Banyan Texas

Nicole Bower was born in Houston and raised in Bastrop, Texas. She graduated in 2000 from Oklahoma State University with a B.S. in Psychology and got her MBA in healthcare management in 2008.

She began working with people receiving mental health and substance abuse treatment in 2000. It was at the age of 13 that Nicole first discovered her passion; to help those who struggle with mental health and addiction. Her desire intensified as she grew older, witnessing firsthand the struggles of addiction in her close family members.

Nicole is an important asset to the Banyan team. As the Executive Director of Banyan Treatment Centers, she gets the opportunity to define and develop a system that fosters the lives of clients in addiction treatment.

Nicole promotes a collaborative culture in Banyan, which creates successful outcomes for clients. “Every human being deserves compassion, dignity, and respect… and it is our responsibility to ensure every person has the tools needed to be successful!”

Jamie Thompson was born and raised in Bastrop, Texas. She attended Southern Career Institute for her Medical Assistant Certificate in 2002 and 2015, and went on to National American University, where she graduated with honors on the President’s List and Summa Cum Laude. Jamie also received her license for Vocational Nursing. Jamie got her start in the addiction field when she was working in a county jail for over 6 years. In the last 3 years, she was the Director of Nursing at an exclusive male rehab facility.

Born and raised in Palm Springs, Jamie has been working in the medical field for over 30 years. Recovery became, and has remained, a passion of Jamie’s, as a result of the effects her mother’s addiction, and later, the addiction struggles of two of her three children had on her. For the past 11 years, she has redirected her medical knowledge and expertise to the field of addiction and recovery. Jamie started her career at Banyan Treatment Centers as a phlebotomist. However, as the management team recognized her varied skill-set, Jamie’s services began to be requested in Intake, Clinical, Administration, and Family Services. As part of her role with Family Services, Jamie runs a weekly Banyan Family Zoom Call, with her oldest daughter, which is designed to give the families of our clients a safe place to talk, vent, and help others going through similar situations. She found that being in contact with the families directly is where her heart is. Jamie is deeply passionate about helping our clients and their families. She understands how difficult the journey through the recovery process can be and the courage required to take that journey. Jamie also understands the empathy and sensitivity required