Helping young people overcome adversity
Using honesty, passion, and connection to share my own experience with substance use and provide students with the perspective and tools to discover, define and become their best selves.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance-use, depression, or anxiety, I’m here to let you know, there’s a way out, and I can show you — one day at a time.
• purpose
THE ROAD TO RESILIENCY STARTS WITH REAL TALK
Our young people are struggling. Substance-use, suicide, depression, and anxiety are at all-time highs. Fraught with the confusion associated with a fear of failure, pressure, uncertainty, other people’s opinions, and a lack of belief, teens seek validation, esteem, and relief in drugs and alcohol, fighting, poor relationships, and isolation.
I have been there.
I identify with these feelings.
I understand.
Those same thoughts and feelings led me to alcohol and drugs, conflict, countless apologies, addiction, arrests, and embarrassment. Yet, that’s not who I am today. I’ve changed, and so has my life. I know what it takes to go from rock bottom to a life with fulfillment, meaning, and purpose.
While substance-use is my “in”, my intention will always be to get under the surface of that to help students find the why, which is always connected to their sense of self and the broader mental health continuum.
• The coach Kline Difference
in the classroom and on the front lines
The fact of the matter is, schools bring in “professional” speakers and organizations who look great on paper, but lack experience in the trenches and don’t connect. As such, students leave the assembly thinking it was a waste of time.
I’ve remained immersed on the front lines, coaching and teaching at the college or high school level for the past 13 years. This keeps me connected to what these kids are going through in real time, and helps me remember what it was like.
The old school method of telling them to suck it up is no longer feasible, but the new school method of simply preaching “self-care” hasn’t taken either. The path forward requires respect, vulnerability, and real connection.
I’ll provide the truth around substance use and general mental health, inspire the students to become aware of their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and equip them with fundamental tools necessary to become their best.
• Success Stories
“When I have a young person on my team who is struggling, or I am wrestling with a decision that could impact the culture of my program, or I am trying to find the right words and actions to help our program navigate all of the challenges that young people face today, I call Larry.
On multiple occasions, I have invited Larry to speak to student athletes that I am responsible for of all ages. He is a captivating speaker, sharing his story of growth and perseverance in an accessible way that resonates beyond the hour he spends with us. What is most impressive, however, is what inevitably happens that evening, hours after his speaking engagement has finished. Without fail, people of all ages in that room reach out to me to ask for Larry's contact information to ask for his help, because they need someone to talk to -- and without fail, Larry takes the time to help those individuals any way that he can.”
— Tyler Low, Head Men’s Lacrosse Coach, Umass-Boston“Thank you to Coach Larry Kline for sharing at the FCA Lacrosse IMLCA Breakfast on anxiety, depression, and addiction. If you haven’t read the Inside Lacrosse article, “How Did I Get Here”, it is a must read! – FCA Lacrosse”
— Federation of Christian Athletes, Lacrosse Chapter“We are the parents of Wynn Warren '24 and wanted to thank you for making such a meaningful impact on Wynn, not only with your overseeing the Service Day project he worked on, but especially because of your talk last night.
Wynn was so impressed with you and your message that he had to share it with us.
Wynn said out of all the other talks he has sat through about drug and alcohol dangers, they were not geared towards how teenagers think, too much about statistics and data in general, and that teenagers would turn off to listening.”
— Roberta & Mike Warren“Most trusted teacher that I would go to if I had a problem.”
— Braedon Dubis, Cushing ‘24Contact
Ready?
Let’s Make real change.
There’s a way out. Let’s start here. Fill out the form below, or send an email and Larry will get back to you within 24 hours. You can also call to chat right now.