On April 25th, 2022 my husband took his own life. He left behind our two children as well as the two children he had raised with me from a young age. He was a brilliant mind and a hard worker. We had no idea that it was coming, and took our family completely off guard. In the last two years we have stuck together as a family to overcome the obstacles associated with his passing. He was the primary breadwinner for our family, and I was in the middle of obtaining my Bachelor's degree in Sociology with an emphasis in grief and bereavement. Prior to his death, I had worked with children ages 5-18 in a hospice care center in dealing with the loss of a parent or a sibling. I never thought that I would be finding grief groups for my own children shortly after. I have since graduated from Grand Canyon University with a degree in Sociology and I and continuing my education- currently obtaining my Master's in Substance Abuse Counseling at Grand Canyon University. The loss of my husband is still felt so strongly in our home. We miss him terribly, and the kids and I all deal with the various stages of grief at different times. We are all working hard to live our lives to the fullest possible in honor of him. I am so thankful for those have been there along our grief journey to walk beside us as we learn to cope with the loss. It is something that we deal with daily, and never truly subsides. I have taken much of what I have learned from my grief training and have been able to apply it to substance abuse. I am currently volunteering with the crisis text line and SMART recovery. These causes are both so incredibly important to me, and I appreciate the ability to be there in someone's time of need. I hope to help ease the pain and helplessness that is associated with suicide. Not only does suicide take a toll on the person who is suffering, but also the family who is either left behind or trying to process the fact that an attempt has been made. It is imperative to provide resources to families and individuals so that they know that they are not alone when going through something such as suicide. It can feel very lonely and taboo. There are so many emotions besides sadness. People feel a range of feelings- anywhere from shame, regret, anger, hope, to defeat, and so many others. If I can help to alleviate the stress and pain in someone's life, I will feel successful in my endeavors to assist those who need help the most- to know that they are not alone and that there are so many people who care. I would hate for anyone to feel hopeless or alone in such a dark time and I will continue to work to make sure that I am there whenever someone needs and ear or a shoulder to lean on. Thank you so much for your consideration.

Recovery is a long and often challenging journey, and individuals in recovery often face a unique set of challenges and obstacles. As someone with firsthand experience, you can provide empathy, understanding, and support in a way that few others can. I am currently recovering from an addiction myself and look to obtain my Masters in Addiction Counseling so that I may help others who have struggled with addiction. lost my husband to suicide in April 2022 which sent me into somewhat of a downward spiral. I was raising my four children on my own when I started dating my boyfriend, who quickly became a father to my children. He lost his life to an accidental fentanyl overdose in November 2023. I have remained committed to my sobriety since early 2023 and I look forward to helping others when I become a licensed addiction counselor. I think that having gone through addiction, withdrawals and recovery myself, I understand the immense struggles and I hope to help others on their recovery journey. My personal experience as a recovering addict can give a unique insight and empathy when working with individuals struggling with substance abuse. It can help to understand their unique challenges, offer support, and draw upon my own journey of recovery to provide valuable guidance. Additionally, I hope that my personal experience can serve as a source of inspiration and motivation for my clients. Knowing that I have successfully overcome addiction can hopefully provide them with hope and the belief that recovery is possible for them as well. However, I understand that while my personal experience can be an asset, it is essential to maintain professional boundaries and adhere to ethical guidelines in my counseling practice. My role is to provide support, guidance, and evidence-based strategies to help individuals in their recovery journey. My goal is that my unique perspective and ability to connect with individuals who are struggling can make a significant difference in their lives. My passion to help others stems from my desire to help people live their best lives. The road to recovery has been full of challenges. I have hurt myself and my family. I have let a lot of people down and I understand what it feels like to be at the bottom. I decided that I was not going to let addiction and grief control my life. I am hopeful that I can help inspire others to keep going on their road to recovery and provide them with alternative ways and tools to feel fulfilled and whole. Thank you so much for your considering and I am so sorry for your loss.