STAFF SPOTLIGHT: Meet Gill Orr, Owner & Counselor
Hi my name is Gill Orr, owner of Cedar Grove Counseling. I’ve been doing this work for more than 30 years now, and while the technology has changed, the heart of recovery hasn’t — it’s still people helping people, one honest conversation at a time.
How It All Started
Back in 1988, my sponsor bought into an inpatient treatment center and asked if I’d like to come work for him. I was 23, fresh in my own recovery, and ready to give back. I went back to school, became a certified SUDP (Substance Use Disorder Professional), and never looked back.
In 2005, the treatment center I worked for — Woodlands — went bankrupt. Instead of walking away, I took a leap of faith, bought all their chairs and their goodwill, and opened Cedar Grove Counseling. It started small, but it had heart.
Over the years, I’ve also had the chance to help shape some of Washington State’s DUI and substance-abuse treatment laws. It’s been a privilege to make a difference not just in individual lives, but in the system itself.
Why I Love This Work
The best part of what I do? Watching someone hit that turning point — the moment they realize addiction doesn’t define them anymore. Sometimes, a few months later, they walk through the door and I hardly recognize them (in the best way possible).
My philosophy is simple: be honest, be kind, and stay real. When honesty comes from compassion instead of judgment, incredible things happen.
What Keeps Me Grounded
Before I found recovery, I was living in an apple orchard working alongside migrant farm workers, deep in my addiction and unsure where life would lead me. Recovery gave me a new beginning.
I stay grounded by living a recovery lifestyle, practicing Steps 10, 11, and 12 daily, staying connected with close friends & family, and walking the path I believe God wants me to walk.
Looking ahead, I’m excited to get back into neurofeedback and grow our online presence, so more folks who need help can actually find us — hopefully without me having to learn ridiculous TikTok dances.
Life Outside the Office
Outside of work, I like to keep things simple — spending time with family and friends, sharing a good meal, and enjoying a strong cup of espresso. My wife and I love exploring new places together. She jokingly calls me her “cowboy,” which always cracks me up, because the real cowboy in the family is my brother — he’s the one who’s spent most of his life herding cattle on horseback. But hey, I did breed ponies for almost 20 years and am licensed in equine therapy, so I’m at least cowboy-adjacent.
One of my dreams is to start an equine therapy program for people in recovery and those in the IDD community. My stepdaughter has autism, and I have a real soft spot for folks like her who see the world from a beautifully different perspective. Horses have this quiet, almost spiritual way of connecting with people — it’s hard to put into words, but easy to see when it happens.
If you asked my coworkers to describe me in three words, I’d probably dodge the question — but I hope they’d say kind, fair, and hard to catch (I tried retire for about 5 minutes but it didn’t stick).
And about my wife — she’s a fiery Spanish-American woman who keeps me honest and on my toes. I met her at a conference a few years ago, and I’ve been crazy about her ever since. She’s living proof that God’s got a sense of humor, because He knew I needed someone with a little spiciness.
Fun Fact (a.k.a. My Best Trade Ever)
My dad was a U.S. diplomat, and when I was five or six, I met President Nixon, got his autograph… and traded it for a peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich at lunchtime. I have made some decent trades since but that is probably one of my best. Oh, and as a kid, I took bowling lessons from pro bowlers, so if you ever challenge me to a game, don’t say I didn’t warn you.
After all these years, what keeps me passionate is simple: watching people rediscover hope. Seeing clients rebuild their lives, reconnect with their families, and become who they were meant to be — that’s the miracle that never gets old.
So if you ever drop by Cedar Grove, say hello! You’ll probably find me in my office, coffee in hand, telling a story, or planning my next adventure.
