Women's Treatment Team

Alaska’s unique and powerful approach to spiritual and emotional healing has been a lifelong pursuit. Her professional path was born out of her own personal spiritual and emotional healing and is a uniquely curated form of considerate and potent council. 

Her background and career experiences have provided experience and certification in various types of trauma care, substance use disorders, dialogue facilitation, interpersonal and intercultural conflict resolution, depth psychological theory, and psychopharmacology. 

Alaska holds a Master's degree in Counseling Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute. In undergrad, she pursued both Psychology and Conflict Resolution and graduated from Portland State University with a double Bachelors of Science Degree. For the past decade, she’s been traveling internationally to provide harm reduction outreach, education, and support. Outside of her role at Grace & Emerge Recovery, she’s the board of a Harm Reduction Nonprofit called RestPit that provides sanctuary space, peer support, and medical care in the central Texas area.

Alaska is proud to bring her commitment to nonpathologizing, collaborative, and empowering care to Grace & Emerge Recovery. She’s deeply interested in using story tracking and illumination to help clients find the tangles that we as humans all find ourselves getting caught up in – and finding a way to unravel the knots so that all women can have more empowered and healthy life experiences and relationships. Guided by the foundational belief that our inner narrative is how we make meaning from what we experience, Alaska aims to help clients weave a new perspective and life together using the art of re-storying inner narratives, depth & transpersonal perspectives, and intuitive guidance.

Tarai is a Licensed Master of Social Work, earning her degree from the Steve Hicks School of Social Work at UT Austin. She has experience supporting clients who are working to heal from substance abuse, trauma, behavioral challenges, emotional dis-regulation, and interpersonal difficulties. Practicing through a trauma informed lens, Tarai is trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, EMDR and Health Care Social Work. Prior to joining Emerge Recovery, she spent several years serving adult clients with diverse psychological needs in local behavioral hospital settings, international non-profit organizations, and private practice. Tarai is passionate about helping clients achieve their goals through a collaborative, holistic approach that emphasizes client empowerment.

Madelin’s warm and engaging style of therapy serves to create a safe place where people can come as they are while collaboratively working together to embrace change. Being entrusted with the stories people have to tell is sacred, and Madelin cherishes each opportunity to be part of someone’s healing journey. Madelin’s desire for each of her clients is that they would experience deeper self-knowledge and respect, as well as increased satisfaction in life and their relationships.

Madelin is a Counseling Intern pursuing her Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Seminary of the Southwest in Austin,TX. She was raised in Heflin, Alabama and received her undergraduate degree from Auburn University. Madelin enjoys spending time with her family, time in nature—(skiing, Pickleball, horseback riding, swimming), cooking, working out, reading, and spending time with her mini fluffy diva cat, Fiona! 

Madelin blends Polyvagal Theory with Resourcing (a component of EMDR) with more expressive forms of treatment, such as play therapy, meditation, and walking outdoor sessions in her work with children, teens, and adults. Madelin supports those who are struggling with anxiety, depression, and trauma (PTSD), developing healthy coping skills, boundary-setting, body-image, self-esteem, communication, identity issues, emotion regulation, and life transitions. Madelin incorporates biological, psychological, social, and spiritual perspectives, creating a holistic approach to each person and their healing journey. By offering multiple therapeutic mediums of professional counseling services, Madelin aims to help clients reach their goals by understanding and meeting each person’s unique and individualized needs.

From a very young age, Brittany knew she wanted to work in the mental health field. She didn’t know that she would first have to take a journey of her own. Brittany struggled with addiction beginning in adolescence and first entered recovery at the age of 20. She stayed sober for nine consecutive years and, during that time, graduated with a Masters degree in counseling from Houston Baptist University. She planned to work as a therapist upon graduation. However, a relapse led to the next several years of battling addiction. 

Brittany first came to Grace & Emerge Recovery as a client. She was at the lowest point of her life and was desperate for a solution. She was full of shame and guilt, especially since she had two amazing daughters that she wanted to recover for. During her treatment, Brittany identified that it was unhealed trauma that was keeping her stuck. Through individual counseling, EMDR, and working a 12-step recovery program, Brittany was able to pull herself back up after one last relapse. 

In addition to her educational background, Brittany has experience working in the addiction field as a behavioral health technician and a case manager. Today, she is proud to work for a company that helped her regain her life. When Brittany isn’t at work, she is probably busy being a mom and supporting women to regain their lives, as women once did for her.

Amanda is a Recovery Coach and Case Manager at Grace & Emerge Recovery. She has been in recovery for six years and is now honored to be helping others navigate their own journey to peace and healing. For the past five years, she has been working her way up the ladder at Grace & Emerge Recovery to take a bigger role in the treatment process, from detox tech to her position today. Amanda is currently on her next big personal journey as she works toward becoming a LMSW. She can’t see herself ever working in any other field and takes great pride and joy in the reward of watching young women transform into the happiest, healthiest versions of themselves at Grace & Emerge Recovery!

Brittany is currently obtaining her master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling at Lamar University. She came to Grace & Emerge to help adult women recover from trauma and substance abuse after her own recovery from trauma. She understands the complexity the recovery process can often hold, and the impact that one’s core beliefs can carry throughout their lives. By raising awareness and challenging this narrative, she aims to empower her clients and guide them through the process of effectively utilizing their personal control and building a sense of safety in their lives. Brittany utilizes ego state therapies to assist in stabilization and regulation in preparation for trauma processing. Self-efficacy and self-esteem, interpersonal skills, and emotional regulation can all hold unique challenges for trauma survivors; through supportive cognitive behavioral approaches, she helps clients reframe their story as they slowly peel at the layers of their trauma. A collaborative process is key in helping her clients break free from their suffering, working towards resiliency. 

Maggie joined the Grace & Emerge Recovery team to merge her well-rounded business skill set with her passion for assisting people in recovery. Her background in Business Administration and Medical Assisting made her the perfect fit as Grace & Emerge Recovery’s Office Manager, where she oversees daily operations and supports the vital work we do to help clients on their recovery journey. She attended Texas State University and is currently completing her Bachelor of Science in Marketing at Grand Canyon University.

Maggie’s dedication to helping young women find their path to recovery stems from her personal experience of taking part in a family member’s journey to healing. She’s committed to serving and guiding others toward the growth and freedom she knows is possible for anyone who’s suffering. In her free time, she loves spending time with her family and two Pomeranians. Maggie is also a dedicated Swiftie and enjoys staying connected to the music scene in Austin.

Skye is the owner of New Obsession, a resource for artists and musicians in recovery from substance use disorder. Combining passion, experience and education in art and recovery, New Obsession offers support through one on one creative recovery coaching as well as community workshops, bringing skill building and creative outlets to recovering individuals. New Obsession prioritizes autonomy and seeks to enhance the recovery process through creative thinking, on and off the canvas!

Kaytee Hernandez is a Latinx Yoga Therapist and Yoga Teacher. She was born and raised in Brownsville, Texas. Yoga has helped Kaytee heal from childhood trauma, grief, and loss. Her personal practice and faith infuse her life with meaning and joy.

Kaytee hopes to share the therapeutic benefits of Yoga with others through her work as a Yoga Therapist. She believes everyone has an inner healer and empowers her students to look within themselves to find strength and healing. Kaytee utilizes trauma-informed practices, mantra, breath work, meditation, mudras, and yoga postures in her work.

Kaytee has a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Media Design from the University of the Arts London and is currently a graduate student of Ayurveda and Integrative Health at Maharishi International University.

Dr. Lam brings nearly 25 years of experience in psychiatry to Emerge Recovery. Fellowship-trained and double board certified (in both general psychiatry and child/adolescent psychiatry), Dr. Lam has served as Chief of Staff at Shoal Creek Hospital, Outpatient Director at Charter Hospital, staff psychiatrist at St. David’s Hospital, and Executive Medical Director at Austin Lakes Hospital. His distinguished career serving patients and families across Central Texas is hallmarked not only by his widely respected professional expertise but also by his genuine, warm, and kind bedside manner. Dr. Lam has extensive experience treating severe mental illness as well as substance use disorders. He will build trust with our beloved residents through in-person visits and after-hours care as he engages them actively in their treatment.

Ella has devoted her entire healthcare career to mental health nursing and brings fifteen years of psychiatric experience to Emerge Recovery. More recently, she completed her training as a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner under Dr. Lam’s preceptorship and has partnered with him ever since. Ella is deeply knowledgeable, compassionate, and supportive of her patients and their families. She values collaboration and ensures that those in her care and their loved ones feel heard, valued, and cared for.

Katie has been a nurse for over three years with experience in detox and residential recovery centers that included caring for a dual-diagnosis population. She has started her LVN to RN bridge program through Galen College of Nursing. She is passionate about the mental health of others and finds it just as important as their physical health. Katie is a caring mother to two wonderful boys. They enjoy going to the park, playing sports, and painting together.