At the age of 25 after having my two daughters I learned about postpartum depression, and was diagnosed with Asperger’s. Since then I have navigated life as a mother, spouse, educator and advocate for disability justice and I would like to help bring equity and inclusivity to the world

Leaving graduate school early, job loss, poor fits - all traumas I've had to navigate through. Whatever nebulous point represented my dream career now has a circuitous route to get there. Add to that the mental toll that professional, financial, and social shifts take on our well-being, especially when we don't learn "corporate speak" in school! I'd love to share ways that I've handled these setbacks - such as becoming a content creator - as well as practical ideas for job seeking. As important as our careers are, they don't represent our entire identity.

As I navigate the balancing act of college life, parenting, and building meaningful relationships, I've discovered the power of slow living. After struggling academically in the past, I shifted my focus to being a stay-at-home mom for my kids, who do online school. However, I realized that continuing my education would not only keep my mind sharp but also enable me to better support my family. Now, pursuing a business degree has become a journey of self-discovery. Through this process, I've learned to embrace simplicity and minimalism, which helps me show up more fully for my loved ones. My supportive husband, who shares a different faith identity, has been instrumental in my growth. As I explore my own spiritual path, I've found that simplicity and mindfulness are essential in nurturing my relationships and personal growth. Parenting has taught me patience and vulnerability, while navigating college as an adult has been a profound journey of self-discovery. I'm eager to explore these

Sobriety truly gave me a second chance at life — but it also meant starting over in ways I never expected. After years of fight or flight, freeze, survival mode, and trauma my confidence was shattered. My work history was full of gaps, or roles I had outgrown. I wasn’t sure where I fit anymore — or if anyone would give me a chance. But I decided I was worth investing in. I explored new paths, took classes, asked questions, and learned how to talk about my past with strength instead of shame. I focused on reskilling — not just professionally, but emotionally and mentally, too. Every step I took helped rebuild the belief that I could contribute, succeed, and even thrive. Whether you’re restarting a career, going back to school, or dreaming about something totally new — I get it. You don’t have to figure it all out at once. I’d love to help you explore what’s next and show you that sobriety is not the end of your potential — it’s the beginning.

Watching single moms (including my own) navigate financial hardship while raising children was never easy, and experiencing it as a child wasn’t either. Now, as a mother myself, I’ve lived it more times than I can count. Relationship choices set me so far back that it’s taken everything just to return to “starting over.” Today, I’m rebuilding. I’m going through a divorce, raising children (some with disabilities), breathing through uncertainty, and working toward my degree. The bills still come. The anxiety didn’t disappear when the relationship ended; in some ways, it got louder. But I’m still here. Still showing up. And I know what it feels like to be unemployed, underemployed, a stay-at-home mom trying to find work and school, and carrying others through it. I've lived through crises as a child and as an adult. I can hold space for you as you walk through your.

I spent 26 years in a physically and emotionally abusive marriage, only to discover near the end that my husband had been having affairs with men. The betrayal was devastating, but the pain had started long before that—years of feeling invisible, unappreciated, and stuck. After the divorce, I found myself starting over as a single mom with CPTSD, anxiety, and financial instability. It was hard. But I slowly began rebuilding, piece by piece. I went back to school as an adult, eventually earning two master’s degrees, and now work as a school counselor supporting kids and families. I’ve also helped others navigate their own divorces, emotional recovery, and co-parenting journeys. Healing wasn’t quick or easy, but I’ve learned that even after decades of feeling broken, it’s still possible to rediscover your worth and create a life full of purpose and peace. You are not too far gone, and it’s never too late to begin again.

I was working on first a Masters, and then a Doctorate in mathematics when my first two daughters were born. Then when I got my first full time job, I gave birth to my son shortly afterwards. I only took a week to recover from labor with each of my daughters so that I didn’t get behind on my grad school classes. I also wasn’t willing to sacrifice my ability to breastfeed my little ones, so I either met up with my husband in between classes to feed my babies, or I learned to pump while at work. I understand the exhaustion that comes with having newborns and still working hard every day. Because of sleepless nights getting up to take care of a crying child, I fell asleep in class a few times, but I learned to lean on other people to help support me through this difficult time. I also learned a lot of tricks for working with a baby in my arms or in a seat nearby. My kids are all older now, my youngest is 5 years old, but I have a thriving career.

When I went to university straight out of high school, I really crashed and burned. After dipping my toes in academia through community college on and off, I finally returned to university to finish my bachelor's degree ten years later. I often felt really out of place and uncomfortable as an older adult with many more obligations and life experiences than the other students around me. Thankfully, by connecting with other non-traditional students and leaning on my support network, I was able to refocus on what was really important: finishing my degree program. I understand the overwhelm and self-doubt that comes with starting on this path. I understand how difficult and unsettling it can be navigating systems that are generally meant for younger students, and how hard it is to balance real-world obligations with academics. I am here to listen and offer whatever support you need on this journey.

My life has not been easy. I grew up in a very dysfunctional family where I’m sure there were mental illness in that family that was undiagnosed and untreated. I began seeing a psychiatrist while in high school. I developed anxiety and depression real bad and was diagnosed with bipolar in 1995. It took me a while to learn that medication was not the complete answer. Yes the medication helped but I need to develop other coping skills which overtime I did. I can help you develop coping skills and become resilient and find the hope to get you through each day.

Whether you're a parent or a student yourself, I can be there to support you. I've advocated for students' needs not only in my role as a special educator, but also in helping parents prep for IEP/ARD meetings, students self-advocate as minors and adults, and in my own child's life with a 504 plan. I didn't receive services myself growing up because my learning disability wasn't recognized, and I hate to see that happen to others. I know how to identify student needs and goals and communicate those needs to school staff.

If you're pursuing a career in education and struggling to identify where your skills would best be utilized while also protecting your peace, I can help! We'll dig into your strengths, pet peeves, and deal breakers. We'll work through fears and misconceptions, discuss opportunities, and find clarity, whether you're choosing a major or sorting through job offers. I remember when I graduated and had narrowed my offers down to two districts, but I had no one with experience to talk to! It felt like flipping a coin. I started my teaching career in high school, then moved to middle school, and finished at the elementary level. I've taught ELA / Reading & Writing as well as Math in my own classroom as well as supported all four core subjects in an inclusion setting for SPED/DHH students. I've shared a classroom with all sorts of teachers and teaching styles, and I've mentored student teachers along the way. I'd be happy to help you work through it, too.

As a teacher, I spent many hours 1:1 with students developing their transition plan and post-graduation goals, using interviews, quizzes, and surveys to identify the best college and career options for them. You can find interest surveys online, but if you still feel stuck on finding a path to your goals, I can help! When I was a teen, my interests were all over the place. I simultaneously wanted to study art, sign language, and psychology, but also loved physics and statistics and felt pressure to follow in my family's footsteps and become an engineer. We took interest quizzes and strengths finders in school (which I highly recommend and are a great start!), but it's not that simple, is it? I wish someone had sat down with me and looked at what these options looked like in the real world. Since leaving teaching, I've been an interpreter. This has allowed me to be a fly on the wall in all sorts of places, and hopefully, it will allow me to help you discover where you want to be.

Some days you're handling responsibilities like a pro, and other days you're crying into a burrito wondering if everyone else got the secret handbook for adulthood. (Spoiler: they didn’t.) Whether you're navigating school, work, hormones that forgot how to chill, or trying to set boundaries without sounding like a villain, I’ve been there. I’ve felt the weight of imposter syndrome whispering, “You’re not enough,” even while doing the absolute most. I’ve worked jobs where boundaries were more like suggestions and gone through life transitions that made me question everything including my ability to keep a houseplant alive. Through all of that, I learned something important: healing isn’t about having it all figured out. It’s about having a safe space to be real. This a no-judgment, come-as-you-are kind of space where you can talk about the hard stuff, the awkward stuff, the “is it just me?” stuff and realize it’s definitely not just you. Let’s talk for real and probably laugh a little.

When I left the service, I thought I was ready for the next chapter. What I didn’t expect was how strange civilian life would feel. In the military, everything had structure and purpose. Out here, I caught myself wondering, Who am I without the uniform? At first, I stumbled through. Even simple things like sitting in a classroom again or adjusting to a new work environment, took some getting used to. The habits I picked up in the service didn’t always match the pace of civilian life. It was humbling to realize I had to relearn things and find new ways to fit in, just like everyone else making their own transitions. What changed everything was reconnecting with other veterans. Their stories reminded me I wasn’t alone, and that it’s okay to lean on each other. I can help with navigating resources like the VA or GI Bill, sharing tools for handling stress, and creating spaces where we can laugh, connect, and just be ourselves again however that may look like to us at an individual level.

I am a 38 yr. old, INFJ, single mother of a precocious POC 3 yr. old daughter. My fiancée is a trans man, who is my 1st healthy relationship at 37 yrs old. I specialize in trauma! From being human trafficked to childhood rape, rape by my child's father and even having a BF threaten me with a revolver. You have a choice to let life continue to make a victim of you or keep living and learning. I chose the latter despite becoming disabled with a painful nerve condition at 22. It left me feeling altogether useless and unworthy of even basic respect. These feelings, paired with my conservative upbringing, allowed unscrupulous men to take advantage of me time and again. My condition slowly stole my mobility and health but I still had a mind and I used it! in 2025 I got my LASS degree. It's never too late to go back to school. To discover hobbies and passions, and to even stand up for others. I can be pessimistic, but I never stop trying. That's the key to life.

After leaving my ex, I quickly realized that creating a good life for my infant daughter depended solely on me. A minimum wage job simply wouldn't suffice, but given my severe disabilities, working outside the home was not an option. This left me exploring remote work opportunities, most of which required degrees or involved cold calling—something I knew I could never manage again for my mental health. That’s when I decided to return to school. A year later, I proudly became the first in my father's family to graduate from college. I’ve even been accepted into the online sociology program at UC Chico. The process of securing funding and completing applications was daunting, but with determination and a bit of support, I made it happen. If I can overcome these obstacles, so can you!

I’ve struggled with substances most of my life. It started with a prescription for Adderall when I was a kid, then escalated through high school and college—marijuana, cocaine, opiates. I got married and tried to pull things together, but the truth is, I developed an addiction to opiates during that time. Toward the end of our 11-year marriage, my wife confronted me about it. I wasn’t willing to stop, and that choice ultimately ended the relationship. That loss forced me to take a hard look at my life. I checked myself into detox and rehab, and something finally shifted. After a brutal first month of withdrawal, I felt clear for the first time in years. I started using therapy seriously, leaned on the people who believed in me, and began rebuilding. Now I’m back in school, working toward a counseling license so I can support others who are walking a similar path. If you’re sitting with the grief and guilt of losing someone because of your addiction, I’ve been there—and I’d be glad to talk with you.

I began the journey of a homeschool Mom in 2006 when my son started Kindergarten. Then the journey became a little more challenging when my daughter started Kindergarten in 2009. This journey would take us to 2019 when my son graduated and then later in 2022 when my daughter graduated. Homeschooling was rewarding because I got to be part of my children's education but it was also difficult when it came to the high school years. By the time my daughter graduated, I was burnt out. I was also sad because a big part of my life came to an end.

I was the first in my family to successfully graduate from college, let alone seek a doctoral degree from a medical institution. Imposter syndrome and academia-induced anxiety and stress are real (as evidenced by a variety of scholarly journals, at that!), and they can wreak havoc on mental health and wellness. Watching friends pursue more canonical life avenues of engagement, marriage, and children while working all day on campus and hours at night on the computer, coupled with ever-increasing stress related to research funding and academic stipends and salaries, can feel isolating, confusing, and even depressing. I'm here to listen, empathize, and validate your experiences, and I hope to share a little of my own hard-earned wisdom to help you become the confident, balanced professional student you yearn to be.

I was the first in my immediate family to finish college, let alone a graduate degree in a demanding field. I've seen many sides of academia, having been an undergraduate student, graduate student, peer tutor, and recipient of a collegiate teaching certificate (after having completed a graduate-level, collegiate teaching program). Starting or returning to college, university, and/or other professional studies can feel daunting, particularly when you feel like no one understands, new responsibilities abound, and life simply becomes hectic all around. Let's work together to figure out how to not only "manage" the demands of your life from all sides (personal, professional, and academic) but to thrive and be the well-rounded student you yearn to be.