I was first hospitalized at the age of 15. What began as a single stay soon turned into a long and exhausting cycle — I became what some called a “frequent flyer” in psychiatric hospitals. For many years, I went in and out of these facilities excessively, navigating a system that often felt more confining than healing.
During that time, I was diagnosed with multiple psychiatric conditions, including Schizoaffective Disorder and CPTSD. I struggled with intense inner pain and harmful behaviors, and though I was committed to personal growth, therapy alone didn’t provide the resolve or understanding I was searching for. I often left sessions feeling unheard or misunderstood, still carrying the weight of trauma and confinement.
Everything changed when I discovered peer support. For the first time, I felt seen by someone who truly understood what it was like to be repeatedly hospitalized, labeled, and silenced.
Peer support showed me that healing could exist outside of the traditional system — that connection, understanding, and lived experience could be as transformative as any treatment. It gave me hope, clarity, and the sense that recovery is possible, even after years of trauma.
This experience changed my life, and it inspired me to create Unlock Psych. My mission is simple: I want to give others the same gift I was given — the gift of peer support. I want to hold space for those who have experienced psychiatric hospitalization or incarceration, to listen without judgment, and to walk alongside them as they navigate trauma, healing, and self-discovery. I do have additional training now as a Life Coach in different specialities, but I will always remember that peer support is where my journey began. Peer support is what leaned into my heart and gave me hope that healing could be a reality. Now, I get the privilege to provide peer coaching to people who have experienced similar challenges that I have.
I know firsthand the deep pain of being confined, misunderstood, or treated as a diagnosis rather than a person. I also know the power of being truly seen and supported by someone who has walked that path. That is what drives my work every day — to create spaces where survivors can feel understood, empowered, and free to take their next step toward healing.
Peer support changed my life. It can change yours too.
