Jennifer Hansen is the founder and CEO of Enlightened Recovery and president of the Hansen Foundation. Having maintained her own recovery since March 3, 1996, Jennifer brings decades of lived experience to her leadership in the addiction treatment field. Her journey has shaped Enlightened Recovery’s mission to provide compassionate, individualized care that addresses substance use while helping each person create a healthier, more meaningful life.
A turning point in Jennifer’s recovery occurred during treatment when her counselor encouraged her to explore the spiritual component she had previously resisted. Rather than defining spirituality through a particular religion, Jennifer began carrying a quartz crystal as a tangible reminder that support, hope, and healing could come from something greater than herself. That experience helped her develop a personal sense of faith that has remained an important part of her long-term recovery.
Jennifer now shares this story with people entering treatment at Enlightened Recovery. The quartz crystal represents clarity, positive energy, and the possibility of transformation. It is not intended to replace clinical treatment or represent a specific religious belief. Instead, it serves as an invitation for each person to explore what spirituality, connection, and a higher power may mean within their own recovery journey.
Jennifer’s personal experience also inspired her to build a broader recovery community. Before establishing Enlightened Recovery, she founded Hansen House recovery residences for men and women and later expanded her work through Serenity Houses, Serenity Estates, and Enlightened Farm. Through these organizations and the Hansen Foundation, she has helped create a continuum of support that includes addiction treatment, structured living, mentorship, community connection, and opportunities for long-term personal growth.
At Enlightened Recovery, Jennifer’s vision is reflected in an approach that combines evidence-based addiction treatment with holistic services and individualized spiritual exploration. She believes recovery involves more than abstaining from drugs or alcohol; it requires healing emotionally, physically, socially, and spiritually. Her journey from addiction to sustained recovery continues to guide Enlightened Recovery’s commitment to meeting people with compassion and helping them discover their own path toward healing, purpose, and lasting change.
