Coach type: Person with addiction and loved one
Coaching since: 2026
Lived experience:
I grew up in a very close, loving family with mental illness, and that’s been a big part of my own lived experience. As a young teen, I struggled with self-harm and was doing anything I could to cope with my mental health symptoms.
I continued to struggle, especially with Adderall, and I first went to treatment in 2020 for polysubstance use. I was in and out of treatment and using any stimulant I could. I went through an awful meth withdrawal and attempted to take my own life.
Those early days of recovery were full of guilt and doubts that I wasn’t doing things “the right way.” I learned to celebrate the small wins and redefine what wellness meant to me. Spending time with people I love, eating healthier, going back to school – that’s how I started to measure my wellness once I stopped counting my sober days.
Professional background:
I’ve gained skills in a lot of different areas throughout my work history, including hospitality management and as a peer support specialist with Midwest Street Medicine. I have a bachelor’s degree in addiction counseling and prevention and I’m pursuing a master’s degree in social work.
Expertise:
ADHD, mental illness, self-harm and suicidality, harm reduction
Interests:
I write poetry, cross stitch and roller skate. I volunteer with Midwest Street Medicine, and I started a blog addressing misunderstandings about homelessness.