Pasadena Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (PCADD) proudly congratulates Daniel “Cohry” Osborne for passing the CADTP exam and becoming a certified Substance Use Counselor.
Behind the certification is a story filled with change, uncertainty, recovery, and purpose. Cohry spent nearly 20 years working in software sales. It was a completely different world from the one he works in today. When the COVID-19 pandemic led to layoffs, everything suddenly changed. Like many people during that time, he found himself overwhelmed by uncertainty and burnout. Eventually, that difficult period led to depression and relapse.
At the time, he did not know that those painful experiences would later guide him toward a new direction in life.
During his recovery journey, a counselor he worked with at Kaiser told him something meaningful: he would probably be good at helping others in recovery. What may have seemed like a small conversation stayed with him.
“It clicked immediately,” Cohry shared. “I enrolled in a SUD education program shortly after that conversation.”
What began as curiosity slowly became purpose.
For Cohry, becoming a counselor was never only about changing careers. It was about taking everything he had experienced: the struggles, setbacks, recovery, and healing, and using it to support others who may be walking through similar challenges.
“My own struggles with substance use gave me a perspective I couldn’t have gotten any other way,” he shared. “I knew what it felt like to be on the other side of that desk.”
That lived experience is part of what makes his work feel genuine and relatable to many of the participants he serves today. Sometimes, people simply want to know they are sitting across from someone who truly understands.
Over the past several years, Cohry has continued to work, learn, and study, pushing himself toward certification. Like many people pursuing a professional goal, there were moments when the finish line felt far away.
So when the email from CADTP finally arrived telling him he had passed, the feeling was overwhelming in the best way.
“Honestly, relief, more than anything,” he said. “From the moment I started my SUD education, certification felt like a very distant finish line.”
When asked how he felt after learning he passed the exam, Cohry did not hesitate.
“Jubilant,” he shared with a smile. “Genuinely jubilant.”
For Cohry, the certification means much more than professional recognition. It represents growth, resilience, and the opportunity to continue helping people more deeply.
“This certification opens doors,” he explained. “It allows me to work with clients at a deeper level and be recognized as a credentialed professional in this field.”
More importantly, he hopes it continues helping him build trust with the people he works with every day.
Cohry continues supporting participants at PCADD with understanding and honesty. His journey shows that even difficult experiences can lead to growth, healing, and the opportunity to help others.
For others currently working toward their own goals, Cohry offered advice that reflects both honesty and encouragement:
“Don’t give up on yourself,” Cohry shared. “If you’re working toward a certification, schedule your exam as soon as you’re eligible and let that date be your motivation. Having a deadline makes it real. The distance between where you are and where you want to be shrinks a lot faster than you think.”Congratulations to Cohry Osborne on this meaningful accomplishment and for the care, understanding, and dedication he continues to bring to the recovery community at PCADD and Social Model Recovery Systems (SMRS).
