I started Action Creates Change LLC in 2024 with the goal of helping young adults in early recovery from substance use disorders and life disrupting mental health conditions find purpose and direction. Life gets interrupted and the plans we had for ourselves can feel irreparably derailed. I know I felt that way when I entered my second inpatient treatment center in January of 2011 at the age of 20. I had dropped out of college twice and had no idea what to do next. I had chosen the treatment center, Mountainside in Canaan, CT, for its focus on adventure based counseling, mindfulness programming, and long work stay based aftercare program called Phase Four.

 

It was in this aftercare program that I had the opportunity to intern with the adventure based counseling program and felt a spark ignite with direction and purpose. I had been literally saved by this program and the recovery community. I wanted to give back and stay close to the people who understood through their own lived experience what it was like to struggle with mental health and substance use disorders, and come out on the other side better as a result of the hard work involved in recovery. 

 

After almost two years in recovery, I moved to Colorado (I love mountains) in the fall of 2013 from Boston and have been here ever since. I did the ski bum lifestyle for four years while working at a substance use detox facility, becoming a  Certified Addiction Counselor, taking classes at the local community college and getting 80+ days on the slopes. After getting my associate's degree, I transferred to Colorado State University for my Bachelor of Social Work and then on for my Master of Public Health degree with a concentration in global health and health disparities from the Colorado School of Public Health. 

 

My first role in employment services was in 2020 as the manager of a education/work based reentry program for people recently released from incarceration and/or currently experiencing homelessness. For program participants, obtaining stable employment and job skills were key factors to prevent relapse, recidivism and to be successful in this next chapter of their lives.

 

I now enjoy spending my work time in my current roles at Colorado State University's Career Center as a career educator and with Action Creates Change LLC where I oversee business operations and provide one on one career coaching with young adults in early recovery. 

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Stable employment, and educational attainment are two of the highest predictors of success in recovery (SAMHSA, 2021). In my own journey, it was essential and I see it continue to be the case for the young people I work with. I enjoy this work immensely and look forward to working with you.

 

My services are provided virtually and nationwide. For clients in Fort Collins, CO I do offer in-person coaching services.

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