Meet Your Lived Experience Counsellor

As a child, becoming an addict was never part of my grand plan, but life had its own script in mind.

A series of unresolved traumatic events in my youth set the stage for a gradual descent into unhealthy relationships with anything that could provide an escape. My journey began with cartoons, then progressed to video games and basketball cards, before finally culminating in substance use.

These relationships were more intimate than any I had ever experienced.

We shared laughter, tears, and even fights, but always reconciled. Despite recognising the destructive nature of these bonds, I found myself returning time and again, as they had become my sole means of survival.

It wasn’t until I received the gift of desperation that I finally mustered the courage to embrace discomfort and challenge my survival mechanisms.

Through this process, I unearthed the deep-seated fears driving my behavior. At the core, I discovered feelings of being unloved, unheard, and unseen.

Today, I choose to live clean, dedicating myself to a new purpose: helping people help people.

My personal journey has equipped me with unique insights and empathy, allowing me to connect with others facing similar struggles. As an addiction counsellor, I bring not only professional expertise but also a profound understanding of the path to recovery.

My mission now is to guide others through their own journeys, helping them reclaim their authentic selves and find healthier ways to navigate life’s challenges. Together, we can transform pain into purpose and rewrite the narrative of addiction into one of hope, healing, and self-discovery.