What I bring to this work is more than training or certification—it is lived experience, resilience, and a deep commitment to seeing people succeed. I spent 28 years and 11 months incarcerated, and throughout that time, I made a decision that my past would not define my future. That experience shaped the person I am today: compassionate, grounded, and fully invested in supporting others who are walking through their own difficult journeys. Because I have lived through trauma, addiction, incarceration, and rebuilding from the ground up, I can connect with clients in a way that is authentic, human, and relatable. Clients know I am not speaking from theory alone, I understand what survival looks like and what real change requires.
In my role as a registered Substance Use Disorder Counselor and as a student earning my A.S. in Human Services with an emphasis in Alcohol and Drug Counseling at Fresno City College, I bring professional knowledge together with personal insight. I meet clients where they are, without judgment, and with the belief that change is possible for every person. I support clients in building coping skills, emotional regulation, accountability, and hope. I do not sugarcoat realities, but I speak to people with respect, dignity, and honesty.
What I do best is create a space where clients feel seen, heard, and understood. I help them recognize their own capacity for change and guide them toward self-determination. I walk with them, not in front of them or behind them, because I know recovery is a process built one day at a time. My story reminds clients that transformation is real. My work proves that healing and purpose are possible. And my commitment is to continue growing, learning, and helping others do the same.
