Making peace with divorce (and actually thriving after it)

Carina B.

When I got divorced a couple of years ago, I had no idea how lonely the process would feel—even with great friends and family around me. The problem? None of them had been through it. The advice I got didn’t quite land, and honestly, it made me feel even more alone. But divorce, as hard as it was, turned out to be a huge turning point in my life. I grew, I healed, and I’ve come to deeply love the person I am today. Now, friends refer other friends to me whenever they’re navigating a breakup or divorce. I’ve become a sounding board, a cheerleader, and someone who can hold space for how complicated this season can be. If you're overwhelmed, unsure, or just need a little lightness in your day, I’d love to talk. This might feel like the end—but there’s so much possibility on the other side.

Getting your finances together (no judgment, just real talk)

Christine D.

I didn’t grow up talking about Roth IRAs or credit scores at the dinner table. What I knew about money came from watching the people around me survive—not thrive. I learned how to stretch, hustle, and make do. But budgeting? Investing? Understanding my paycheck? That came later… painfully, and mostly through trial and error. For a long time, I carried shame about what I didn’t know. I thought I was behind. I thought I was bad with money. But the truth is, I was never taught. And that’s not a personal failure—it’s a systemic one. Eventually, I got tired of feeling anxious every time I checked my bank account. I started reading, asking questions, unlearning toxic money beliefs, and building systems that actually worked for me. I’m not a financial advisor—but I am someone who understands what it’s like to figure it out as you go. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the idea of “getting it together,” but deep down you want to be more in control of your money—you’re in the right place. We can start wherever you are.

How to set a budget, keep to it and manage debt in this uncertain financial times

Katrina N.

I'm as prone as anyone to press the buy now button as anyone else, but for a while there, I found myself using the instant uplift of online purchases to avoid thinking about difficult topics. This thankfully didn't put me into debt, but as someone who never had much income to begin with due to becoming disabled early on in life, impulse purchasing quickly made life much more difficult than it needed to be. Not to mention the gathering clutter around my home. The only reason it didn't put me into debt was due to my credit card use as a young adult, so I couldn't get a credit card, not even the prepaid kind. I even had to have my grandmother cosign my first utility bill. luckily after paying my bills ontime I was able to get a prepaid card and have recovered my credit score.

Healing after a long-term toxic relationship

Laurinda V.

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.

Rebuilding your career after the pandemic

Rosy F.

Like many others, the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically changed my life by abruptly ending a career I had carefully built and deeply valued. Losing my professional identity unexpectedly brought a range of emotions—from confusion and frustration to uncertainty about the future. It felt as though I had lost not only my livelihood but a significant part of my personal identity and sense of purpose. Facing this challenge, I gradually found strength in embracing uncertainty, reevaluating my passions, and redefining my professional path. The journey was marked by resilience, self-discovery, and exploring new skills and possibilities I hadn't previously considered. If you're going through a similar experience, let's connect to discuss ways you can rebuild, adapt, and find renewed purpose after career loss.

Navigating cultural adjustment and building new roots as an immigrant parent

Samantha S.

I’m a Hispanic/Indigenous mom of two, originally from an immigrant family. Growing up as the youngest of 14 children, I saw my parents work hard to provide for us after moving to the U.S. From a young age, I experienced the challenges of being part of an immigrant family like learning how to adapt to a new culture, navigate language barriers, and adjust to life in a foreign country. My mother, a teacher, always emphasized the importance of education, which is how I began my journey toward earning a degree in education and later a master’s degree in social work. I became a mom at 18, and the challenges of balancing parenting, financial instability, and career advancement became even more complex. Through my work as a social worker, I’ve dedicated myself to helping other immigrant and marginalized families build their lives from the ground up. I understand what it’s like to feel disconnected from your cultural roots, to deal with homesickness, and to have to fight for your place in a system that doesn’t always make space for you. In my professional life, I’ve worked with families navigating the hurdles of cultural adjustment, language barriers, and building social capital. I’ve coached parents on how to gain financial stability, improve their career prospects, and overcome personal struggles. Having been through the immigrant experience myself, I strive to support others in their journey to find stability and empowerment in a new country, while still honoring their cultural heritage.

Staying connected in marriage through life’s toughest seasons

Steve P.

My partner and I have been together for 17 years, married for 11, and we’ve been through just about every kind of high and low together. We met when I was living in Greece, and after moving to the U.S. during the market crash, life shifted quickly. Over time we built a life, a home, and a business together. But then COVID hit, and everything came crashing down—our finances took a huge hit, and at the same time, my wife was undergoing emergency brain surgery. It was one of the darkest, most uncertain times we’ve ever faced. There were moments when the stress fractured our connection, but we didn’t give up. We leaned on counseling, each other, and our shared commitment to grow—not just survive. That season taught us how to be stronger together, even when things felt like they were falling apart. Since then, we’ve adopted our teenage daughter from abroad, which brought its own beautiful challenges and growth. Our bond has deepened in ways I couldn’t have imagined back when we were first building this life.