Alpha Team

The Short
Nico Doorn serves as Executive Director, guiding our vision, values, and culture. Nico views his personal mission as creating healing communities and has been pursuing this goal for over a dozen years as a mental health professional. He has three kids, a fiery wife, and is guaranteed to mention his love for running within five minutes of meeting.

The Long
Nico was born in ‘s Hertogenbosch, Netherlands, but grew up in North Carolina. His multicultural upbringing, as well as being raised in a split household as an only child, made Nico an observant and curious person. After struggling with severe mental health and addiction issues as a teen, he sought to answer the question he had long been pondering: How do you become truly happy?

Upon finding sustained recovery at age twenty, with only a ninth-grade education, Nico decided he needed to make some changes. He embraced a welcoming recovery community, learned how to hold a job, and decided to pursue a college education.

Ultimately, Nico went on to graduate as valedictorian with a BA in Psychology from Lipscomb University and with highest honors with an M.Ed. in Human Development Studies from Vanderbilt University, both in Nashville, Tennessee. Nico has held roles ranging from clinical care and admissions to business development and executive leadership, developing multiple young adult programs for residential treatment centers, outpatient treatment centers, and college campuses. He serves on the board for the Young Adult Transition Association, the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers’ conference committee, and gave a TEDx talk.

Today, Nico takes incredible pride in ensuring every family Alpha serves is warmly welcomed into our community. Nico is obsessed with his three kids Aedin (16), Bodhi (4), and Lhotse (2), as well as running. He’s completed multiple marathons (PR 2:58:14) and ultramarathons and leads The Outliers, a run club supporting mental health here in Austin. He’s found his answer to how to become truly happy: challenge yourself to be your best every day while surrounded by people that love you.

Podcasts:
Cumberland Heights Podcast with Dr. Nick Hayes
Success is Subjective with Joanna Lilley
Talksicology with Joseph Gorrordo 
The Business of Human Flourishing with Tripp Johnson 
Curiously Enough 

TEDx:
Hiding in Plain Sight: College Student in Recovery 

Affiliations
Board of Directors, Young Adult Transitions Association yata.net
Mental Health Advisory Committee, Austin Sunshine Camps 
Board Member, Help Out Loud: Compassionate Support for Addiction Professionals
Founder, Outliers Run Club instagram.com/outliersatx/?hl=en
Supporter, Not a Glum Lot wearenotglum.org
Ambassador, Bigger Than the Trail bttt.run
Runner, strava.com

The Short:

Wes Ward, a founding team member at Alpha, is responsible for all administrative functions of the company including finance, human resources, and operations. Wes has worked in the addiction treatment field for the past fifteen years and is passionate about helping people get well and go on to lead incredible lives. Wes lives in Austin with his wife Veronica and their son Wilder.

The Long:

Wes grew up in Texas with his parents and older brother. Wes’s teenage years were primarily spent struggling with substance use. At the age of 18, he was given the option to go to treatment and, thankfully, not only decided to go, but embraced recovery. Wes spent the next ten years balancing recovery, work, and school. He graduated from Schreiner University with a B.A. in Humanities and then received his M.B.A. with a focus in Human Resources Management from Texas State University. Soon after graduating, he started working with Bobby, Nico and the rest of the team to create the Alpha program.

While Wes was in college, it felt like a job, and his community were his friends in recovery outside of school. Going to college in recovery should not be an isolating experience. He wanted to create a space where individuals could find purpose, achieve their goals, and feel a part of a group of like-minded friends. Wes is passionate about organizational health, work/life balance, and staff development. He spends the time he is not at Alpha with his wife Veronica, in architecture, and his toddler Wilder, in demolition. Wes likes traveling to places with mountains and collecting hobbies.

The Short:
Elizabeth Rolfe oversees client care, family services, and our clinical and residential staff. She is regularly at the office with her miniature Pomerianian, Birdie. They both support clients, staff, and anyone who barges into their office. Elizabeth enjoys exercising, spending time with her family, and camping.

The Long:

Elizabeth was born in Louisiana and was raised in Pueblo, Colorado. She has two younger brothers and had an amazing childhood filled with love, animals, the outdoors, and adventures. Despite a wonderful upbringing, Elizabeth found herself in residential treatment at the age of 17. Her family supported her recovery and provided her with a long-term treatment experience from which she has been sober since. During this time, she identified a deep passion for wellness and helping others heal. She obtained her bachelor’s degree from The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton, TX. Subsequently, she moved back to Colorado to pursue her Masters in Transpersonal Counseling Psychology and Art Therapy from Naropa University in Boulder. Elizabeth has worked in a variety of therapeutic settings. These settings include community mental health, judicial, residential, outpatient, and sober living. She began working at Alpha 180 in May 2021 after seven years as the Men’s Program Manager and Clinical Director for another local treatment center. She is trained in Art Therapy and EMDR. She is passionate about young adult recovery, staff culture, supervision, and empowering clients and staff to discover and fulfill their potential.

During her academic and career growth, she has balanced a personal life that has flourished into a small family. She has improved and maintained relationships with her parents and brothers, watched several extended and direct family members find sobriety, and has enjoyed ongoing personal growth and development. She lives in Austin, TX with her husband, two daughters, and dog Birdie. In their free time they enjoy going on trips, playing, and making art.

The Short:

Amanda Allard started work at Alpha as an Art Therapy intern from Saint-Mary-of-the-Woods College. Her passion for making art and finding beauty in life led her on a path to helping individuals with addictions and the loved ones of those with addictions. Amanda creates art, finds ways to be in the Texas sunshine, and researches magic, monsters, and life with her 6-year old daughter.

The Long:

Amanda is “Navy Brat,” born in Virginia Beach, Virginia, but considers her heart’s home to be Gainesville, Florida. She started at the University of Florida as an architecture student, and ended up with degrees in History and Criminology & Law. She continued her graduate studies in History of Science at Florida. Amanda has been teaching history to all ages since 2007. In 2018, she returned to a first love of creating with her hands, and entered the Master of Art Therapy Program at Saint-Mary-of-the-Woods College, a hybrid program out of Indiana.

One of Amanda’s mantras is “because survival is insufficient,” a central theme of Emily St. John Mandel’s Station Eleven. This is her reminder that life is awe-some and worth living. It also reminds her of what she should do while living: find the beauty and make the beauty. Scientists might say that humans have families because they want parts of themselves to survive beyond them. Amanda believes that humans need more than that; we need beautiful things even when the world seems ugly, frightening, and difficult. Amanda found Alpha’s message to “Inspire Transformation” to hold the same meaning and purpose that she seeks in her own life.

The Short: 

Christi Goll Primary Adolescent Therapist at Alpha 180. She is passionate about helping individuals with co-occurring disorders identify their intrinsic strengths and learn to cultivate fulfilling and rewarding lives. On the macro level, Christi is a fierce advocate for increased access to substance use and mental health services, and reducing stigma attached to treatment. Christi loves being active outside with her dog, exploring the Austin food scene, and scavenging local thrift stores for vintage finds. 

The Long: 

Christi was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona and is an only child. Growing up, she loved dance and art, and spent the weekends working at her dad’s area rug business. Christi’s high school years were a challenge, and she subsequently turned to drugs, as it was the only way she knew how to cope with her unresolved trauma, anxiety, and depression. Her substance use led to legal issues at 18, which she identifies as her “saving grace”, providing her the rigid structure she needed to change the trajectory of her life for the better. Once she completed her drug court program, she knew her life’s calling would be to help others navigate their own times of turmoil.  

Christi received her Bachelor of Social Work from Arizona State University in 2018 and at the time believed this was the end of her college road – as a first generation college graduate, a post-graduate education felt like an unattainable pipe dream. However, two years later, with encouragement from her therapist and her dreams of being a therapist still intact, she began a Master of Social Work program at Texas State University. Upon graduation, Christi began her first clinical job as a therapist at an acute psychiatric facility. Prior to the start of her clinical career, Christi worked in various roles with a diverse range of populations, including unhoused youth, families fleeing from domestic violence, individuals pursuing substance use treatment, and those navigating debilitating and acute mental health disorders. 

Since joining the Alpha team, Christi feels gratitude for being a part of a team dedicated to providing ethical and evidence-based services through the model of experiential attachment therapy, helping clients learn to live fun and fulfilling lives.  

The Short: 

Isabella, a native Austinite, serves as a Primary Therapist employing Attachment Theory and the Transtheoretical Stages of Change model to meet clients exactly where they are in their journey. Beyond her professional role, Isabella is passionate about various activities, including fishing, taking her dogs (Cornbread and Sturgill) on hikes, cooking with her fiancé, and indulging in a good book while lounging at Barton Springs.

The Long: 

Isabella was born in Austin, Texas, into a close-knit family with two brothers and loving parents. Her childhood was filled with visits to the parks and pools of Austin, as well as trips to Mexico to spend time with extended family. She also enjoyed playful moments, rolling around in office chairs at her dad’s east Austin photography studio.
Isabella’s passion for mental health blossomed during high school. Despite her initial plans for a career in fine arts, she found herself grappling with debilitating anxiety and depression. Inspired by her transformative experience with a therapist, Isabella decided to dedicate herself to helping others with similar experiences. Following her high school graduation, she pursued her education at Naropa University in Boulder, CO, majoring in Ceramics and Visual Arts with a minor in Psychology.
Returning to her hometown of Austin, Isabella embarked on her journey to earn a Master of Social Work at Texas State University. During this time, she interned at Austin State Hospital, where she immersed herself in a challenging yet rewarding environment. Working closely with clients facing severe mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorders, Isabella honed her skills in providing compassionate and effective support. Her internship not only deepened her understanding of mental health issues but also strengthened her commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of those struggling with these challenges.

The Short

Eric is a recovering lawyer and a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate under the Supervision of Lisa Blackwood, LPC-S, LCDC. Thirty years of practicing family law has given him a special insight into how substance abuse affects families. He is passionate about helping others transition away from what holds them back from living a more meaningful and rewarding life.

The Long

Eric is an adult child of an alcoholic and has seen first-hand how addiction and substance abuse can destroy the healthy dynamics of family life. While pursuing doctoral studies in psychology, he was lured away by the law, where he spent many years representing people in divorce and child-custody cases. He took a sharp left turn and went back to school to become what he originally intended—a therapist. He brings a nonjudgmental and practical approach to his work as a therapist utilizing a number of therapy modalities to help clients reach their full potential.

Eric has a master’s degree in psychology from the University of Texas at Arlington, a Juris Doctorate from South Texas College of Law, and he holds a Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling from the Seminary of the Southwest. He believes that, although it may be difficult and painful, change is always possible.

The Short:

Meredith Meurer is the Clinical Program Manager at Alpha 180. She is passionate about helping individuals achieve their goals and live a fulfilling life outside of the confines of mental health and substance use challenges. Meredith loves spending time in the Texas Hill Country with her husband, some delicious Tex-Mex and a good 90s R&B playlist.

The Long:

Meredith was born in Casper, Wyoming and grew up in the suburbs of Houston, Texas with her parents and younger sister, Kristen. Growing up, Meredith played the piano, was an en pointe ballerina and worked for her father’s oil and gas company in high school. She experienced challenges during her high school years and saw a therapist who changed her life and influenced her career to this day. During college, Meredith turned to drugs and alcohol as a maladaptive coping mechanism for trauma she experienced. This time of pain and turmoil has fueled her passion for helping others who struggle like she did. She models her career after one of her favorite quotes by Henri Nouwen which says, “when our wounds cease to be a source of shame, and become a source of healing, we become wounded healers”.

Meredith studied psychology in undergraduate school and has a Master’s degree in professional counseling. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor. After school, Meredith spent the last decade working at a non-profit adolescent treatment program, working with underserved teens who struggled with substance use and mental health disorders. During this time, she filled several roles including Therapist, Clinical Supervisor and Program Director. Since joining the Alpha team as Clinical Program Manager, Meredith has been so grateful to be part of a team that is so positive and supportive. She’s excited to bring her passion for helping others, experience in creating and supporting a safe, therapeutic and healthy milieu and provide leadership to our team!

The Short:

Dantley Robison leads the Alpha Launch Program, which assists clients in accomplishing their academic, financial, and employment goals. He enjoys traveling the globe with his wife and daughter, trying to figure out crossword puzzles and maintaining a healthy body & mind. Dantley and his family live in Austin, TX.

The Long:

Dantley spent his first 21 years in small-town Indiana, but has considered Austin his home for the last 13 years. In leading the Alpha Launch Program, Dantley meets with clients to help them set their individual academic, financial and/or employment goals. He coaches them through the logistical and mental hurdles that arise and provides them with necessary resources to attain these objectives. Dantley ensures that every client who passes through Alpha departs with essential life skills that keep them on the path towards wellness and fulfillment.

Having taken a winding path in life, he knows the value in setting goals and taking incremental steps to achieve them. Personally, he’s been witness to hard work paying off as a first-generation college student and a graduate from St. Edward’s University with a BA in Sociology. His passion toward addiction recovery and helping others become the best version of themselves has led him to the Alpha community and treating chemical dependency. Dantley enjoys quality time with his wife, Sarah, daughter, Ophelia, and English Bulldog, Chowder. You can often find him visiting hidden gems of the world, enjoying smoothies from Juiceland, or laughing at dad jokes.

The Short:

Chris serves as an Outreach Coordinator at Alpha. Originally from San Diego, Chris currently resides in Cedar Park, TX. She enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and three cats. She is a mother of four and the wife of one. A fun fact: she also holds an elected position and serves as a school board trustee and board Secretary for the Leander Independent School District.

The Long:

Chris was born in San Diego, CA; her family was among the founding families of the county’s first city. She attended Point Loma High School (go Pointers) and Cal State Long Beach. Her education was briefly interrupted when she became a young mother at 20 years old. She was a single parent for seven years before meeting her husband, Bill, and they tied the knot in 2000. After their marriage, Bill formally adopted her eldest child, making him a Mauer, and they welcomed three more children into their lives. In 2004, Bill’s job led them from Oceanside, CA, to the Austin, TX area, where he continued his software engineering career, and Chris dedicated her time to raising their children.
Having experienced the challenges of parenting a teen with mental health issues, Chris brings a wealth of knowledge to her position at Alpha. She has worked both in the public school system and the non-profit sector. Her passion lies in making the world a better place, one family at a time. Chris is particularly dedicated to supporting all youth, with a special focus on the LGBTQIA+ community. She is an active member of Free Mom Hugs of Austin and Cedar Park Pride, where she offers comforting embraces to those in need. Chris recently joined the team and is excited about spreading the word about our services, especially those for teens, to the wider community.

The Short:
A calling for helping others, and working in diverse communities, Courtney’s years of experience include proven success in business growth in operations and program development roles, for both start-up and established organizations, and for all levels of care. Courtney currently enjoys leading the Residential Team at Alpha 180 and spending as much time with the clients as possible. 

The Long:
William Hennessey has held multiple roles at Alpha, perhaps most importantly, a former client whose life was transformed by this community. Now our Residential Manager, Will wears many hats around the building, but primarily manages the Sober Living and everything that goes into keeping it clean and safe. Will also works with our local alumni and helps to keep them involved with Alpha after departing the program.

Courtney was born in Sydney, Australia to an incredibly loving family. Since a young age, Courtney has always had a kind and loving spirit. She was always busy competing in as many sports as possible. When Courtney was not practicing or at a competition, you would easily find her surrounded by many friends, laughing, and telling every joke possible.
Despite having such a great upbringing, Courtney was faced with many life challenges, leading her to receive help in Residential Treatment. Courtney quickly found her calling once completing her residential stay. She then started to get heavily involved in the AA Community as well as other Sober Support Groups. This led Courtney to enjoy motivational speaking inspired by personal experience and empathy for others.
Courtney’s true passion is having the ability to work daily with individuals that are currently struggling with substance abuse as well as mental health challenges. Furthermore, she is driven by helping others in their battle to overcome challenges with addiction as they sustain sobriety.

The Short:

Riley works for Alpha’s Residential department. His primary job is to ensure that the clients at Alpha have the smoothest experience possible in their early recovery. This may mean facilitating groups, helping the guys learn new life skills, or just providing a listening ear. Outside of work, he is enrolled in school at Austin Community College, and in what little free time he has, enjoys playing chess, reading about history, and playing ping pong.

The Long:
Riley was born and lived the first 20 years of his life in Waco, Texas. After being introduced to drugs and alcohol in college, he quickly learned what it meant to be powerless in his own life and eventually had to drop out of Baylor University. At age 20, he was introduced to recovery in 2019 when he attended a 90-day residential treatment center and then moved to Austin. After a lot of soul-searching, he made the decision to remain in Austin and start a new life instead of returning to Waco. He worked odd jobs for his first year in Austin before finding a place working in the addiction treatment industry, where he gained a passion for sharing his experience with others and helping them rebuild their lives and become the people they want to be.

A life of sobriety has also enabled him to gain a fuller appreciation for the world and the potential that each individual has to become fully self-actualized. He is an active participant at many local recovery groups and wants to help build a flourishing community of sober people who can rely on one another for support and advice. His private and professional life reflect a desire to help make the world a better place, one individual life at a time.

Riley also has a passion for animals and the natural world. After becoming disillusioned with his previous field of study, Riley decided to re-enroll in school to pursue a degree in biology. His long-term goal is to be admitted to a biology PhD program and become a researcher at a museum or university.

The Short
Jacob Wilson is a dedicated House Manager in the Alpha 180 Transitional Living Program. He ensures accountability and provides exceptional care for community members on their recovery journey. With a passion for nature, Jacob finds solace in hiking trails and maintains his well-being through regular workouts. His love for animals and hobby of coding video games showcase his diverse interests. Jacob aspires to grow at Alpha while continuing to deliver quality care and support to the community.

The Long:
Jacob Wilson is a valued member of the Alpha team, serving as a Resident Advisor within the Transitional Living Program. In his role, Jacob oversees the sober living environment, ensuring accountability and providing the necessary support for individuals on their recovery journey. His commitment to growth and delivering exceptional care to each community member is unwavering, making him an integral part of the Alpha 180 team.

Hailing from rural Missouri, Jacob’s roots as a farm boy have instilled in him a strong work ethic and a down-to-earth nature. Despite his humble beginnings, Jacob harbors ambitious aspirations for his future, constantly seeking avenues for personal and professional development. With his extensive knowledge and active involvement in the 12-step community, he brings valuable insights and a wealth of experience to his role, enabling him to offer comprehensive assistance to those in need.

Outside of his professional responsibilities, Jacob finds solace and joy in connecting with nature. Exploring hiking trails and immersing himself in the beauty of the natural world allows him to rejuvenate and find balance. Furthermore, his dedication to personal well-being extends to his fitness journey, as he actively engages in working out to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Beyond his affinity for nature and fitness, Jacob holds a deep passion for animal welfare. Caring for animals has always held a special place in his heart, and he actively seeks opportunities to contribute to their well-being. In his free time, Jacob used to indulge in coding video games, showcasing his creativity and technical skills in the digital realm.

As Jacob Wilson continues to grow within the Alpha community, his unwavering dedication to supporting individuals on their recovery journey remains his driving force. With his caring nature, commitment to personal development, and diverse range of interests, Jacob exemplifies the spirit of compassion and empowerment that defines Alpha’s mission.

Bio coming soon.

AcuDetox: Acudetox is a five-point acupuncture technique that has been proven to reduce cravings and alleviate withdrawal symptoms. The process involves gentle insertion of acupuncture needles in specific ear points, which helps relax the nervous system, balance energy levels in the body, and calm emotions.

Emily O’Shea obtained a Master of Science in Social Work from The University of Texas at Austin in 2001. She has done clinical work with individuals, families, and groups in the Austin area in a variety of capacities. She has her medical license in acudetox to aid clients in the reduction of cravings and symptoms of withdrawal.

Ms. O’Shea is passionate about working with clients to help them achieve their goals and live their very best lives. She brings humor, long term recovery experience, and compassion to the therapeutic relationship.

Ashley Monical is a singer-songwriter based in Austin,TX. After a multi-year hiatus, she is back bringing her songs to the stage again. Americana is the genre that best describes her sound. She’s been compared to the likes of Bonnie Raitt, Cheryl Crow, and Patty Griffin – just to name a few. Texas roots with a worldly perspective, Ashley has a deep love for humanity which is revealed through her songwriting and heart-bearing, authentic stage presence. With her grounded and raw approach, Ashley’s voice and songs have the ability to pierce into the emotions of those willing to let their guard down a little bit.

Along with her public career, Ashley is also the founder of Song Healing Recovery Groups. She’s been writing songs for nearly 2 decades and has been sober since 2012. Throughout her sobriety journey she’s written many songs about the ups and downs of life, healing, and discovering the complexities of humanity. In 2017 she began leading groups in drug and alcohol treatment centers. Serving the recovery community is a passion that Ashley holds near and dear to her heart.

Part of her mission is to share hope, strength, and connection with folks on their recovery path from addiction.

Facing The Shadow, released in 2015, was her debut album. She’s excited to release new music in 2024.

You can find her on IG: @ashleymonical

The Short:
Birdie Rolfe is inarguably the most important team member at Alpha where she focuses on delivering comfort, joy, and cuddles to everyone she meets.

Her primary duties include bringing smiles, eliciting high-pitched baby voices from adults, and supporting clients when big feelings arise.

The Long:
Birdie is a 5-lb Pomeranian who has been at Alpha since January 2022. She began her job at a mere 12-weeks old and is sorely missed when she is not in the office. She regularly has a smile on her face and loves everyone she meets.

Birdie’s favorite things are retrieving small toys, snuggling in people’s laps, and patrolling the ground for crumbs. When Birdie is not in the office, she is at home spending time playing with two young girls or she can be found perched atop a couch monitoring the yard for squirrels.

Though Birdie is small in stature she loves being outdoors and enjoys swimming in lakes, chasing aforementioned squirrels, and eating bugs. She is curious, mouthy and has never met a snack she didn’t like.

Prior to the launch of Alpha 180™, Bob Ferguson has served as founder and CEO of Jaywalker Lodge since 2004. Jaywalker Lodge is an extended care residential treatment and recovery community for men located in Carbondale, CO. Before that, Bob served for over 10 years in senior management positions at a number of the leading treatment providers in the addiction & recovery field including: Jaywalker Lodge, Promises Treatment Centers, Crossroads Antigua, and the Hazelden Foundation.

In addition, Bob has served on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP) since 2011. He is currently beginning his second two-year term on the Executive Committee, serving as Secretary for the NAATP Board. Bob also serves as Chairman of the Board for A Way Out, an Aspen-based 501c3 providing crisis referrals and treatment scholarships for families and residents in Western Colorado.

Bob divides his time between Austin, TX and his home in Snowmass Village where he lives with his wife and two college-aged kids. When he’s not at Alpha 180, Bob stays busy as a grateful participant in his own recovery from addiction, which began – one day at a time – on Feb. 12, 1992.