Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Ogburn.
Heather, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Growing up, I had everything I could ask for, I lived on a ranch for most of my childhood then moved to Sweetwater in Sugar Land. My dad was a physician and my mom worked at the Houston Ballet; they gave me the world. Becoming an addict/alcoholic was NOT what I dreamt I’d be when I grew up. I didn’t ask for this. How could a girl who played varsity softball and graduated top 10% from a prestigious high school, went to college, Pre-Med, Honor Society, Dean’s List, raised by a great family (sure we had our problems but who didn’t) suffer in silence for so long? Because addiction can happen to ANYONE.
On the outside life looked perfect, but on the inside, I was dying; physically, emotionally, and spiritually. So desperately trying to be perfect ever since I was a little girl, nothing I did seemed to be good enough — not smart enough, not thin enough, not fast enough. I never felt right inside, never felt I truly belonged.
My parents divorced when I was very young and things got ugly. Because there was so much stigma attached to divorce and dysfunctional families, we trudged forward and acted like everything was ok. My mother suffered from anxiety, depression, and addiction but wouldn’t talk about it. Between the dinner parties and galas were breakdowns and heartache. Medication was always the answer. Didn’t feel good? Take something!
Anxiety and depression seemed to hit me early on. By age 11, I was desperately looking for something to change the way I felt. Being the math whiz kid wasn’t cutting it. Alcohol and marijuana quickly turned into pills, cocaine, and meth. I had to continue to function and appear to have this perfect life, so I carried on by any means necessary. The guilt, shame, and insanity kept fueling the addiction, and I had no clue what was happening to me. I didn’t think I had a problem because I didn’t live on the streets or have an arrest record a mile long. I lived in a nice neighborhood, drove a nice car, had money, and thought I was just having fun.
Then reality hit me right in the face. Addiction had complete control over me. There were only so many pills I could take to numb the pain before it took my where my deepest fears lie and my darkest secrets hide. Before I knew it, I was in the back of a cop car crying, “This isn’t me…”.
This was my saving grace. I ended up in treatment fighting for my freedom, fighting for my life. It was in treatment I learned about the disease of addiction and gained a better understanding of why I was doing what I was doing. Treatment gave me hope and taught me a new way to live without having to self-medicate just to get by.
Recovery has changed my life! I have found a new freedom and true happiness I never knew existed. Recovery has given me back my dignity and self-worth. I have a strong foundation to deal with any obstacle life throws my way. My family is now growing stronger over the years instead of slowly falling apart. I have a career beyond my wildest dreams. Because God gave me a second chance at life, I strive to give back and help others.
It all started with a dream and a mission to make a difference. I have always had a passion to help others, but I was never sure of my purpose until Serenity Light Recovery came to life. I am the Founder & CEO of Serenity Light Recovery, a treatment center located in Angleton, Texas just south of Houston.
A little over four years ago, I began to research and find new ways to reach individuals who are struggling with addiction. I prayed for God’s guidance and He led me to the old Whistler Bed and Breakfast. I remember the very first day I laid my eyes on the beautiful property and the visions for it came flooding in. When I first stepped foot through the front door, I could feel the history and love that surrounded us, and I knew in my heart that this was it! This was the perfect place to get renewed and refreshed, to recover from a hopeless state of mind, body, and spirit. I developed an amazing team of compassionate professionals to join together to make this dream come to life.
It is my hope that Serenity Light Recovery will make a difference in so many lives and set the stage as to what treatment is all about. It’s about taking that Leap of Faith, building trust, being inspired to live again, and making that decision to change.
Being a person in long-term recovery, I understand the difficulties and struggles of a life ridden with addiction. I want them to know that it’s never too late to change and that recovery is possible. Life in recovery can be hard, but it is so beautiful, and I thank God every day for His saving grace.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
No, it has not been a smooth road. Anything that is truly worth it never comes easy. Being so new to this industry there was so much to learn; rules, regulations, and requirements. Start-ups are never easy. Dealing with finances, a timeline for launch and construction delays were definitely tough.
Insurance has been the biggest struggle. Their willingness to approve treatment and the necessary levels of care will continue to be our fight in order to provide people with the best possible care.
All of these obstacles have taught me to be more patient, vigilant and persevere through anything. With every burden, there is a blessing.
If I could offer any advice to other women, it would be to stand true to your vision and dream. Stand tall and confident and walk through any obstacle that stands in your way. Know your self-worth and believe in yourself. Don’t let anybody try to knock you down.
I once had a man tell me “all I see is young and dumb” and I told him “you may see young, but I’m far from dumb and I will accomplish what I set out to do.”
What should we know about Serenity Light Recovery? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Serenity Light Recovery is an all inclusive campus that includes a full medical detox, residential, and IOP programs. We are located on 10+ serene acres in Angleton, TX, just South of Houston. We offer truly individualized treatment to meet each client where they are in their addiction by accommodating the individual’s specific needs. We understand that not “one size fits all.” With a 24-hour admissions staff, SLR is equipped to admit at any time day or night. We offer a 3-day intensive family program to educate and assist the family on addiction to aid in the healing process. Message therapy, yoga, personal training, nutritional assessments, BioSound, private suites and a faith-based track are just a few of the therapeutic amenities available to develop a healthy lifestyle and promote a transformation for a new life free from drugs and alcohol. At Serenity Light Recovery, it is our mission to be a beacon of hope and light for our clients, enabling them to achieve sustainable long-term recovery and providing them with tools to create their own paths to success by extending life-fulfilling resources to achieve true freedom.
We offer the following services:
1. 24 Hour Admissions
2. Adult, Co-ed, 12 Step Based
3. 3-Day Intensive Family Program
4. Private Suites
5. Personal Training & Massage Therapy
6. Yoga, Meditation, Biosound/Biofeedback
7. Service Dog-Friendly
8. Faith Based Track
9. Recovery Coaching for 1 Year Post Discharge
10. Alumni Outreach and Aftercare
There are so many things I am proud of; our people are filled with passion and grace. They surround the clients with love and acceptance while providing truly individualized care. Most importantly how we empower the individuals to change. We won’t give up on our clients.
I am proud of the fact that we think outside the box by utilizing innovation techniques such as our trigger awareness/relapse prevention program which allows our clients to acknowledge internal and external triggers and develop coping skills to prevent relapse and improve quality of life. We are setting the standard for what substance abuse treatment should be by practicing compassion and empathy with our clients. We put the mission before the margin.
What sets us apart is the culture and philosophy of our care.
What do you feel are the biggest barriers today to female leadership, in your industry or generally?
I would say the perception and lack of credentials were the biggest barriers in the beginning. However, as I stood strong and confident overcoming any obstacle, people started to see me for me.
Being a true leader, you build a team of experts who share the same passion and drive to carry out the mission and bring the vision to life.
As a female, it may be difficult to have a voice, but stay confident and speak up.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1820 County Rd 36
Angleton, TX 77515 - Website: www.serenitylightrecovery,com
- Phone: 281-431-6700
- Email: info@serenitylightrecovery.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/serenitylightrecovery/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SerenityLightRecovery/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/SerenityLight36
Original Article: VoyageHouston
