Laura’s first day sober was here at Casa Pacifica Women in july of 2009. Laura had gone to a residential treatment program in 2006 but wanted to go home and wouldn’t agree to follow her 30 days in treatment up with sober living and relapsed a few weeks out of treatment. After 3 more years of a very destructive and miserable existence, she found her way to Casa Pacifica Women. A few years into her recovery, she became the house manager and over the past several years, Laura has worked closely with hundreds of women and is extremely passionate about bringing women hope, support and encouragement on their individual roads to finding the way back to loving themselves. Laura’s primary purpose in life is to empower and support every woman she meets in finding the courage to do the work to find the beautiful peace and love within themselves.

Personal Testimonial: Casa Pacifica holds a very special place in my heart. Something magical happened for me the day that I first visited the Solana Beach home and spoke to Laura; I felt unconditional love and support. The women of Casa Pacifica helped me learn to laugh again they taught me how to love myself. For that I am forever grateful. ~ Nicole C.

Laura started drinking and using at 24 years old and drank and used for 16 years. At the age of 40, Laura went into a long-term treatment program and during her time there made the decision to become an AOD. She did that work for 25 years at a local treatment center and made the decision to retire to enjoy her golden years and spend time with her grandchildren. However, her passion for guiding and supporting women was too strong to resist when the opportunity to work part-time with Casa Pacifica Women came along. We are now blessed with Laura sharing her 32 years of recovery wisdom, her strong faith in a power greater than herself, and a kindness that lights up everyone around her to our ladies at Casa Pacifica.

After many years of being chained by addiction, I have now dedicated my life to helping others find the freedom that I have found in recovery. I am a licensed breathwork facilitator, a certified substance use disorder counselor, and a health/wellness/relationship coach. After going through Casa Pacifica myself, nothing brings me greater joy than to give back to their community. I offer the women breathwork, counseling, reiki, and sound healing and create a space that encourages genuine healing. My mission is to empower women to reconnect with their true selves and live the lives they were always meant to.

Denise started her path to fitness in the 80’s. Inspired by an innate drive to live a life of health and fitness, Denise teaches a variety of classes that include Cardio, Strength, Yoga, Pilates and Cycle. With a Bachelors in Kinesiology & a Masters in nursing, Denise’s knowledge of the human body is apparent in her classes. Proper alignment and safety are key. Each student is considered individual and unique. AFAA and Yoga certified, she teaches a variety of classes all of which are inspired by a “have fun” attitude and get a great workout! Her classes are energetic, motivating, and tailored for all levels. Guided by many masters of Yoga, and a background of fitness & Ashtanga Yoga, she brings a strong yet graceful blend to the yoga practice. She combines a variety of styles of yoga into her Vinyasa Yoga class. Each Yoga practice includes focus on the breath (Pranayama), the core teachings of asana (Postures), and meditation (Focus/Concentration). Yoga is a lifestyle for Denise. She teaches Yoga with sensitivity and passion for the art. The opportunity to share her love for healthy living, Yoga, and fitness is a privilege for Denise.

We know how therapeutic dogs can be, so we went all the way to Arkansas to find the best of the best. Change and Jagger are ten months old, and their sole purpose in life is to love and bring smiles and support to everyone they meet.

My passion for helping women in recovery has grown stronger with each passing day. I remember when I first got sober, I felt so alone. lost and scared. But as I began to connect with other women who were going through similar struggles. I realized that I wasn’t alone and that there was a whole community of women who were fighting the same battle.

My purpose is to continue to carry the message of recovery. To bring love and compassion to those who are struggling and to be a beacon of hope in a world that can sometimes feel dark and hopeless. It’s not about saving the world, or changing the lives of millions, it’s about making a difference, one woman at a time. And that for me is the greatest gift of all.