Testimonials
Testimonials
Since opening Grace House in 2010, many of the women who have resided here have humbly provided us with written accounts of their time here and how it impacted their recovery. We're moved by these stories and honored to be a part of these women's journey.
Dear Sarah,
I feel so grateful to be here under your leadership. You have provided me with love, understanding and honest communication. You're honest and clear with your expectations. I, for one, need that, that is not to say to me what I want to hear but rather what I need to hear. You provide me with structure as well.
All my life I placed too much importance on acting "the right way" because of my family's expectations. My parents pushed us hard to be perfection the outside yet continue to keep the family secrets regarding alcoholism, incestuous behavior and violence (physical and emotional)between our parents. We were pushed to become educated and that money was important.
I'm coming up on my 64th birthday and realize that I can still be insightful and be who I really am. I can make mistakes, learn from them and know it is ok not to portray that I'm perfect. Thank you for your honesty and caring and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else but here. Change is hard but it's wonderful that I still have it in me the desire to change for the better.
~Resident Spring 2020
"Undoubtedly, what saved my life is a 12 step process that I had to honestly and thoroughly work through and still do every day."
"Crisp October air engulfed me. Warm heat radiated off the setting sun resting upon my head. Love from my mother surrounded me. Compassion from those who cared; those who saw me at my worst embraced my emotions. I had destroyed any relationships I had. Yet, support, kindness; anything that would enable me to a better life was present. However, I was far from present myself.
Internally, fear possessed my soul. Anxiety, anger, apathy caressed my mind. My main thought was to get into the Grace House so I could either leave or just prove I could go home. My main goal was not to maintain sobriety and have an experience that would forever change me. I was destined for disaster.
Previously to this, things got bad. I decided it was time to “clean up” for a little bit, again. I was broken. My pain scorched through every fiber of my body. Convinced that I would die homeless, hopeless, and abandoning any morals I once had, I didn’t think a better life was possible for me. What I did think is that if I stopped for a little bit, I could get money to continue my journey to nowhere. Deep inside my being, I truly wanted to stop. I wanted to stop when I was sick. I wanted to stop when I was alone. I wanted to stop any time I saw people who loved me beg and cry; but I physically, mentally, and spiritually could not. I was completely blocked and I thought that was how my life would continue until I mumbled my last words.
Undoubtedly, what saved my life is a 12 step process that I had to honestly and thoroughly work though and still do every day. However, I sincerely do not know where I would be today if I didn’t come to the Grace House. The house held my hand through this process while giving me the shove in the right direction when I was hesitant. When I first arrived, if you told me that you would give me a million dollars to continue my sobriety, I did not care. My only thoughts were how I was going to get high and escape from myself. I was irritable, restless, and discontent.
Starting off my day with morning meditation, abiding by rules, and being responsible was not my idea of a good time, especially at nineteen years old. However, these few simple things started the process that saved my life. Skepticism and weariness flooded my thoughts as I saw other woman who had learned how to enjoy life. They were laughing. They were happy. They were ok. I wanted to know how they faked this so well. People always told me to, “fake it until I make it.” I thought they mastered this concept. I was wrong.
After a few weeks at the Grace House, I began to get accustomed to the house. I began to smile; to joke; let my light shine. However, I still was being dishonest and continuing to divulge in my old behaviors. These behaviors became uneasy to me. During meditation, working the program, meeting with my sponsor; I began to feel guilty for things that I would not think I would ever feel guilty for. As my respect for the house, the women living in it, and Sarah Coupe grew; my feelings of uneasiness intensified. I decided to come clean with Sarah around old behaviors and I began to blossom.
In the past, I’ve been in and out of many programs. Honestly, in my experience, I did not grow spiritually. I would be lying if I didn’t say that my knowledge of addiction and my emotional being did not improve, but that was not enough for an addict like me to stay sober. I would have never gotten honest about something which I considered miniscule in those programs. However, this time after getting a taste of real sobriety, something was different. Constant and consistent productive growth towards recovery and a solution is deeply encouraged at the Grace House. I finally did not start to “see” a change in me, I felt it.
Sarah Coupe is an amazing woman. Her compassion to see the women through the house grow and find their inner beauty inspires me. If there is some possible way she can help someone, she will. However, in previous programs I have been in, the boundaries and structure were extremely “flexible.” This is not the case at the Grace House which is why I have the utmost respect for it. No matter who the person is, the rules are the same. However, Sarah goes out of her way to make sure that the women understand the rules and does not give up on them. She is a true power of example whom is constantly searching for ways to be useful and productive while also encouraging the women in the house to do the same. I’ve seen a lot of people that I know talk the talk so much so that they would unquestionably pass a lie detector test. It wasn’t until the Grace House that I saw Sarah and many other women walk the walk without saying a word. That spoke to me in ways that are incomprehensible.
Today, I’m content. I have a better drug than I’ve ever had in my whole entire life. I have a solution which fills my soul. This isn’t a temporary high to fill the impending doom defying me. This is a spiritual solution which I can seek at any time. This is a constant journey and I thought that I would hate being in recovery. I thought it was a miserable life as I had experienced in other sober houses I have been in.
Today, I enjoy helping others. I enjoy getting quiet. I enjoy seeing aspects in my life where I can grow as a person. I have my first real job. I work full time. I pay my rent. I’m on my way to going to college. I’m a daughter. I’m a sister. I’m an aunt. I’m a friend. I’m someone. I’m whole. Finally.”
~ Resident 2013-14
“Sarah, Thank you for who you are and what you do…and taking such good care of my daughter. I know it is still a long road but it is truly the first time in such a long, long time I have felt hope. I know my baby is in good hands. Thank you, thank you – you are an Angel.”
~Love, Deb (Mother of a resident 2014)
“The 9 ½ months I spent in the house were priceless. I made amazing bonds. I learned about love and tolerance, responsibility, accountability, honesty, but most importantly ~ respect for myself and other women. I learned how to ask for help and talk about how I felt for the first time and it couldn’t have happened in a better place.”
~Resident from the opening of Grace House
"I learned how to ask for help and talk about how I felt for the first time and it couldn’t have happened in a better place.”
“My husband and I will never forget the day we dropped our daughter off at the Grace House. She had refused to go at first for many reasons, not the least of which was because our family lives a thousand miles away.
Looking back, there is no doubt that having Sarah Coupe and the Grace House recommended to us was a special gift. Sarah gave our daughter the time, attention and support she needed to get through the difficult first few weeks. Sarah was available to us by telephone any time we had concerns. As a result of living in Grace House for over eight months, our daughter made wonderful progress in her recovery from addiction.
Our daughter celebrated her 25th birthday (in our darkest hours, a day we thought might not happen) and she is 28 months sober. We feel blessed and are forever grateful to Sarah for her patience and help with our daughter’s recovery. We don’t believe we could have found any better place!”
~Parents of a resident
"Before going to Grace House, I never imagined being able to be sober and okay with myself at the same time. After years of trying to stay sober, Grace House helped me do the work on myself to find a new way of coping with challenges without having to return to alcohol and drugs. I never was a person that was particularly concerned with helping others and now sponsoring other women that still live at Grace House is one of the most fulfilling parts of my day to day life. I will be forever grateful for the Grace House and the women who showed me and continue to show me how to seek growth and to walk through challenges with dignity."
~ Resident
“After detox and a 30 day program (for our daughter) we were so lucky that she found the Grace House. It was a loving home with the support and guidance that an addict and her family needs. Sarah runs a great house with rules and consequences for your behavior. Our daughter thrived there and I know it was Sarah’s and her sponsor’s support that gave her the tools she needed to deal with her addiction. It’s been 18 months since we entered the world of addiction and I’m so grateful for the twelve steps but especially Sarah and the Grace House, they saved our daughter’s life”.
~ Parents of a resident
"... Grace House helped me do the work on myself to find a new way of coping with challenges without having to return to alcohol and drugs."
"It doesn't seem like very long ago that we were calling you and asking you to check on our daughter because we were getting distraught phone calls from her twice a day begging us to allow her to come home! It was, in fact, nearly a year ago.
During this past year, while she has resided at the Grace House, we have watched her mature, take responsibility for her situation, overcome extreme anxiety, make wonderful friendships, live away from home for the first time in her life, AND remain substance free. All of this has been nothing short of a miracle. We are extremely grateful to you for the part you have played in her growth and huge successes.
With the support of you and several of the young women living at the Grace House, the requirements to adhere to House rules, perform chores, attend meetings, follow the Program, and participate in House activities, she has thrived, grown in confidence, self-sufficiency and is enjoying her life more than she has in a very long time.
Thank you for giving our daughter a place to go and become part of a special family when she couldn't come home. We are eternally grateful to you and the special women of Grace House. Thank you for all you do for the young women who are lucky enough to make their way to the Grace House."
With gratitude,
-parents of 2015-2016 resident
