Midlife is not for the faint of heart!! I am a 45 year old woman, going through peri-menopause, living sober, with a husband of 20 years and two children, ages 20 and 16. So I get it ladies. Mental health challenges, physical challenges, life goals and values are different now than they were twenty plus years ago… but we are wiser now too!! With experience and wisdom, along with a few wrinkles, we have stamina and mental endurance that we need to harness and nurture. A year before I turned 40, I moved my family from the Northeast (where I had always lived) to the sunny shores of southeast Florida. I demanded that the next chapter of my life be on my terms, focusing on my own mental and emotional health and wellbeing. After years of being a caretaker, it was my turn to look inward and refocus my intentions creatively to build a life that reflects who I want to be and how I want to impact the community around me. We all deserve to live purposefully, one day at a time.

Hello, my name is Jamie Henkin and I’m a Certified Peer Support Specialist. I experienced mild depression as a young child and it seemed to increase along with added anxiety as I grew older. I noticed it having a profound effect in and on my life as I entered my 30’s. I wasn’t as knowledgeable about healthy coping skills back then as I am now. Over the last 25 years, I used therapy and prescription medications to cope with my anxiety and depression, though not consistently. Unfortunately, in stressful times, when I couldn’t manage my symptoms, I turned to drug and alcohol use, which led me to hit rock bottom three times. All of these periods, included suicidal ideations, and two of them alcohol related consequences. Several months ago, I spent 30 days in a residential treatment center which saved my life and taught me healthy coping skills. It’s my goal to pass on my knowledge to you in the hopes that you can heal as well.

I grew up nestled between a National Wildlife Refuge and a National Park, where my earliest teachers were rivers, native plants, and the cycles of land and sea. Over the years, I’ve worked on organic farms, in a fishery, as a nature guide, and in youth education—each experience deepening my belief that nature doesn’t just teach us, it heals us. That path led me to become an ecopsychologist over 20 years ago, and later a neuroeconomist. I’ve always been fascinated by how natural systems shape our brains, our behavior, and our capacity to imagine better futures. For me, heliotropic idealism—orienting toward what brings light—has been a powerful tool for navigating pain, while phosphorescent mindfulness helps me stay connected to wonder when dreaming feels hard. I’ve learned that nature speaks through more than just sights and sounds; it speaks through our senses, instincts, and longings. I don’t have all the answers, but I know how to ask the right questions and how to listen with all of myself. I’d love to hold space for others who want to reconnect with the parts of themselves they may have forgotten—and remember their own “wordless voice of nature.”

Growing up, I had a bit of a bad attitude. I genuinely believed I was unlucky and that good things just wouldn’t happen to me. I saw other people living lives that felt out of reach, and I assumed I’d always be stuck in a version of life that felt small, stressful, or just meh. That started to shift when I learned about limiting beliefs. I realized I had internalized some deep stories about what I thought I deserved, and that those beliefs were shaping what I did and didn’t go after. Once I began doing intentional work to change those patterns, so much started to change. I landed a job I enjoy, started a career I’m proud of, and cultivated friendships that bring me real joy. These days, people even comment on how “lucky” I am, but I know it’s not just luck. It’s mindset, consistency, and dreaming on purpose. I now spend regular time visualizing, meditating, doing EFT tapping, and creating vision boards that keep me aligned and connected to what I actually want. If you were never taught to dream big or even figure out what you actually want, I’d love to help you take those first steps.

I haven’t always lived with alignment, intention, or ease—there was a time when my life felt rushed, scattered, and far from what my soul craved. I used to believe success meant doing more, hustling harder, and pushing through, even if it left me drained. But over time, I realized that true fulfillment comes from slowing down, creating space, listening to the quiet wisdom within, and choosing to live in a way that feels deeply aligned with my values and my heart. Now, I live more intentionally—through practices like meditation, reflection, and soulful exploration—that support not just productivity, but peace, presence, and joy. Along the way, I’ve discovered how powerful it is to live with meaning and awareness, and how these practices ripple into every part of life—relationships, creativity, work, and self. Through sharing my story, tools, and guidance, I help others reconnect with themselves, find clarity, and create a life that feels authentic, balanced, and soulfully aligned.

After leaving a high-demand religion, experiencing infidelity and divorce, relocation, isolation, anxiety, and depression, I decided to make some changes to the way I lived my life. I began to live with intention and a deep sense of personal power. I understood my part in codependent relationships through the lens of my childhood trauma, and I started doing things differently. If you have ever felt 'stuck' or felt like something was 'off', and you want to live differently, I understand, and I'm here to support you in the changes you want to make. Let's work together to make new patterns to help you build a life that you love, where you experience joy and live from your authentic self, every day.

Growing up, I didn’t always get the emotional support I needed. My caregivers, though doing their best, were often emotionally unavailable or overwhelmed themselves. As a child, I internalized the idea that my feelings were too much—or not important at all. This left a lasting impact that followed me into adulthood. I became extremely self-critical, anxious, and constantly sought validation from others. As I began healing from anxiety and addiction, I realized that part of my recovery involved going back—not to relive the pain, but to offer my younger self the care I never received. Through inner child work, journaling, and self-compassion practices, I started to “reparent” myself: validating my emotions, setting healthy boundaries, and learning to nurture myself like a loving caregiver would. This shift was life-changing. I stopped chasing external validation and started showing up for myself with kindness and patience. Reparenting helped me feel whole and safe in my own body—sometimes for the first time.

Having a tool box of coping skills to manage the falls and low points in my life have been very important. I have quite a few and I am always looking to add more. Journaling, arts and crafts, meditation and prayer, and hanging out with my cats in my Zen Den are just a few of my coping skills that have helped me through some of the darkest and lowest points in my life.

As I entered adulthood, I felt an intense need to overachieve in nearly every area of my life to feel accomplished. I was deeply committed to my full-time job, raising my children, and squeezing in workouts—either at 5 a.m. or immediately after work before picking up the kids from daycare. Weekends were no different: packed with family outings, visits to relatives, errands, and late-night social events. I felt a great sense of pride in filling every single hour of the day.

The summer before my last kid started his Senior Year of high school, I started making plans for my next phase of life. I understood that my parenting role was going to change significantly, my available time would increase, my husband and I would be together much more, and I had an opportunity to be just me again. Nothing goes as planned :) My dad got sick. I took on physical support of my dad (appointments, meals, etc ...) and emotional support of my mom. My kids came home -- ALOT. My parents were our primary daycare, so my kids are especially close to their grandparents. They spent their time visiting hospital rooms. My husband got grouchy. He really missed the kids and due to his own health challenges, couldn't return to his previous interests as easily as I could (softball, playing in a rock band, etc ...) But I was determined to learn about me again and build a future even in present chaos. That included journaling, counseling, reconnecting to friends, taking a class, trying new things, and basically BEING BRAVE !

My journey to recovery started when I hit rock bottom, struggling with alcohol and the trauma from a domestic violence relationship. I found myself in a hospital after nearly losing my life, which was my wake-up call. Since then, I’ve been sober since August 5, 2013, and my recovery has been a long, transformative process. Along the way, I’ve overcome PTSD, chronic pain, people-pleasing, and anxiety, while also navigating the pain of past abuse. Through 12-step programs, therapy, and my own support network, I’ve been able to rebuild my life. I know what it’s like to feel lost, broken, and unsure of how to start healing, but I’m living proof that recovery is possible. I’ve facilitated retreats, worked with other women in recovery, and supported those in crisis. Now, I’m here to walk beside you and help you find the resources and strength you need to take the next step in your healing journey.