I come to my work speaking about adolescent mental health honestly: I was very much an insecure kid who suffered from low self-confidence and self-esteem. You might not have known it because very often I projected a fair amount of outward bravado, but ultimately this was just a mask for the deep insecurity I felt.This, in conjunction with a major head injury I experienced at 15 years of age, caused me to spend much of my teen and young adult years dealing with depression, low self-confidence, and a lack of direction. At my lowest moment, I felt so lost that I contemplated suicide. Fortunately, through a lot of hard work on myself ranging from counseling to fitness, meditation, and martial arts, as well as a couple of key mentors along the way, I was able to solidly come out the other side.Not surprisingly, over time I found I had a gift for helping other young people do the same, and this has been the basis for my entire professional life.Since 1995, I have worked with youth in just about every setting imaginable: drug and alcohol treatment, with at-risk foster youth, community mental health, private practice, and as a Director of Special Education at District of Columbia Public Schools.I have a Masters Degree in Counselor Education and am a Nationally Certified Counselor.My primary focus now is speaking around the country about Student Mental Health and Risky Behavior, where I have spoken to tens of thousands of students, parents, and educators about:For Students: - Be the Hero of Your Own Story: The Path to Self-Confidence, Purpose & Resilience - Risky Business: An Honest Conversation About Fentanyl, Vaping and WeedFor Parents, Teachers and Caring Adults: - Resilient Educators: Practical Tools to Stay Positive and Avoid Burnout - The Power of One Caring Adult: Every Kid is One Caring Adult Away From Being a Success Story