Hi, I’m Rachel Phillips, Thomas’s sister and founder of The Thomas Effect. Losing my brother the way we did turned my life upside down. In recovery myself, I had considered working in the field, but it wasn’t until losing him, and seeing firsthand how broken and stigmatized our system still is that everything changed. I went back to school, finished my degree, earned my counseling certification, and I’m now on my way to full licensure.

I created The Thomas Effect to change the way we talk about addiction. To end the stigma. To educate. To support multiple paths to recovery. To make sure no one has to fight this battle alone. The foundation of this work, the heartbeat behind it, is the same foundation my brother lived by: compassion, strength and humor along with an undeniable coolness that made everyone feel like they belonged. I truly believe this would have been his mission if he were still here. He’s passed the baton and we’re running with it. 

Contact: Rachel@thethomaseffect.org

Credentials & Training

• Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor Intern (LCDC-I) – Texas

• B.A. in General Studies – University of Texas at Arlington, Primary Focus: Psychology minors: Business & Sociology

• MAT Advocacy Training – Addiction Research Institute at The University of Texas at Austin

Experience and Skills

• Advocate for Risk Reduction and All Paths to Recovery

• Outreach Coordination & Event Planning

• Background in Small Business Ownership

• Lived Experience in Recovery and Navigating the Criminal Justice System

• Focused on Community Education & Stigma Reduction