John Harden, LCSW, CAP, MPH
John Harden is a leading expert in addiction treatment and trauma-informed care, serving as the Clinical Director of BoardPrep Recovery Center since 2014. With over 30 years of professional experience, his clinical teams have provided compassionate, expert care to thousands of healthcare professionals.
John’s dedication to trauma-informed care is deeply personal. At 18, he went through his own treatment experience. As he puts it, “treatment worked.” His transformational experience laid the foundation for a lifelong commitment to compassionate service and professional excellence in the recovery field. In October 2023, John celebrated 40 years of sobriety, remaining deeply involved in the recovery community.
His professional journey began with certification as an addiction counselor, leading to specialized training at Baylor-Parkside Lodge in Texas, where he gained expertise in dual-diagnosis, community education, and program management. He later earned a Master of Public Health and a Master of Clinical Social Work from the University of South Florida.
John previously served key leadership roles such as serving as the longest tenured Executive Director of the Florida Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) and serving as a Senior Resident Fellow in the UF Drug Policy Institute. His work shaped policy, improved treatment programs, and expanded access to high-quality care across the US.
Currently working on his Doctorate in Social Work (2025) at Barry University, John’s research explores the integration of trauma-informed services into existing treatment models to improve outcomes, strengthen recovery and prevent relapse. His expertise and lived experience continue to drive his mission to advance compassionate, evidence-based treatment for professionals.