After escaping an abusive relationship in 2010, I had a long road to recovery ahead of me. As a single mom of three, uprooted from all I'd ever known for safety's sake, there were few resources I could take advantage of to help me manage my Complex PTSD. I had to find strength and healing in my faith and in myself. Personal Medicine became a way of life for me, only I didn't have a name for it back then. All I knew was that I was surviving and doing the best I could to give my kids a 'normal' life. When I was finally able to attend professional therapy, my counselors were surprised at how I'd been able to maintain my road to recovery through learning about my illness and experimenting with activities that brought me joy and peace. When I was offered the opportunity to learn about Personal Medicine, I jumped at the chance, and the training did not disappoint. I not only finally had a name for what I'd been doing all along, but I also had a scaffolding that could guide me into making my Personal Medicine as powerful as possible. I am currently serving at New River Valley Community Services as a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, and I love that I get to use my life experiences and what I've learned about Personal Medicine to help every individual I serve find their own Healer Within. I am also a fantasy and children's author, and I love to incorporate themes of healing in my writing.