I graduated from Florida State University in 1999 with a BS in Sociology and a minor in Religion. Soon after graduating I worked as a school teacher with Dyslexic children (none of which were on medication). After months of kids tossing papers and rulers at me, I realized that my passion was not to teach but rather to assist and help children channel their anger, frustration, anxieties, etc. into a more positive outlet and teach them that they can succeed and learn under any circumstance. This was the deciding factor to enter into the field of Mental Health Counseling and Marriage and Family therapy. After successfully obtaining a Masters Degree (MS) in 2002 from Barry University, I knew that I had entered the field that I would grow to love today.
Vividly I remember as a teenager being involved in my own struggles with drug and alcohol addiction. It’s easy to relate to parents who are torn apart and feel helpless when they are trying all they can to reach their children and loved ones. I have been sober for over 20 years and had to do the tough work of self discovery once I was clean. I realized I had spent many years in an asleep state, a product of my conditioning and programming. I didn’t have the slightest clue who I was. I was just a collection of who others told me I was. It is my belief that only through this tough work of inner reflection was I able to emerge into the person I am today.
I want to show my clients that they don’t have to fall as far down in order to wake up and see the false narratives and programming that has been driving their behaviors causing anxiety, depression, feelings of worthlessness, anger, etc. Awareness is the key to unlocking the ability to see that you have always been divine, whole and aligned. We have been numbed out most of our lives using whatever outside of ourselves we can get our hands on to give us a false perception of happiness. We use everything from (relationships, t.v, substances, shopping, sex, gambling, playing the victim, social media and much more.) These things will never give us true peace and happiness.
While it is important to identify those things that individuals use to numb out their pain, we must also work on the underlying issues stemming and driving these behaviors. Many of these originate from depression, anxiety, fear of rejection, low self esteem, feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness as well as family of origin issues stemming from childhood.
I tell my clients that it takes what it takes. When a person has had enough pain then finally they are ready for change. They are ready to be teachable. It took the birth of my daughter to realize that I still had so much of my own journey left to discover. This little new born girl made me see I had no idea just how vast and wonderful life was. I was terrified yet at the same time hungry for more understanding of who I was. I wanted to gain a higher level of consciousness so that I could accept more love, more forgiveness, more integrity, more compassion, more awareness and most of all unconditional love into my heart.
