My Story

Over the past two decades, I have earned the reputation of being a "Teen Whisperer.” My 30+ year career has included working in alternative schools with pregnant and parenting teen girls, kids involved in juvenile justice, high-risk girls, and expelled students. I have been a Middle School, High School, and College Counselor, and a mental health and addictions therapist in private practice and in residential treatment. My superpower is understanding and "speaking teen,” which includes understanding the needs they are often communicating through their more challenging and unhealthy behaviors. 

I naturally gravitated toward becoming licensed as an Addictions Clinician and Prevention Specialist after my own challenging adolescence. At 19 years old, I found myself in recovery from multiple addictions, self-destructive behaviors, and mental illness. In my own healing journey, I realized I could connect with others through the empathy of having walked the path myself. During my own high school and college years, my counselors literally saved my life, and now it’s my mission to do the same for others.

These experiences catalyzed my passion for the prevention, intervention, and treatment of substance use disorders and other addictive behaviors. It is with joy and honor that I have provided drug and alcohol education to thousands of students across North Carolina, delivered parenting workshops across the globe, conducted staff development for tens of thousands of educators internationally, and partnered with dozens of schools to foster "addiction-proof" students.

I blend my personal "street certified" history with clinical expertise to bring unique knowledge, authenticity, and relatability to my classes, workshops, consultation, and coaching. 

My own parenting adventures have been my greatest training ground, and my kids have been my greatest teachers. I raised a resilient “twice exceptional” bi-racial son as a 100% single working mom in challenging conditions, and guided two "bonus kids" through many trials, all of who continue to bring me lessons as “grown and flown” young adults.

I received my Bachelor's degree in Sociology in 1992 and my Master's degree in Mental Health Counseling from Rollins College in 2003, with additional coursework in Addiction Studies and High-Risk Youth, completed at Metropolitan State College in Denver. 

Clearly, this work has chosen me, and not the other way around! I’m excited to share it with you!

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