Vaile Strauss serves as a Family Counselor in the Young Men’s Program at Cumberland Heights. She has been part of the Cumberland Heights team since 2018, beginning her journey as a manager of the organization’s sober living houses before joining the family therapy team.
Vaile earned her Bachelor of Science degree with double minors in Human Sciences and Marketing. After college, she worked in marketing and sales until 2010, when she found recovery through the support of Cumberland Heights and YANA sober living. This experience inspired her to pursue a career in addiction treatment, ultimately earning her LADAC license. She describes this work as her true calling—helping others and their families find recovery, hope, and community.
Vaile believes deeply in the mission of Cumberland Heights, sharing, “This is where I’m supposed to be.” She finds fulfillment in witnessing transformation—seeing the light return to a client’s eyes, hearing someone say they have hope again, and watching families reconnect and begin to heal. One of her greatest joys is seeing former clients return to work in the field, describing those moments as “the biggest gift—a full circle experience.”
Outside of work, Vaile is married and a proud mom to two daughters—one preparing for college and thriving in her studies, and the other a spirited 11-year-old with a huge heart and a love for the stage. Vaile also chairs the largest fundraiser for her daughter’s school and serves on the leadership board of TNARR (Tennessee Alliance for Recovery Residences), working to uphold excellence and safety in recovery housing standards across the state.