Friendship has been one of my greatest teachers. And chosen family has been one of my greatest resources both in the good and bad times. I’ve navigated friendships that deepened, friendships that changed, and friendships that needed to end with care. I have learned community is something you practice. It requires discernment, boundaries, and the courage to show up as yourself while allowing others to do the same. I want to come along side those who want more than proximity or shared history. People who want friendships rooted in mutual support, accountability, and respect. Healthy community isn’t about perfection. It’s about learning how to relate, repair, and belong without losing yourself.

For most of my life, it felt like I was trying to fit into a role I was never meant for. I was always the "black sheep" in my family or the "weird" one, which left me feeling disconnected and unsure of myself. That path led me through some really tough times with depression, not knowing where I'd live, and the quiet pain of friendships just fading away. Through all of it, I fought with that constant feeling of being an imposter, like nothing I did was ever truly good enough. A crisis that left me homeless for a second time forced me to start completely over, but it actually turned out to be a blessing in disguise. In that quiet space of rebuilding, I finally learned how to set real boundaries, manage my own emotional stress, and find my way back to creating music. I also realized that helping other people feel seen is one of the most powerful ways to heal. So now, I'm here to offer a listening ear and a steady presence for anyone navigating their own tough challenges.

I didn't realize how much I had on my plate at first when I was hiding behind unhealthy vices like a few drinks after work, binge watching TV and eating or shopping my feelings away. It wasn't until I stopped feeding these habits that I was able to really lighten the loads of my day to day by actually learning to hold loving space for feeling emotionally or physically fatigued. Sleeping it off doesn't really sleep it off, but learning to lovingly sit with myself and offer myself or seek the additional support needed when necessary to move through difficult times has made those bumpy days way less rattling and helped shorten my turnaround time to returning to a charged battery with capacity to move forward and continue to advance in my life, no longer just barely keeping my head above water. I have a hefty tool box of self support practices I'd love to share and discover what it might help you to discover what can help you move through life's tough patches.

I have lived through invisible disabilities that reshaped my life—seizures, Hereditary Angioedema (type 2 HAEA), and Amelogenesis Imperfecta. At 23, medical complications led to the removal of all my teeth and a hospitalization where I was placed on life support. Alongside these health challenges, I’ve faced divorce, agoraphobia, and the responsibility of caring for my brother after multiple strokes and a heart attack. These trials could have left me broken, but instead they became the foundation for my purpose. I began certification training to better understand how to cope and to help others walking similar paths. My journey has taught me that resilience is not about facing struggles alone—it’s about community, compassion, and the power of being heard. My mission is to create spaces where invisible battles are acknowledged, where listening is valued as deeply as speaking, and where hardship is transformed into healing.

For me, meeting new people and making friends hasn’t always come easy. I’ve had times where I felt anxious walking into a room, worried about saying the wrong thing, or wondering if I even belonged. There have been seasons of loneliness where I wanted connection but didn’t know how to start—or where past hurts made it hard to trust new people. In this session, I’ll share openly about my own challenges with friendship and the lessons I’ve learned along the way. This isn’t about having it all figured out—it’s about creating a safe space to talk about how hard it can be and to support each other in the process.

Ever had conversations that should have been simple—expressing feelings, setting boundaries, navigating friendships—but felt like puzzles with missing pieces? Yeah, always been that way with me. Sometimes I felt like too much, sometimes too little, and almost always like I was being misunderstood. I’ve spent years untangling that sense of disconnection—communicating in a way that feels true to me while still bridging the gap with others. Through my work in peer support, I’ve helped people recognize their own emotional language, whether it’s through words, actions, or quiet understanding. You don’t have to force yourself into someone else’s mold to be heard. If you’ve ever struggled to express your feelings or felt like you just don’t "fit" emotionally, I get it. Let’s explore how you naturally communicate and find ways to connect with the people who truly understand you.

Being disabled as much as I try I don't feel like I fit in usually. People look at me differently and I feel left out most of the time. In church, in family and even with friends. I can not change this but have learned all I can do is be me. It hurts to not be accepted or included but I learned to thank God anyways and live each day the best I can. God provides the people I need and knows whats best for me.

I've walked through hell and back. Addiction, chaos, and darkness were my reality for years, and I've made mistakes that could have broken me - but I survived! I've cried at the gates of hell, and somehow, the universe reached down and pulled me out because it knew I was strong enough to turn around and reach back in to pull just one more out - hacksaw ridge status - one more person, one more life. Today, I guide people who feel lost, trapped, or hopeless to transform their pain into strength, reclaim their lives, and create hope for themselves and those around them. Together, we turn survival into purpose and lived experience into empowerment.

Self harm was my way of feeling something real when the emotional pain became unbearable. The physical act became a language for the chaos inside, a release of pressure from The unseen weight of trauma, addiction, and depression. I lived in fear - hiding scars, adjusting clothing and managing judgment from those I loved. Pain cause more pain; the cycle felt analyst. Yet, through recovery, I learned that self-harm does not define my worth. It taught me empathy, resilience, and the importance of being seen and heard. Now I got others through the darkness helping them understand their triggers, look for glimmers, find healthier outlets, and reclaim their life with hope, compassion, and self-love.

I didn't expect to spend so much time with myself in my 30s. Without a childhood bestie and/or long-term partner, the pandemic and associated remote work heightened the challenges of transient adult friendships and seeking a relationship offline. Bandage advice like joining Meetups may not work for the sensitive introvert. I'd love to help you navigate feelings of loneliness and share strategies for living contently and hopefully.

Some of my most peaceful moments come when I am in solitude. I have moved cities, relocated for jobs and finding new connections or quality social support isn't always easy. Sometimes we are disconnected from others or from purpose, times of feeling lonely is natural. I'm here for you to make space to connect, and help you feel hopeful - take what you need from our time together.

Grief from loss can occur many times throughout our lives. From the loss of a dream or idea to the loss of a parent or spouse, grief can creep into our lives in many different ways. There is no right or wrong way to grieve but talking to someone can be a healthy way to cope when going through all of the ways we can be distressed. I've dealt with everything from the loss of my mother at a younger age after a debilitating illness to the sadness of losing the ability to continue in a career that I very much loved because my body had betrayed me. Loss of relationships has been a common thread throughout my life, from friendships to the closest and most important of all relationships. I've had heartbreak on every level. I've navigated loss of career, relationships, dreams & ideas, loved ones & pets (maybe one of the hardest to cope with!). I've gotten through some situations much quicker & easier than others, finding that going through, rather than around, tends to get me the best outcome.

MOTIVATION IS HARD!!! I know sometimes getting started is the hardest part in getting anything done! At times it's so hard to get moving, even at a snail's pace, but once someone else is involved.... BAM, I'm moving at Mach 5 to get it done! Maybe you just want someone to talk to while you fold laundry. Maybe it would be helpful if someone is just sitting quietly while you do something really hard emotionally, like going through belongings of a loved one after they have passed. There are numerous situations where having someone to just BE with you can be helpful and I'd be more than honored to be that for you. We can talk about anything, or nothing, whatever you'd like and whatever might help you get through whatever task it is that you are having trouble starting. I get it. I have nearly earned a Master's Degree in procrastination! I'm learning little tricks to get myself moving, the top of which is the Body Double... someone to be with while I do the thing I don't want to do.

Today's world can feel really cold & lonely sometimes so we could all use a sounding board; to let off steam, to talk through ideas & emotions, or to "try out" thoughts outside of our own head. I fully understand how lonely life can feel. I moved over 1000 miles away from anyone I know, & making friends as a chronically ill, middle-aged empty-nester isn't an easy task! I've struggled meeting people in my area, however I've made a few connections that will hopefully blossom into more in time. I have been able to maintain relationships with longtime friends over the internet & that has surprisingly provided a sense of community of its own. Those strong long-distance bonds give me immense comfort & therefore reinforce my belief that we can share a lot of 'warmth', build community, & gain support & healing to combat loneliness on this platform. Many times, just talking about our day or our worries with someone who cares, regardless of proximity, can be exactly what we need to feel less lonely! ♡

I’m an introvert who grew up in a family of introverts. I had no childhood friends because of homework and music lessons. A divorce and estrangement from family left me on my own entirely. My adult friendships were few, occasionally satisfying, but contact was sporadic. After retiring, I relocated to an area where I knew no one. Although now eager for connection, I had few social skills, and my initial efforts were fraught with unrealistic expectations in a closed community culture. It took a while, but I’ve turned the corner. A few deep friendships, a weekly Friday afternoon social group at my house, volunteer activities and counseling made the difference. It’s not an overnight solution, but I’m proof that a satisfactory, joyful recovery from isolation and loneliness by learning new skills is possible. It requires willingness to expand your comfort zone, persistence, resilience, a growth mind-set and good humor. Join me. Let’s start your journey to connection and healing.

At 83, I’m living a full life – with all the ups, downs, sharp turns, and potholes that come with it. I’m a mother of two. I was a Silicon Valley CFO, a Marriage Family Therapist, a care giver for my dad. I’ve been married and divorced more than once. I’ve been my own best friend and only supporter, successfully navigating my world on my own for the last 42 years. I recreated myself several times and I retired at 70. But every 10 years brought physical, psychological, emotional challenges – my body and mind not feeling as good or working as expected. Hormonal changes (for men & women), clothes don’t fit right, loss of energy, vim and vigor, ailments and illness, “senior moments” and loss of friends and family. During this time, I created a community for myself through friendships, volunteering (now as a Senior Peer Counselor), and hosting a weekly Mahjongg game while managing a fractured femur and the resulting identity crisis. If any of this sounds familiar, I'm here for you.

For me, living alone and a couple hours from close friends means the holidays can feel like a funny mix of peaceful project time and unexpected loneliness. I’ve opted out of complicated family dynamics because I’m no longer a people pleaser, which leaves me with a whole new kind of solo space. If you’re hitting your limit after the hundredth round of holiday music, or feeling out of sync with a family group chat that moves 30 messages a minute, and you’d rather talk to an actual human instead, I’m here. Whether it’s Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Eve or Day, Valentine’s Day, or any moment when it seems like everyone you know is wrapped up in family plans while you’re navigating your own quiet corner of the season, it can feel liberating or it can feel like being the odd duck out in the cold. Don’t spend even a moment blaming yourself for being single or simply on your own during the holidays. Book a session with me, and let’s talk it through together.

Over a span of 30 years, I encountered cultural differences with 3 different partners. Each partnership faced both internal and external cultural bias, stigmas, and discrimination based on societal stereotypes. I went through cognitive therapy with my husband to learn how to communicate effectively with someone who not only learned English as a second language, but who was holding long-engrained beliefs about our respective countries and societies. We also worked on how to present a united front to outside disruptors, often family and friends bringing in their own bias that stirred the pot of misunderstandings and underlying the need to learn straight-forward communication. Even if your partner is unsure how to, or unwilling to, communicate their own feelings, you can still enhance your own communication style in an open, compassionate manner that exudes respect and honesty to yourself and to them.

On the other side of the well known "Let Them" theory is a beautiful hidden path to finding your way home--I call it,"LET ME" I discovered this hidden gem long before the popular theory exploded, I found it quietly along my own personal path of healing and self discovery. Stemming from childhood trauma/wounds and being a deeply "sensitive" and empathetic female, the role of "people pleaser, door mat" seemed fitting so I embraced it vigorously. Coming from a generation of young girls conditioned to "be nice" left me drained emotionally, spiritually, and without a clue as to who I was and what I was meant to do and be. Over-giving and constant self-abandonment left me disconnected from my divine "Spiritual Home". I walk my personal path each day, a step at a time, empowered, aligned and protecting my peace and with great gratitude I am "letting me"--guilt free.

I was my dad's caregiver for 7 years. He had multiple health conditions and double bypass surgery. I juggled work life balance, and also my own health. I lost my dad earlier this year and It's a very hard thing to go through. I lost my mom to cancer in 2016, and also helped care for her. We all grieve in our own ways, I am here to listen and talk you through that grief and immense sorrow.