About Grace Recovery

Laurel T.

Director of Operations

Laurel joined Grace Recovery as a co-owner in 2020 in their mission to support women in achieving long-term sobriety. Laurel was born and raised in Houston, Texas, and attended the United States Air Force Academy and St. Edward’s University.

After injuries and surgeries that ended her college soccer career, Laurel spiraled into her addiction, which led to years of drinking and drug use.  In 2012, she entered treatment in Austin, Texas.  Laurel has 7+ years of working in the recovery industry and has dedicated her career to helping individuals to regain peace and find purpose in their lives.

Laurel is an experienced operations manager who specializes in project management, administration, and customer service initiatives aligned with performance objectives. She is known for her analytical approach in streamlining and optimizing efficiencies within an organization. She provides a resourceful approach while collaborating with cross-functional teams to develop client-centric solutions. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and will complete her Master’s of Business Administration in 2021.

Ally F

Director of Coaching & Intake Coordinator

Ally is a born and raised Austinite and found herself in the midst of addiction at a young age, entering her first treatment center at the age of 17. Feeling like she never got the “handbook” to life, she struggled to endure and cope with early life events. Subsequently, her teenage years
and nearly all of her twenties were spent in the frightening spiral of drug addiction and alcoholism, which provided her comfort to deal with unresolved obstacles that had accumulated over time.

Ally got sober in October of 2019 through an inpatient treatment center. This coupled with dedication and commitment to work the 12 steps, Ally began gaining traction in her sobriety.

She found joy in working with others and sharing the message of her personal experience with other women that were attempting to regain their lives over the disease of addiction.

Ally received an undergraduate degree in Business Administration from St. Edwards in 2016 with a concentration in Marketing, and 4+ years of experience in the entertainment industry in Austin, TX. Her strengths in the workplace include client relationship management, creative problem solving, and diligent organization and communication.

Today, Ally lives a sober, happy, joyous life, free from the constraints that she knew before. She has many interests including spending time with her Great Dane named Lilly, music, collage, jewelry fabrication, fashion and design, and taking care of her physical, emotional and mental health through physical movement.

Alex M

House Manager Grace 1

Born and raised in Houston, Alex grew up in a dysfunctional home with an alcoholic mother. At 14, she used and drank for the first time and knew that she had “arrived”. This was the beginning of a horrifying addiction that stole everything from her including her morals, values, relationships, and everything worth while in her life. 

By the time she was 23 she had been to 4 treatment centers, 3 psychiatric hospitals, and numerous jails. On March 14th, 2019 she found herself in a jail cell for the last time addicted to meth, heroin, Xanax, crack, and alcohol. On her way to prison, she was miserable and in despair experiencing mental and emotional agony beyond anything words can explain. 

At this point she finally realized the extent of her powerlessness and was ready to fully surrender control. After 17 months of being in prison, she was released and now centers her life around God and service to others. Her life is devoted to giving what she has freely received and as a result she lives a truly fulfilling life filled with joy, peace, serenity, happiness, unity and fellowship. These are the things which now fill the bottomless void she helplessly tried to fill with drugs. They are priceless, and she truly loves life today.

What a gift! 

Emily A

House Manager Grace 2

Emily was born in raised out in West Texas, seemingly just a normal, good kid. She did well in school, went to college, graduated, got a good job, and got engaged. These “boxes” were kept checked and seen so she didn’t have to talk with anyone about the emptiness going on inside of her.

She filled this void with whatever she could get her hands on, mistakenly calling it “a good time,” and even “love.” At the peak of her and her fiancee’s addictions, he made the decision to end his life. This catapulted her to seek help and go to treatment out in Austin, TX.

Emily found the rooms of AA and, for the first time, had to face that emptiness she’d been running from for so long and fill it with something other than drugs and alcohol. 

Today, she is a grateful recovering alcoholic/addict. Recovery has given her a wealthy network of skills and people that keep her from being alone in this good fight. More importantly, she has the opportunity to walk with other women in their journeys towards finding sobriety. 

Lo H

Client Coordinator & House Manager Grace 3

Born and raised in South Texas to a well-adjusted family, she was raised with Christian values in a loving home. She had a normal and happy life; growing up with her younger brother and sister on a ranch, making good grades, and actively participating in sports.  At the age of 14, seeking to become more open, she started drinking socially and beginning her path to unmanageability. Wild behavior and consequences for rebellious actions clouded her family life, slowly draining the motivation to strive for more.

Meer weeks after graduating from high school, she moved away from home, determined to do it on her own at the age of 18.  It wasn’t until her grandfather died a year later that she began using alcohol and cocaine to escape from the pain of reality. Lies and deceit allowed her to hide her descent into addiction, slowly pushing her family and life further and further away.

When she dropped out of cosmetology school to free up time for her chemical dependency, her parents saw the first red flag. “What do you want?” They asked. “I just want my life back,” was her only reply. 

At the age of 21, she entered rehab for the first time. The foundation she built in treatment gave her three years of clean time and a renewed connection to her higher power. Two and a half years into her sobriety, she met a man and got engaged.

Unbeknownst to her, the desire for love and her own family was not enough to build a relationship upon or to keep her sober. Again tragedy struck, taking the life of one of her closest friends. The pain and devastation consumed her, blocked her from her higher power. At her friends funeral, once again seeking escape, she relapsed back into her addiction. Thinking a geographical change could numb what the drugs couldn’t, she moved to Chicago. However, the change of scenery couldn’t protect her from a failed marriage or the loss of her mother to cancer. 

After her mother’s death and a series of trials and tribulations, Lo found herself back in treatment. Through willingness, open mindedness, and honesty she has found continuous sobriety since then, and is dedicated to living a life of Spiritual Principle.

Watermelon

Chief Dog Officer

Personal problems plaguing your mind seem to melt away the moment Watermelon is welcomed to your side for a cuddle. This sweet little miss is a bundle of joy, super smart and loves to love. Watermelon loves meditation in the morning,curling up with you while you catch up on all your favourite TV show, listen to the details of your day or simply lay next to the hammock after you unwind from a long day. Simply petting a pup releases feel good hormones called oxytocin and serotonin which help calm you down and alleviate your mood. Watermelon loves to be of assistance with helping you release feel good feelings! 

Founder

Chief Dog Officer Grace 2

All Founder Girl wants in life is more roommates to love! Seven years ago, while Emily was going to school out in Oklahoma, she ‘found her’ and took her in. The rest is history. She’s seen her owner through many hardships over the years, and has always been the cornerstone of strength.

There’s is never one day too bad where a walk outside, a cuddle on the couch, or galavanting around The Green Belt with Founder can’t fix. Her smile and love for life can give perspective on how to appreciate what you have right here, right now, is enough.