I'm a Substance Abuse Counselor-In-Training who got my start working with the reentry population, and that shaped how I see everything. I've since worked with people who are houseless or living on low income, and I learned fast that recovery doesn't happen in a vacuum. The world doesn't exactly hold a spot for these folks. I work with anyone dealing with substance use, whatever their background. I'm finishing my M.S. in Community Psychology at Alverno College with a concentration in trauma-informed care. I don't treat substance use as a character flaw or a stand-alone problem. It usually makes sense once you look at the trauma, the systems, and the community around a person. My approach draws on CBT, person-centered, and feminist frameworks, and I work in both individual and group settings. I'll be direct with you, I'll listen more than I talk, and I won't hand you a worksheet when what you need is a real conversation.