Lauren Joeckel, MA

Lauren E. Joeckel is a healthcare executive and behavioral health leader with more than 20 years of experience in addiction recovery and mental health systems. She is deeply committed to building systems of care that treat individuals as human beings and help create lasting pathways to recovery.

Lauren’s professional journey began as an American Sign Language interpreter, an experience that shaped her belief that listening — truly listening — is at the heart of effective care. That foundation led her into behavioral health, where she has spent her career strengthening programs, supporting teams, and expanding access to high quality treatment across hospital, residential, and outpatient settings.

She holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Tennessee and a Master of Arts in Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling with a specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy. Trained as a licensed psychotherapist and certified chemical dependency counselor, Lauren has been licensed in more than seven states and has served as a board approved clinical supervisor in both mental health and substance use disorder treatment.

Lauren’s leadership is grounded in whole person, trauma-informed care, with a special dedication to serving military personnel, first responders and their families. She has led the development of addiction recovery programs recognized by Walter Reed National Military Medical Center as a “preferred provider” and has written and been awarded SAMHSA grants to strengthen community partnerships and reduce barriers to care for military service members and their families. Additionally, she spent years working at Johns Hopkins Hospital system working directly with recovering patients with high complexity medical comorbidities, and previously worked as a Behavioral Health CEO in a Fortune 500 company. 

At her core, Lauren believes recovery is possible when people are met with dignity, hope, and laughter. She leads with the conviction that strong organizations are built by supporting both the individuals they serve and the teams who serve them.

Outside of work, Lauren is an avid baseball fan and a devoted supporter of the Baltimore Orioles.