A landscape with a rainbow arching over rolling hills and mountains, with a partly cloudy sky.

The Power of Sagebrush

The Sagebrush plant can be seen in various ways: as a symbol of healing and resilience in Native American culture, a sign of letting go of the old and welcoming the new in New Age spiritual practices, and as a crucial component of the western ecosystem. Its deep roots stabilize the soil, preventing erosion, while providing shelter and food for hundreds of species. It is truly nature's embodiment of community.

Individually, Sagebrush may not seem beautiful with its shaggy appearance and lanky limbs. However, when viewed as a vast landscape of grey, green, and blue hues forming a carpet-like expanse, it commands admiration and praise.

What better example of "recovery" is there? Just as Sagebrush may seem rugged on its own but reveals its true beauty when seen as a collective expanse, we too might appear rough around the edges as we face our daily challenges. Yet, when we come together, find our community, and support and uplift each other, we create something truly beautiful.

Meet Your Peers!

  • A young woman with wavy, reddish-blonde hair styled in a half-up bun, green eyes, light skin with freckles, hoop earrings, and a nose ring, smiling at the camera against a plain light-colored background.

    Monica

    Garfield County, CO

  • Man wearing a beige knit cap, sunglasses, and a plaid shirt holding a large rainbow trout near a snowy lake with trees in the background.

    Stephen

    Park County, CO

  • A woman with red hair and tattoos on her arm sitting in a grassy field, with snow-capped mountains and a sunset sky in the background.

    Kristy

    Chaffee County, CO

  • Young woman with long red hair smiling, standing in front of a red brick wall, wearing a sleeveless brown patterned top and black pants.

    Terra

    Gunnison County, CO

  • A man with brown hair, facial hair, and wearing a plaid shirt standing against a light wall.

    Josh

    Denver, CO

  • A man wearing sunglasses, a black hoodie, and a backwards cap, smiling and sitting on a rock in a canyon with red rock formations, mountains with snow caps, and a cloudy sky in the background.

    Brandon

    Garfield County, CO

  • Joseph

    Denver, CO

  • Shayla

    Denver, CO

Clinical Team

  • A woman with glasses, red hair, and pearl earrings smiling outdoors near green pine tree branches.

    Liz Pierce, MA, LAC, LPC, CCS

    CLINICAL DIRECTOR

  • A woman with red hair wearing black-framed glasses, a black top, and a blue patterned shirt underneath, looking slightly to the side with a neutral expression.

    Melanie Goodwin, BAS, CAS, CADC II

    CLINICAL MANAGER

Woman in sunglasses with a hat and life vest paddling a kayak on a river with green trees and hills in the background.

Carrie Elliott is the Founder and Executive Director of Sagebrush Recovery. She is in active, sustainable long-term recovery and brings both lived experience and professional expertise to her work in Colorado’s mountain communities.

Born in Vail and raised near Leadville, Carrie was deeply shaped by her upbringing—rooted in the values of social justice, creativity, and connection to the outdoors. Her personal journey through addiction, loss, and trauma ultimately led her to recovery, where she rediscovered a life grounded in healing, purpose, and hope.

Carrie is a Certified Peer and Family Specialist, a Recovery Coach Professional through CCAR, and is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Social Work at Metropolitan State University of Denver. Sagebrush Recovery represents the fulfillment of her vision: to make compassionate, integrated support available to others navigating recovery—especially in rural and underserved communities.

Carrie Elliott CPFS, RCP
Founder/Executive Director