The Optimal Recovery Programme
T.O.R.P.
Welcome To Freedom
Testimonials
T.O.R.P. Clients
Anonymous / Louise (T.O.R.P. Client, 2026)
I really thought I could do this alone, not asking for help!
I was used to doing hard things on my own, but I was so wrong.
Michael & the T.O.R.P. team have ben a godsend - ESP. my recovery coach, Jess.
She is compassionate, gentle, without any judgement - never rigid or overbearing,
just the sensitive, soft nudge that is needed.
I feel well supported through my recovery journey,
cheered on for better things I am yet to see, feel & live.
I feel like I’m on a new - somewhat scary, yet exciting - road ahead
and I know I’m in safe hands.
If change is what you want … T.O.R.P. is the right place.
Anonymous / Warren (T.O.R.P. Client, 2026)
I had many practical & personal reasons for selecting an outpatient recovery programme;
negative experience & lack of long term results in inpatient recovery, cost coverage,
the need for a paced & flexible recovery, etc.
In my (current) professional context, the option of (effective) anonymity was VITAL.
I can finally acknowledge that functional addiction doesn’t actually exist.
I was not at at all functional - I was just spiralling deeper into substances
& profoundly grateful to have tried T.O.R.P. sooner rather than later.
My experience of the treating team & the programme structure have been excellent.
I certainly wouldn’t hesitate to return should I ever feel concerns of relapse,
of simply a need for ongoing recovery support.
T.O.R.P. has added the functionality, quality & spark even back into my own life.
Onwards & Upwards - Thanks, MJT & Team!
Recovered Individuals:
Jess / Anonymous (Past T.O.R.P. Client)
Before starting recovery with T.O.R.P.,
I was drowning in chaos … addiction effectively my ruled my life.
I chose outpatient recovery because I knew I needed to learn how to face life and not run from it;
entering an inpatient facility didn’t seem like a sustainable solution.Having a recovery coach walk the journey with me- providing practical support and solutions -
was life-changing & priceless. For the first time in my life, I a sense of felt accountability & growth,
support from a team who understood me, and a framework to restart life in freedom and peace.I’ve been clean and sober for five years now, and, more importantly,
I am equipped with coping skills I need to face every challenge head-on.
With TORP's help, I found the courage to leave my old life behind and grow wings to soar.
I am forever grateful.
Row / Anonymous (T.O.R.P. Perspectives)
I’d experienced only 2 years of addiction & it left a lifetime impression on me.
Due to co-occuring neurological & medical conditions,
my recovery from substance abuse couldn’t be adequately supported in an inpatient facility;
I felt an incredible lack of credibility & support despite reaching out many times,
which led to countless personal (failed) attempts at recovery.
I finally got my plan together and went about recovery the brutally long, hard way
(supported by multiple outpatient healthcare professionals, none of whom were experienced in addiction,
but understood the context of the problem & limited options. Over 2.5 long years, we did it.)
This took a great personal toll (cost, health, time, family life, professional life)
What I’d needed back then was a programme as practical & flexible as T.O.R.P.
I’ve been clean for over 6 years, but it was an uphill battle getting there.
The problem was a lack of options - not a lack of personal compliance or integrity.
Thankfully, the world has since progressed …
the holistic, humanistic approach offered by T.O.R.P. couldn’t arrive soon enough.
Addiction Specialists:
Dr. Laurel King (Specialist Psychiatrist)
Michael is hands down one of the most humanistic clinicians I’ve ever worked with;
knowing his expertise by personal experience and by professional specialisation,
as well as the passion he brings to progressing the field of addiction treatment,
it was just a matter of time until TORP’s vision finally came to life.
It presents a powerful and necessary alternative to the medical / traditional
models & modes of recovery.To me, it is most “optimal” in successfully integrating the subjective & sustainable
experience of the client as a core element of the bio-psycho-social model.
A well implemented & executed vision …
Congrats & Well Done,
Michael!
Gert Janse Van Rensburg (Addiction Treatment Specialist)
I’ve known Michael for over a decade, first working alongside, later referring clients to him.
I’ve watched him turn his personal experience and professional expertise
into something truly impactful;
what he has created through T.O.R.P. is exactly the kind of resource the field has been missing.
Michael doesn’t approach recovery from a purely academic, clinical, or scientific standpoint -
he brings the lived experience, empathy, insight, intuition & ability to connect with people.
He works collaboratively with clients, to help them discover their own solutions,
thus building confidence and personal ownership of the recovery journey.
T.O.R.P. reflects that philosophy perfectly … a person-first programme,
soundly structured in terms of recovery stages, approaches, flexibility.
Above all, Michael & his team genuinely care … that is evident in every aspect of the programme.
For anyone seeking guidance, support, and a pathway to meaningful recovery,
T.O.R.P. is an invaluable resource.
External Professionals:
Internal Professionals:
Deborah Wroe-Street (Social Worker in Private Practice, Addiction Specialist)
It gives me great honour to be part of this journey alongside Mr Theron. I have not
only known him for the past 8 years, but I have also had the privilege of witnessing his exceptional commitment to recovery and the level of care and precision he brings to his work, with each individual patient. His approach is deeply personalised, ensuring that every recovery plan is tailored to meet the unique needs of the individual.
Having been involved in the field of addiction recovery since the early 1990s, I have observed significant developments over time. While traditional models such as the 12-Step Programme continue to hold value, it is evident that not all patients align with a singular approach. As society evolves, so too much our methods of treatment, in order to remain relevant and effective.T.O.R.P. reflects this necessary progression. Mr. Theron has developed a programme that moves beyond conventional frameworks, offering an internationally aligned, holistic model of care. This approach addresses not only substance abuse, but the broader psychological, behavioural, and social dimensions of recovery, an area that has been lacking in many programmes.
TORP provides a structured, flexible and clinically robust alternative for individuals who require comprehensive support, but may not be suited to inpatient care. It was a forward-thinking model that meets patients where they are, adapting to their needs while maintaining strong clinical integrity.
I’ve seen firsthand the positive impact of this programme, and the growth it has achieved.
It stands as a testament to Mr. Theron’s dedication to advancing the field of addiction recovery and delivering meaningful, patient-centred care.
Dr. Anthony Townsend (Clinical Psychologist)
In the current South African healthcare landscape, there is a often profound disconnect between the prevalence of substance use disorders and the availability of effective, compassionate and accessible recovery pathways. Traditional inpatient models, while necessary for acute stabilization, often lack the longitudinal support required for sustainable reintegration into everyday life. An outpatient program offers the critical bridge needed to treat addiction not as an isolated clinical event, but as a lived experience that must be managed alongside the complexities of daily life, family responsibilities, and professional obligations. By maintaining the patient's connection to their support systems while providing high-level clinical intervention, we reduce the stigma of institutionalization and increase the likelihood of long-term treatment adherence.
Central to the success of such a program is the humanistic approach, which moves beyond the reductive view of a patient as a collection of symptoms or a disease to be suppressed. In a society frequently marked by both collective and individual trauma, a humanistic framework provides the psychological scaffolding necessary for individuals to reclaim their agency and sense of self-worth. By prioritizing the therapeutic alliance and focusing on the person’s inherent potential for growth and self-actualization, we address the underlying fractures in identity and purpose that so often fuel addictive cycles. This approach does not merely aim for abstinence; it fosters a resilient recovery rooted in personal meaning, which is the only truly sustainable foundation for mental health in our complex environment.
Dr. Anthony Townsend (Clinical Psychologist)
In the current South African healthcare landscape, there is a often profound disconnect between the prevalence of substance use disorders and the availability of effective, compassionate and accessible recovery pathways. Traditional inpatient models, while necessary for acute stabilization, often lack the longitudinal support required for sustainable reintegration into everyday life. An outpatient program offers the critical bridge needed to treat addiction not as an isolated clinical event, but as a lived experience that must be managed alongside the complexities of daily life, family responsibilities, and professional obligations. By maintaining the patient's connection to their support systems while providing high-level clinical intervention, we reduce the stigma of institutionalization and increase the likelihood of long-term treatment adherence.
Central to the success of such a program is the humanistic approach, which moves beyond the reductive view of a patient as a collection of symptoms or a disease to be suppressed. In a society frequently marked by both collective and individual trauma, a humanistic framework provides the psychological scaffolding necessary for individuals to reclaim their agency and sense of self-worth. By prioritizing the therapeutic alliance and focusing on the person’s inherent potential for growth and self-actualization, we address the underlying fractures in identity and purpose that so often fuel addictive cycles. This approach does not merely aim for abstinence; it fosters a resilient recovery rooted in personal meaning, which is the only truly sustainable foundation for mental health in our complex environment.
Dr. Karl Swain (Neuropsychologist)
Programmes such as The Optimal Recovery Programme (T.O.R.P.)
represent a vital development in addiction treatment …
by expanding access to structured, supportive outpatient care.
While inpatient rehabilitation can provide valuable initial stabilisation, sustainable recovery ultimately takes place in everyday life. A well-designed outpatient programme allows individuals to rebuild routines, practise recovery skills, and strengthen resilience within the environments where they live and work, while still receiving consistent professional guidance and support. Initiatives like T.O.R.P. help bridge an important gap in the recovery landscape by providing a practical and person-centred pathway toward long-term recovery.
James (Senior Recovery Coach)
Having worked in an inpatient treatment setting for several years, I was given the
opportunity to observe many cases of individuals desperately seeking an alternate
way of surviving … let alone thriving.The traditional treatment models seemed limited in many respects.
There was a significant gap, through which many individuals unfortunately fell.
T.O.R.P. was established to bridge this gap, and provides individuals
with practical & vital tools to achieve & sustain recovery.
What sets T.O.R.P. apart is our flexibility & focus on the individual,
finally moving away from the one-size-fits-all approach …
providing clients with an ongoing point of support into future.
Prof. Frederick Snyder (Clinical Psychologist, Clinical Supervisor)
As an Emeritus Professor of Psychology I have consulted at and supervised post-graduate students at
various rehabilitation clinics and facilities in Gauteng. I am honoured to be associated with TORP as
the first ecologically sound and comprehensive treatment facility which is active in the living world of
the recovering person. Most clinics do not offer real world support, continuity of intervention and
treatment, and a wide range of interventions and support systems in addition to traditional
approaches and frameworks. The ecologically realistic frame of reference of the recovering person is
of the utmost importance, with sustained intervention and support over long periods of availability.
The individual as system and in system remains in focus and with real action and connection.
Multi-disciplinarity is encouraged, with the focus on the systems where the clients live on a daily basis.
I am excited to be involved in this dynamic and richly connected process of recovery and redefintion.
Row (Strategy & Technology Consultant)
Having personally experienced the depths of addiction
as well as the not-so-pleasant aspects of the health system,
I LOVE the practical & progressive nature of T.O.R.P. …
esp. the introduction of autonomy, flexibility & supported sustainability
into the recovery model.
I see these as the CORE aspects of recovery
… it really isn’t about simply “getting clean”.
It’s about personal growth, resilience & tackling life post addiction.
It’s about facing reality & making the necessary adjustments & transitions.
It’s about NOT being seen as an eternal problem to be solved;
instead seeing the human behind the pain &
addiction as the coping mechanism until recovery is well supported.
I strongly align with the Mr. Theron’s “Holistic, Humanistic” recovery model.
“Recovery As A Lifestyle”
has turned out to be my personal journey after the fact …
I feel profoundly privileged to be a part of such a brilliant project & team!