The Journey That Led Me To You
I’m a former psychiatric nurse practitioner who silently battled what I was trained to treat in others - mental illness and substance use disorder. Today, I’m in long-term, sustained recovery and it is my privilege to walk alongside others to help them reclaim their lives: from powerless to empowered, and from rejected to validated, respected members of community.
My road to recovery came from a combination of professional and alternative, noninsurance-based options which I share here to provide empathy, compassion and understanding of the challenges that affect healthcare professionals. The stigma is real for licensed professionals dealing with mental health needs and substance use and can keep people - especially HCPs - stuck hiding in the shadows.
My journey out of the shadows included a variety of outpatient programs, various support groups and participation in a state-run Alternative to Discipline (ATD) program (which made me feel dehumanized, judged and punished more than anything else). Eventually, I made the painful but freeing decision to walk away from my license. Not because I didn’t care but because the systems that claimed to support me were contributing to my decline. The ATD program model, despite its name, didn’t feel like an alternative at all. While I'm not here to bash the ATD system, I am here to tell you that it is certainly worth exploring all available options to avoid the rocky road of licensure suspension and even revocation - if possible.
Everyone’s path is different. If inpatient treatment, AA, and therapy have helped but you're still feeling stuck - recovery coaching may be a good add-on to your current plan. Well-meaning doctors and therapists helped me to get sober but not stay sober. For me, I didn't know that I was capable of changing my life until it began to happen. I learned what healing could look like outside the box - by partnering with coach and experiential therapist who helped me reconnect with myself. My turning point for personal growth was rooted in human connection which led to achieving long-term sustained recovery.
If any of this sounds familiar, you're in the right place. You’re not alone. This is not the end of your story, and your healing doesn’t have to follow someone else’s script.
I meet you where you're at with compassion, understanding, and unconditional acceptance - without judgement. I uphold the highest ethical of confidentiality and discretion at all stages of our work together, from virtual sessions and sober companion support for engagements, to liaising with treatment specialists and facilitating private detoxes and other professional and holistic treatment options.
You are capable and deserving of becoming the best version of yourself. I'd love to hear your questions, comments, concerns and how I can help - Let's do this!
Warmly,
Tiffany
