Austin Addiction Treatment Services
The Prairie Recovery Center was founded by caring individuals with a passion for helping others find addiction treatment services in Austin, Texas.
Our Austin addiction treatment program aims to encourage and accomplish long-term healing and wellness through psychodynamic-informative integrative care. Subsequently, we continually strive to ensure whole-person treatment while incorporating a healing environment, a diversely trained staff, and a combination of therapies to form a unique, comprehensive clinical approach. We offer programs to promote a mind-body connection while delving into essential social, cultural, and spiritual lifestyle factors.
Individual and Group Therapy
The Austin addiction treatment center concentrates on breaking down and understanding the physical and cognitive issues involved in the disease of addiction. Individual and group therapies bring different values to addiction treatment. Evidence-based therapies have a proven track record, and cognitive behavioral therapy is a fundamental principle of behavior change. Group therapy supports the human connection with peers to the challenge of taking down walls to share and trust essential truths of addiction and recovery. Â
Individual Therapy
Individual therapy treats both addiction and mental health conditions. Building a foundation of trust with a therapist is a leading component to use in future healthy and positive relationships. Initiating a sense of safety in this environment shows how honesty helps to identify underlying causes and triggers of addiction.
Meanwhile, our Austin addiction treatment programs include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to teach new coping mechanisms and positive thought processes to cope with urges and triggers.Â
Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based therapy. DBT is beneficial for developing self-regulation techniques and stress management strategies. The therapist determines which modality is best for the patient’s needs.
Individual therapy is attended at least a few times weekly with several group meetings for ultimate results.
Group Therapy
Small groups and a licensed therapist monitor the group activity. This form of therapy is a proven method of achieving a solid support system for those in addiction recovery. Furthermore, experience is the direct connection between the participants, who learn to overcome defenses and share challenges and struggles. Building a positive and sober community and new relationships is also a supportive measure of sharing successes.
Ultimately, group therapy promotes tools to positively relate to others and see a broader vision of their new lifestyle. Patients can learn from one another based on shared experiences, symptoms, triggers, and diagnoses. This can help to foster a feeling of community in recovery.
Group therapy can even follow a specific modality, like CBT or DBT. In addition, clients can practice or role-play social skills with one another and get feedback about their progress. Most patients have a mix of group and individual therapy sessions during addiction treatment in Austin.
Wellness Programs in Austin, TX
Addiction and mental illness directly affect an individual’s physical well-being. Functional medicine examines present conditions and how to restore well-being by addressing the cause of disease. First, it is crucial to establish health goals and a plan to achieve them successfully. Secondly, identifying optimal well-being factors, such as nutrition, exercise, medication management, and sleep habits, are fully explained. Finally, once a firm understanding of a healthy and positive lifestyle is understood, the collaboration can begin through an Austin addiction treatment program for wellness.Â
Holistic therapies reduce the need for medications, learn how to cope in the present moment, and boost mental and physical health. Meditation can also be spiritually beneficial in recovery. Austin addiction treatment programs incorporate the following practices to meet the goals of restoring well-being.Â
- Yoga: promotes positive brain function and builds a connection with the body
- Mindfulness and meditation: promotes increased focus and living in the moment while decreasing stress and increasing relaxation
- Recreational therapies: biological activities to induce and promote physical and emotional well-being
Integrative Lifestyle for Wellness
Exercise, sleep, and nutrition are vital for physical and mental well-being. Austin addiction treatment programs combine these critical factors to initiate the tools needed for recovery and to prevent relapse. Educational programs introduce the importance of sound nutrition and regular sleep cycles. Ultimately, through our wellness considerations in treatment, lifestyle management tools become new positive habits to replace the negative, unhealthy experience of the past.Â
Adopting an exercise program and knowing how this essential factor affects brain function increases self-motivating behavior. Exercise increases dopamine production in the brain, which increases feelings of happiness. Feeling strong in the body increases self-esteem and confidence and creates a stronger sense of self. A few examples of exercise options offered with Austin’s addiction treatment include:
- Cardio
- Weight-lifting
- Bicycling
- Exercise classes
Austin Addiction Treatment: Alumni & Aftercare
Long-term success for our clients is a primary goal for our center. Patients need to feel secure with a new sober lifestyle and still feel a connection with the treatment team. Aftercare is a top priority, along with relapse prevention. Austin addiction treatment provides many services for additional support for the clients, friends, and family. Therefore, we offer special alumni and aftercare programs.Â
Alumni Program
Drug and alcohol addiction treatment in Austin still continues after active treatment. The Prairie Recovery Center continues to guide clients with supportive measures to promote long-term healing and recovery.
Programs include transitional support, which allows clients to stay in touch with their trusted team members and peers. The center’s main objective is to promote a sober daily lifestyle. The intensive outpatient program, support groups, and alumni programs are available for continued support.
Aftercare
The Prairie strongly believes in promoting every effort to support clients, even after completing the program. Understanding a healthy lifestyle in a safe environment can be a drastic difference once out in the world with a new sober life.
Aftercare conversations continue throughout addiction treatment. Patients and their families are welcome to receive continued support to encourage long-term sobriety and personal growth.Â

Family Therapy During Addiction Treatment
Friends and family of an individual struggling with addiction recovery need help and therapy. However, the family and friends must receive family therapy to become a robust, healthy, positive support system. Family therapy points to dysfunctional behaviors that could enable the loved one with an addiction to re-establish negative behaviors. Learning to form and enforce boundaries can positively affect their loved ones; therefore, weekly family therapy sessions are part of the treatment plan.Â
Family therapy incorporates cultural factors that may affect those with a substance use disorder. Family therapy helps recognize addiction’s generational components and how they affect the healing process. Feeling helpless is difficult and emotionally stressful for everyone involved. Austin addiction treatment helps everyone involved support each other.

Begin Addiction Treatment in Austin, TX
Addiction treatment centers can begin to all look the same, and the process can become frustrating. The Prairie, in Austin, realizes the importance of the mind-body connection and frames their programs to integrate strategies for total well-being.Â
Building a solid foundation for a sober lifestyle after treatment is a shared goal with our clients. Contact our admissions office to discuss our processes for treating your loved one and working with your family.Â
CO-FOUNDERS AND MANAGING PARTNERS
(click profile to read full bios)
- ROBERT HILLIKER, PhD, LCSW‑S, LCDCCHIEF CLINICAL OFFICERROBERT HILLIKER, PhD, LCSW‑S, LCDCCHIEF CLINICAL OFFICER
Robert is driven by a deep commitment to serve others, and is passionate about the subject of hope and despair in clinical treatment. His 17 years in the field of addiction and mental health encompass private practice, clinical supervision, the creation and management of clinical programming, the co-founding of The Lovett Center in 2014 and the co-founding of Ethos in 2018.
Throughout his educational and professional careers, Robert has gained valuable experience and impactful recognitions. He earned his Master’s degree from the University of Houston’s Graduate College of Social Work, which went on to honor him as a 50 for 50 Alumni in 2019 for embodying the college’s social justice vision. Robert’s education includes a fellowship at the Center for Psychoanalytic Studies and a Postgraduate Social Work Fellowship at The Menninger Clinic, while his resume includes long standing leadership positions at The Daring Way, The Council on Alcohol and Drugs Houston and The Menninger Clinic. At the latter, he earned a Menninger Clinic Pillar Award for Integrity for his work in the Professionals in Crisis Program, an honor meant to recognize those who best exemplify Menninger’s core values: excellence, teamwork, hope, integrity and caring. The Houston Business Journal named Robert a 40 Under 40 Class of 2018 Honoree.
- CECI HUDSON TORN, DSW, LPC-ACHIEF OPERATING OFFICERCECI HUDSON TORN, DSW, LPC-ACHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
An exemplary, long-spanning career in mental health and finance has put person-centered-care at the heart of Ceci’s work. She has gathered a wealth of experience at one of the nation’s largest residential summer camps, which provides her with a unique lens to approach treatment in a residential setting. Ceci received her master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health from Wake Forest University, as well as her Doctorate of Social Work from the University of Southern California with a focus on building behavioral health in adolescents and young adults. Since co-founding Ethos Behavioral Health Group in 2018, Ceci now spends her time providing clinical services and business leadership across all Ethos healing centers as a Licensed Mental Health Professional and Ethos’ Chief Operations Officer. She and her husband Chris are continuing to serve children and families with the launch of Camp OTX in the Texas Hill Country, all while raising 5 children of their own.
- WILL DAVISCHIEF BUSINESS OFFICERWILL DAVISCHIEF BUSINESS OFFICER
Will’s passion for functional, welcoming spaces to serve a variety of industries led him to a career in commercial real estate spanning over 15 years, parallel to a decade of business development and management. In 2014, he co-founded The Lovett Center with Robert Hilliker, and then went on to co-found Ethos. The driving force behind his professional journey is a passion for connecting people for a shared, greater good. His thoughtful hiring and leadership style has helped build countless strong, creative and united teams that produce positive results.
It’s the people at The Prairie Recovery Center that make a difference. Serving and helping others is second nature to each member of our team. Moreover, our team holds credentials that far exceed the norm for a residential treatment center; masters and doctoral-level clinicians, a medical director, psychiatrist, doctor, nurses and nurse practitioners are all part of our in-house, on-site team ready to care for individuals around the clock. Our clinical team is dually trained in co-occurring disorders, also known as addiction and mental health conditions combined.Â
ADMINISTRATIVE
(click profile to read full bio)
- LANCE FEGENDIRECTOR OF OPERATIONSLANCE FEGENDIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Bio coming soon
MEDICAL TEAM
- GREGG WORKMAN, MDMEDICAL DIRECTORGREGG WORKMAN, MDMEDICAL DIRECTOR
- ANNE MCALLISTER, LVNNURSE MANAGERANNE MCALLISTER, LVNNURSE MANAGER
- MAYOWA OMOYENI, PMHNPNURSE PRACTITIONERMAYOWA OMOYENI, PMHNPNURSE PRACTITIONER
- ADRIENNE DIRADDO FEEHAN, PMHNPNURSE PRACTITIONERADRIENNE DIRADDO FEEHAN, PMHNPNURSE PRACTITIONER
- ALYSSA VALDEZ, PMHNPNURSE PRACTITIONERALYSSA VALDEZ, PMHNPNURSE PRACTITIONER
- LISA CHURCH, APRN-CNPNURSE PRACTITIONERLISA CHURCH, APRN-CNPNURSE PRACTITIONER
- KACIE GREER, LVNCHARGE NURSEKACIE GREER, LVNCHARGE NURSE
- DEANNA VAUGHN, RNNURSING TEAM
- JESSICA RODRIGUEZ, LVNNURSING TEAM
- RON SCHATTE, LVNNURSING TEAM
- TAMMY JOHNSON, RNNURSING TEAM
- ALICIA DAVIS, LVNNURSING TEAM
- JOYCE DURON, LVNNURSING TEAM
- ALYSSHA GRIMM, LVNNURSING TEAM
- LAUREN TATE, LVNNURSING TEAM
- TERESA GROVER, RNNURSING TEAM
- DEBBIE CHAVEZ, RNNURSING TEAM
- KRISTIE ENGELING, RNNURSING TEAM
CLINICAL TEAM
(click profile to view full bios)
- DR. JOANNE KETCH, LPC - S, LMFT - S, LCDCCLINICAL DIRECTORDR. JOANNE KETCH, LPC - S, LMFT - S, LCDCCLINICAL DIRECTOR
Joanne returned to school at age 40 to earn her master’s of counseling. She graduated summa cum laude in 2011 and quickly passed the licensing exams for Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC). She later became a board-certified supervisor for both LPCs and LMFTs and added the Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) certification. In 2019, Joanne returned to school to begin work on her doctorate, graduating with recognition of doctoral academic excellence in 2022 as a Doctor of Professional Counseling with a specialty in addictive and compulsive behaviors.
Joanne has been the program manager for The Right Step Intensive Outpatient Programs, opened the Katy satellite of Bo’s Place bereavement support, been a care advocate for Optum, worked as a Licensed Professional of the Healing Arts at the NeuroPsychiatricCenter (NPC) at The Harris Center and was the assistant principal/school counselor at a small college prep private school in Katy, Texas. In her private practice, Joanne treats the clients and families of professionals, executives, managers and business owners who have a substance use disorder. Additionally, Joanne specializes in treating first responders such as law enforcement, military, firefighters and EMS.
Prior to earning her master’s in counseling, Joanne earned a BA in English and BA in business, worked in restaurant management and management consulting, owned 2 licensed daycares and was the site director for the YMCA afterschool program.
Joanne is a certified advanced meditation and mindfulness teacher, a certified Tai Chi EZ practice leader and a certified Appreciative Living Practice Leader. She is also completing certification as a positive psychology coach. Joanne has presented at conferences, given many continuing education presentations to professional peers and is published widely on the topic of substance use disorder and recovery.
- ROBERT HILLIKER, PhD, LCSW‑S, LCDCCHIEF CLINICAL OFFICERROBERT HILLIKER, PhD, LCSW‑S, LCDCCHIEF CLINICAL OFFICER
Robert is driven by a deep commitment to serve others, and is passionate about the subject of hope and despair in clinical treatment. His 17 years in the field of addiction and mental health encompass private practice, clinical supervision, the creation and management of clinical programming, the co-founding of The Lovett Center in 2014 and the co-founding of Ethos in 2018.
Throughout his educational and professional careers, Robert has gained valuable experience and impactful recognitions. He earned his Master’s degree from the University of Houston’s Graduate College of Social Work, which went on to honor him as a 50 for 50 Alumni in 2019 for embodying the college’s social justice vision. Robert’s education includes a fellowship at the Center for Psychoanalytic Studies and a Postgraduate Social Work Fellowship at The Menninger Clinic, while his resume includes long standing leadership positions at The Daring Way, The Council on Alcohol and Drugs Houston and The Menninger Clinic. At the latter, he earned a Menninger Clinic Pillar Award for Integrity for his work in the Professionals in Crisis Program, an honor meant to recognize those who best exemplify Menninger’s core values: excellence, teamwork, hope, integrity and caring. The Houston Business Journal named Robert a 40 Under 40 Class of 2018 Honoree.
- CECI HUDSON TORN, DSW, LPC-ALEAD THERAPISTCECI HUDSON TORN, DSW, LPC-ALEAD THERAPIST
An exemplary, long-spanning career in mental health and finance has put person-centered-care at the heart of Ceci’s work. She has gathered a wealth of experience at one of the nation’s largest residential summer camps, which provides her with a unique lens to approach treatment in a residential setting. Ceci received her master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health from Wake Forest University, as well as her Doctorate of Social Work from the University of Southern California with a focus on building behavioral health in adolescents and young adults. Since co-founding Ethos Behavioral Health Group in 2018, Ceci now spends her time providing clinical services and business leadership across all Ethos healing centers as a Licensed Mental Health Professional and Ethos’ Chief Operations Officer. She and her husband Chris are continuing to serve children and families with the launch of Camp OTX in the Texas Hill Country, all while raising 5 children of their own.
- ALANA SMITH, LCSW, LCDCFAMILY THERAPIST/PRAIRIE FAMILY PROGRAM DEVELOPMENTALANA SMITH, LCSW, LCDCFAMILY THERAPIST/PRAIRIE FAMILY PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT
Alana Smith is a graduate of the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work. Her career has been dedicated to the treatment of those with substance use disorder (SUD) and the corresponding impact on families.
At national conferences, Alana has presented on aspects of denial, grief and family healing as related to SUD. In residential treatment centers, she has served as clinical director and family program director and has had various roles in program development and staff training. Currently with a Texas-based private practice, she has also developed the family program and facilitates family therapy for us here at The Prairie Recovery Center.
Alana’s clinical training in Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP) and Coherence Therapy informs her work with those impacted by SUD to move beyond a mere behavioral approach into one that is more emotionally experiential and healing-focused.
In 2018, Alana completed a year long travel and volunteerism sabbatical which included traversing India and trekking in Nepal. She currently lives in San Diego, CA.
- SHAWN SLOBE, LMSWSTAFF THERAPISTSHAWN SLOBE, LMSWSTAFF THERAPIST
BIO COMING SOON
- OLIVIA BERKLEY, LMSWSTAFF THERAPISTOLIVIA BERKLEY, LMSWSTAFF THERAPIST
Bio Coming Soon
- MATT RUSSELLSPIRITUAL CAREMATT RUSSELLSPIRITUAL CARE
BIO COMING SOON
- TYLER WARD, LCDCSTAFF THERAPISTTYLER WARD, LCDCSTAFF THERAPIST
- HENDERSON SMITHQUIGONG & TAI CHI INSTRUCTORHENDERSON SMITHQUIGONG & TAI CHI INSTRUCTOR
PATIENT CARE ASSISTANTS
- JAIME SPARKS-SMITHPATIENT CARE ASSISTANTJAIME SPARKS-SMITHPATIENT CARE ASSISTANT
- LEIGH PAGEPATIENT CARE ASSISTANTLEIGH PAGEPATIENT CARE ASSISTANT
- GARI BETH CHRISTENSENPATIENT CARE ASSISTANTGARI BETH CHRISTENSENPATIENT CARE ASSISTANT
- JAMES JOHNSONPATIENT CARE ASSISTANTJAMES JOHNSONPATIENT CARE ASSISTANT
- JOSH ARNOLDPATIENT CARE ASSISTANTJOSH ARNOLDPATIENT CARE ASSISTANT
- LESLIE HIENTSCHELPATIENT CARE ASSISTANTLESLIE HIENTSCHELPATIENT CARE ASSISTANT
- ALEXYS FINKEPATIENT CARE ASSISTANTALEXYS FINKEPATIENT CARE ASSISTANT
- MARIA RIVASPATIENT CARE ASSISTANTMARIA RIVASPATIENT CARE ASSISTANT
FACILITIES & HOSPITALITY
- DANNY RIEBELINGFACILITIES DIRECTORDANNY RIEBELINGFACILITIES DIRECTOR
Danny learned carpentry from his father at an early age, which eventually led to his expertise in the field. Over the course of his career, he has had the opportunity to construct, remodel, reshape and transform diverse spaces in Houston’s Medical Center, the historic Houston Heights and Round Top.
Daniel currently resides at his country place in Fayette County with his wife Andrea and their dog Glory. He is involved with various fundraisers in the Round Top area, among them the Family Library. His many interests include gardening, cooking, music, social gatherings and volunteer work.
- KATIE EDENFIELDHOSPITALITY
- KEITH PARKERFACILITIES
- LESLIE KENTHOSPITATLITY
CULINARY TEAM
- LANCE FEGENDIRECTOR OF OPERATIONSLANCE FEGENDIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Bio coming soon
- BRIANNA KRAEMERCULINARY TEAM
- LINDA LAAKECULINARY TEAM