I come to peer support with lived experience of bipolar disorder, complex post traumatic stress disorder, peri-menopausal complications and recovery from benzodiazepine dependence. I’ve gone through major depressive and PTSD episodes and hospitalizations for mental and physical health issues and have rebuilt my sense of steadiness many times.. As a queer woman, I have navigated coming out to friends, family and coworkers and living out and proud. I also understand how challenging it can be to cohabitate while experiencing mental health challenges in oneself or significant other. Family of origin topics are also very familiar to me. I have experienced intentionally distancing myself from family to facilitate mental health recovery and reconnecting and healing those relationships when the time is right. I have also experienced the complex emotions and logistics around the long-term illnesses, decline and deaths of my parents. My healing has drawn from grounding tools, dialectical behavioral therapy, yoga, self-compassion, creativity, and learning how to let people support me. I believe laughter, relief, and small moments of celebration are part of healing, too. I also bring over a decade of experience supporting people in healthcare and mental-health settings. I meet people exactly where they are, offering validation, curiosity, and a genuine desire to understand who they are — not just what they’re struggling with. Whether you are experiencing mental health challenges, identity struggles, relational difficulties or simply needing someone to talk things through with, I’m here to hold space with compassion, respect, and a pace that feels safe.