing can be found on Scary Mommy, The Huffington Post, The Today Show Parenting Team, Blunt Moms, BonBon Break, and more.

Follow Julie on social media: @juliemaida.me

Recent Posts