Built from lived experience. Developed for professional care.
DAMD Recovery — Dancing Against My Demons — is a Southern California behavioral-health group facilitation organization created to raise the standard of how recovery and personal-development groups are delivered. We combine professional structure, qualified people, practical programming, and human connection to support treatment and recovery programs.
Mission, vision, philosophy, and name
Our Mission
To raise the standard of group facilitation in behavioral health by providing prepared facilitators, meaningful programming, professional accountability, and experiences that help people engage in the work of recovery and personal growth.
Our Vision
To build one of Southern California's most trusted behavioral-health group facilitation networks — known for reliability, professionalism, diversity of programming, and the ability to connect with people in a real and respectful way.
Our Philosophy
People are more likely to engage when they feel safe, respected, challenged, and understood. Structure matters. Boundaries matter. Qualifications matter. Human connection matters too. DAMD exists to hold those values together.
Our Name
DAMD stands for Dancing Against My Demons. The name represents an active relationship with recovery: not denying the past, not being controlled by it, and continuing to move forward with courage, accountability, identity, and purpose.
Gabriel Chavez
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Gabriel Chavez founded DAMD Recovery after transforming his own experiences with addiction, mental-health challenges, and rock-bottom moments into a life centered on service, leadership, and recovery. He understood that lived experience could create connection — but also that treatment programs need consistency, preparation, boundaries, and accountability. DAMD became the organization that brings those elements together. Today, Gabriel leads the company's growth, facilitator network, program development, partnerships, and professional culture.
Meet the DAMD TeamSee how DAMD would fit your program.
Tell us your level of care, population, and schedule. A DAMD representative will review the request and outline fit, availability, and next steps.
Please do not include client names, diagnoses, or other confidential health information in your request.