I'm a person in long-term discovery. I have experienced trauma, a symptom of addiction, I have been homeless and I'm the loved one of a person who has mental and emotional health challenges and have attempted suicide. As a result of my life experiences, my study and my training, ​I believe in supporting the whole family: mind, body, spirit. I realize emotional, physical, psychological and spiritual well being are intertwined. I believe, while it’s important for a loved one to realize that they might have an illness, or a medical challenge, they are much more than that. We are so much more than our struggles. I get to help someone figure out on their own who they really are. Instead of saying 'You're an addict', ‘You’re bipolar’ or ‘You’re schizophrenic,’ I get to help someone feel comfortable and say, ‘I’m a person, not my diagnosis or label.’” The point is to move forward in life. The point is to discover "what's strong with you" and use those strengths to rediscover how powerful you really are. Adopting an "addict" identity can be especially problematic for young people whose identities are not yet fully formed. Doing so may make what may well be a transient problem into a long-term one, by teaching them that addiction is inevitably chronic and relapsing. Since no one can predict which youth will “mature out” of addiction and which will not, teens should never be forced to attend 12-step groups—nor should they be made to label themselves as "addicts". I do not subscribe to the word addict, at all. It's a stereotype that creates a barrier to accessing guidance. I prefer person experiencing addiction, person who uses drugs, person experiencing a Substance Use Disorder. Each family member is unique and is treated that way. I don’t see my clients as a diagnosis. I'm a care guide, a mentor not a clinician. I'm not a therapist. I don't give medical advice. I strongly believe that working in tandem with healthy, compassionate, clinical professionals is absolutely crucial to the process of transformation and healing for the family. ​ The words most frequently used to describe what I do for families includes the following: identify, engage, encourage, motivate, share, express, enhance, orient, help, link, consult, praise, enlist, support, organize, and advocate.