Paula Heller Garland, M.S., LCDC

Paula Heller Garland is a seasoned addiction professional with over 30 years of experience in treatment and education. She has held leadership roles as President of the Dallas Chapter and Texas state board of the Texas Association of Addiction Professionals (TAAP), as well as serving on the board of NAADAC, the National Association for Addiction Professionals. Her commitment to training and supporting fellow professionals has been a lifelong passion, starting from her early days as an intern.

Currently, Paula is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Rehabilitation and Health Services at the University of North Texas, where she also coordinates the Addiction Studies program. She actively contributes to the UNT Recovery to Practice initiative and serves as Faculty Advisor for Eagle Peer Recovery. Paula's dedication to her field has earned her a place in the Texas Counselor Hall of Fame.

In addition to her academic work, Paula co-hosts the podcast Life, Lived Better, which focuses on holistic well-being—mind, body, and spirit. You can learn more at www.lifelivedbetter.net.

In her leisure time, she enjoys traveling, cooking, writing, and spending quality moments with her family and their beloved dachshund.