I’m a Northern Colorado Licensed Addictions Counselor, Licensed Clinical Counselor and Certified Master Herbalist. I am also CAMS and EMDR Certification Candidate. Over my 10 years of experience in victims advocacy and mental health services. I am queer, indigenous and two spirit. I have had my own recovery through trauma and watching those I love struggle with addiction. This lead me on a quest to understand the realms victims services. I began to volunteer at a local domestic violence shelter while pursuing my undergraduate degree in Applied Social Sciences at CSU. I worked as a victims advocate there after earning that degree, working with families in recovery from domestic violence. I saw a cross over of criminal behavior and substance abuse within this population and decided to earn my a masters in Criminal Justice and Legal Administration with a goal to work with people in the system recovering from domestic violence who were lead into criminal and substance abuse behaviors. I would then go on to pursue a second Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and become a Licensed Addictions Counselor in Colorado. During my studies I worked in a variety of settings specializing in substance abuse, and dual diagnosis. I worked in chemical dependency detox, medically assisted treatment centers, partial hospitalization treatment centers, intensive outpatient and outpatient recovery services. The experiences throughout my life as a queer person of color have helped me to embrace who I am. My education and experiences in the field of counseling helped me to expand my knowledge of the impact trauma, depression, anxiety and other mental health disorders to help others on their journey toward recovery.