From Religion to Relationship

I grew up Catholic ; attending mass, receiving sacraments, following every instruction the Church gave. On the surface, my faith looked complete. But underneath, it was more ritual than relationship. What I didn’t know then was that God was already pursuing me. Even in my youngest, quietest moments when sadness crept in and life felt heavy; there was always something like an inner peace, a gentle voice, holding me together. I didn’t have a name for it yet. But He was there.

Everything changed my senior year of high school when my mother was killed by a driver under the influence. I finished the year, packed my things, and headed to college determined to keep moving. But being alone in a new place, without my mother, without my foundation, I hit a wall I didn’t see coming. There were moments I genuinely believed the world would be better without me in it. It was in the depths of that darkness that God reached in. Not with words I read in a book but with a presence so real, so personal, that I knew I was not alone. He told me He would never leave me. And from that moment, everything changed. I began reading my Bible not out of obligation but out of hunger wanting to know Him for myself, to recognize His voice, to understand who He truly was.

People had been coming to me for counsel since I was a child and something in me has always known how to hold space for others. But my mother’s death gave my calling a direction. She was taken by someone struggling with addiction. That loss lit a fire in me to walk alongside people in their darkest chapters; not just to heal them, but to protect the families and communities surrounding them. My clinical training gave me the tools. My journey with God gave me the heart. And in the quiet of prayer, He gave me the vision for God and Recovery : a devotional series to show people what healing looks like when it is anchored in the Word of God. Speaking found me the same way. I have taught and spoken to groups for years. But lately, I feel a growing nudge to carry this message beyond my clients, into communities, organizations, and the field of mental health at large. This addiction pandemic is too big for any one person. Together, we can change it.

Clinically Trained. Faith-Rooted. Fully Committed

I hold a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor designation (LCPC) and am nationally certified as an NCC and a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP). For over a decade I have worked in clinical settings, nonprofit organizations, and faith communities : specializing in addiction, trauma, and recovery. I am the author of five books, including the God and Recovery three-volume devotional series. I serve as an operations lead for a nonprofit committed to restoring lives, and I am the founder of Zoe Living Academy, a healing and mentorship initiative currently in development. Whether I am in a therapy room, on a stage, or on the page ; the mission is always the same: healing that goes all the way to the root.

Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) - National Certified Counselor (NCC) - Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP) - Published Author — 5 Books - Speaker: Faith, Mental Health & Recovery

Ready to Take The Next Step?

Whether you’re looking for a therapist, a speaker, or a book to carry you through : I’d love to connect. Let’s find out what healing looks like for you.