Coach type: Person with addiction
Coaching since: 2026
Lived experience:
Having dealt with the loss of my brother at a young age from suicide, I refused to be treated differently and stood strong. It negated my ability to process grief or any other feelings. For decades, I wore many masks and became whoever another needed me to be.
Dabbling in alcohol and other drugs seemed to be a rite of passage as a teenager. When I became a young mom, I was able to change my ways. It wasn’t until much later that active addiction took hold, after getting into a toxic relationship with someone who used meth.
In a very short period, I went from being a non-traditional college graduate and rockstar soccer mom to literally homeless, kid-less, car-less, job-less. I was absolutely bankrupt in every sense.
My final arrest sent me to prison and later to mandated treatment. It was there, in treatment, that I learned people want to know the real me. That’s when I began the wellness journey to discover who I genuinely am. My experiences have allowed me to accept myself, learn that my feelings matter and help others by sharing my experience, strength and hope.
Professional background:
I’ve had a range of roles, and I’ve always been a helper. Most recently, I was in supply chain management. Initially, I felt like I couldn’t show up as my true self at work. I pretended my addiction and criminal history didn’t exist. Now, it’s what makes me feel valuable as a peer coach. I enjoy being a leader and a source of light.
Expertise:
Incarceration, self-worth, domestic violence
Interests:
I enjoy making things beautiful and being creative. I try to do something new and spontaneous every quarter to get out of my comfort zone.