The Addiction Counselor Who Wasn't Supposed to Succeed

(But Did Anyway—And Now I'm Here to Help You Do the Same)

Beating addiction requires strategy. Fortunately, addiction is fairly predictable, and with the right knowledge, you can get ahead of it. I'll make sure you stay 5 steps ahead.

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"Are You in Recovery?"

It's the first question everyone asks. Sometimes directly, sometimes they just wonder silently.

What they're really asking is: "Will you actually understand me?"

Here's the thing—it's a loaded question, and there's no "right" answer:

• If I say "no" → they assume I can't possibly help them
• If I say "yes" → they want to know what I was addicted to
• If I say alcohol → they think I can't understand heroin
• If I say heroin for 5 years → they think "I've been addicted for 10, you can't help me"

The disease of addiction wants to disqualify me. No matter how I answer, it won't be the "right" answer.

So here's my honest answer:

No, I'm not in recovery in the traditional sense.

But I've spent my entire life around addiction and alcoholism—and that's exactly what makes me good at what I do.

Why I Became an Addiction Counselor (Even Though I'm Not "Supposed" To)

I grew up in a family where pretty much everyone had some sort of addiction problem.

But here's the thing most people don't get: they were also an awesome family.

My mom was beautiful, smart, charming, and so much fun—despite her serious meth problem (which eventually killed her). My Mimi was absolutely an alcoholic (I don't have a single memory of her without a drink in her hand), but she was also the grandmother who always had my back and made sure I had what I needed.

Growing up, I thought I had the best parents ever. They were friendly, hardworking, non-judgmental, and way more fun than I was. I always had friends over to my house because their "normal" parents intimidated me with all their rules.

Here's what that taught me:

A person can have an addiction and still be a totally awesome human being.

While other counselors see "addicts," I see people I deeply care about who happen to have a drug or alcohol problem.

From Teacher to Accidental Addiction Specialist

I went to Clemson and got my master's in counseling with zero intention of becoming an addiction specialist.

But my first internship landed me in an adult addiction program. After I graduated, they hired me full-time and asked me to start a teen IOP (Intensive Outpatient Program) because of my teaching background.

I was in WAY over my head.

I was treating teenage drug addicts and honestly didn't know what I was doing. It was sink or swim.

So I dove in headfirst: 

• Completed a yearlong Addiction Fellows program
• Earned multiple clinical certifications and counseling licenses
• Worked across inpatient and outpatient settings for over 15 years
• Eventually transitioned from clinical practice to focus on education and coaching

I became obsessed with understanding not just the theory of addiction, but what actually works in real life. I studied the science, yes—but more importantly, I spent thousands of hours in the trenches with real people, real families, real crises. That combination of understanding the "why" behind addiction AND seeing what actually creates change is what makes my approach so effective.

I became obsessed with understanding not just the theory of addiction, but what actually works in real life. I studied the science, yes—but more importantly, I spent thousands of hours in the trenches with real people, real families, real crises. That combination of understanding the "why" behind addiction AND seeing what actually creates change is what makes my approach so effectiv

It's the combination of my family background, emotional understanding, and deep intellectual knowledge of addiction that fuels my passion for this work.

Even though I just "fell into" this career, I wouldn't want to do anything else.

If I won the lottery today, I'd still work. I'd probably just open a bunch more treatment centers.

Why This Actually Makes Me BETTER at My Job

If you're an addiction counselor and you're not in recovery, you have to be twice as good.

Clients in recovery instantly get credibility. But if you're not, you have to earn it—and it's hard because clients are looking for every reason not to trust you.

I don't have much time to prove myself, so I bring my A-game every single time.

Here's what growing up around addiction gave me that most counselors don't have:

✅ I'm comfortable around addicts and alcoholics (in fact, "normal" people make me feel awkward)
✅ I see the person, not just the problem
✅ I understand the addict's perspective (my clients call me their "defense attorney")
✅ I know addiction is complex—but I also know families have WAY more influence than they realize

My Credentials

I hold a Master's degree in Counseling from Clemson University and have been working in the addiction recovery field since 2004.

I've worked across inpatient settings and every level of outpatient care, gaining experience with thousands of individuals and families affected by addiction.

While I currently hold several counseling licenses (LPC, LAC, MAC), I've transitioned away from providing clinical counseling to focus exclusively on coaching and consulting. This allows me to reach more families and provide the strategic guidance they need without the limitations of traditional therapy.

My approach is rooted in the psychology of motivation and how people actually change. After thousands of cases, I've learned this: Real recovery doesn't come from pushing harder or trying to control the outcome. It comes from understanding what drives behavior and finding the internal motivation that makes change stick.