I have been in the addiction counseling field since October 2002. In November 2003 I began studies at the NET Training Institute for Addiction & related issues. From there I became a facilitator for Addicts, Adult Children of Alcoholics, Co-Dependents and Relationship Addiction groups in a faith-based 12-step program. In February 2005, I partnered with the Central Florida Dream Center in Sanford, Florida, where I created & coordinated a program called "Overcomers", which was a group that deals with any life-challenging issues, including addiction, co-dependency, anger, unhealthy boundaries & parenting skills. From there, I contracted with New Life Connections, Inc., in Sanford, Florida, an outpatient treatment facility, where I taught drug education & victim's awareness, and facilitated various support groups in addiction, women's issues, relapse prevention and aftercare. I saw clients individually, formulated treatment plans, reported clients' monthly progress to referral sources, and created group therapy session plans. While interning at New Life, I became certified through the State of Florida to become a Certified Addiction Counselor. After three years at New Life, I branched out on my own to be an independent contractor working under the license and other credentials of a Licensed Mental Health Counselor. I later became the Program Manager of The HAT Program (Healing and Transition) for those returning to society from jail or prison. The program later expanded to include survivors of human trafficking.Specialties: Educating people on the dangers of drug & alcohol abuse and/or addiction; facilitating groups in order to present different scenarios on how to handle life's various challenges; teaching life skills so as to better handle stressors/triggers and be a more responsible person; challenging co-dependents to empower themselves and learn what healthy boundaries look like; educating people what resistance or denial looks like; and more.