Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Stein.
Hi Rachel, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Rachel Stein, LPC-S and LCDC, founded Awkward Recovery as a modern, trauma-informed Intensive Outpatient Program that grew out of her private practice, Atomic Souls Counseling, after recognizing how many people leaving treatment needed ongoing support, community, and real-life tools to stay sober. With a background in EMDR, addiction work, and inclusive mental-health care, she built Awkward Recovery to challenge outdated, dry clinical recovery models and instead create a space that blends evidence-based therapy, authentic connection, and modern recovery culture. Under her leadership, the program has expanded into a community-centered IOP offering group therapy, individual therapy, case management, and holistic mental-health support for diverse clients—positioning Awkward Recovery as a fresh, accessible, and highly effective alternative for people seeking long-term healing and relatable, real-world recovery.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Along the way, Rachel faced the messy, unglamorous side of building a recovery program from scratch—learning to balance high-quality clinical care with the human, relatable approach she knows clients need. Navigating Texas facility licensure with its maze of regulations and inspections, and pushing through the intense process of earning Joint Commission accreditation to ensure Awkward Recovery met the highest standards in the field. She also had to grow into a leadership role that demanded compassionate mentorship, boundaries, and the ability to guide a team through both clinical complexity and the emotional exhaustion that comes from working in treatment. At the same time, she remained committed to making treatment accessible to people from all walks of life, working to dismantle barriers around stigma, cost, culture, identity, and recovery style. These challenges—bureaucratic, emotional, and deeply personal—ultimately shaped Awkward Recovery into a program known not only for its clinical excellence, but for its authenticity, inclusivity, and heart.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
In my work with Awkward Recovery, I specialize in blending trauma-informed mental health treatment with addiction recovery in a way that feels real, engaging, and deeply human. I focus on creating accessible, culturally relevant care that integrates evidence-based modalities like EMDR, DBT, CBT, and parts work (IFS) with community, humor, and authentic connection. I’m known for designing treatment spaces that don’t feel clinical or intimidating—places where people can show up exactly as they are, drop the shame, and actually heal. I’m most proud of building an IOP that treats the whole person, not just the symptoms, and of developing a team culture grounded in compassionate leadership, transparency, and mentorship. What sets Awkward Recovery apart is our refusal to choose between clinical excellence and human relatability; we deliver both. We provide high-quality mental health and addiction treatment while also embracing authenticity, inclusivity, and cultural relevance—creating a program where people from all walks of life can truly belong and recover.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
None of this has been a solo journey, and the people beside me deserve just as much credit as I do. My husband, Mike Stein—our CFO and resident marketing genius—has been the strategic backbone of Awkward Recovery, blending sharp financial insight with creative problem-solving to keep us stable, scalable, and always growing.
Our CEO, Scott Smith, is the reliable, gruff “get things done” force who keeps operations tight and even gets insurance companies to pay us—but his real impact comes from his coaching-style leadership. He pushes the team to grow with direct honesty, high expectations, and a surprising amount of heart, creating a culture where people level up and the business stays solid so the clinical magic can happen.
And Laurie Pettis, our Lead Clinician, is the heart and fire of the clinical floor—an unapologetic Enneagram 8 who leads with strength, loyalty, and zero fear of hard conversations. She manages the day-to-day with a fierce protectiveness over both clients and staff, steering the team through chaos with a mix of grit, clarity, and deeply grounded compassion. Laurie makes sure everyone who walks through our doors gets the real, steady, no-nonsense care that defines Awkward Recovery.
Awkward Recovery exists in its fullest form because of this team and the way we each bring something essential to the table.
Pricing:
- We take most In-Network- Insurance polices, all Out-of-Network insurance policies, and we can do payment plans for cash pay clients.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.awkwardrecovery.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awkward_recovery?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/atomicsouls
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelstein-/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@atomic_souls
Image Credits
some images by Ricky Clack with Apex Studios (https://www.apexstudios.net/)
