FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, GRACE WELLNESS INSTITUTE
Compassionate Guidance. Faith. Lasting Hope.
I believe people deserve more than credentials across the table from them. They deserve to feel seen, heard, respected, and understood.
For more than 25 years, my journey has brought me alongside individuals, families, leaders, organizations, and communities through some of life’s most difficult and transformative moments.
Today, my approach brings together professional education, behavioral health and crisis-response experience, leadership, faith when desired, and something that cannot be learned from a textbook alone, lived experience.
FROM SURVIVOR TO SERVICE
My journey did not begin with degrees, titles, leadership positions, or professional credentials.
Long before I became a counselor, coach, chaplain, advocate, entrepreneur, or leader, I was a little girl trying to survive circumstances I did not yet have the words to understand. My story began with childhood sexual abuse at the age of five. In the years that followed, I experienced foster care, bullying, and other painful circumstances that shaped much of my childhood. By fourteen, I was pregnant and facing a future that, from the outside, may have looked already decided for me. There were moments when the weight of what I had experienced felt greater than the hope I could see ahead. But my story did not end there. Somewhere along the way, survival became resilience. Resilience became purpose. And eventually, the very places where I had once needed someone to stand beside me became the places where I began standing beside others.
Years later, suicide would touch my life again in a way I never imagined. In 2020, just three days after Thanksgiving, I lost my 30-year-old sister, Saylin, to suicide. Saylin was a sister, a daughter, and a mother. At the time, she was navigating depression and suicidal thoughts while also processing a divorce and the isolation and uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. Losing someone I loved changed my family profoundly. I knew the pain of my own struggles, but losing someone I loved and not being able to help her gave me another layer of understanding and insight into what families experience when suicide enters their story. It deepened my commitment to suicide prevention, mental health advocacy, and helping people feel seen, heard, and supported before they reach a place where hope feels impossible.
Her life mattered. Her story mattered. And the people who are struggling today matter.
Over time, I began to understand that the experiences I once wished I could erase were also shaping the way I could connect with and serve others. I began showing up in places where people were hurting, churches, schools, community organizations, correctional settings, support groups, and spaces where individuals and families were navigating trauma, grief, addiction, crisis, and major life transitions. What began as a desire to help became a commitment to serve. I learned that lived experience could open the door to connection, but compassion needed to be accompanied by knowledge, training, accountability, and continued growth. That realization led me deeper into education, behavioral health, advocacy, crisis response, and leadership and ultimately helped shape the woman, leader, and professional I am today.”
A LIFE OF SERVICE
Service became one of the ways I learned to turn pain into purpose. What began as a desire to help others grew into more than 25 years of leadership, advocacy, ministry, community service, and work alongside individuals and families during some of life's most difficult moments.
Over the years, I have served in churches, schools, hospitals, community organizations, correctional settings, juvenile justice programs, behavioral health services, and workplaces. I have supported children and teens, parents and families, trauma survivors, individuals facing mental health and substance use challenges, people experiencing grief and suicidal crisis, and those navigating major life transitions.
My service has taken me into places where people are often experiencing some of their most vulnerable moments from supporting incarcerated youth and facilitating groups with incarcerated men and pregnant women, to walking alongside patients and families in hospital emergency, trauma, intensive care, oncology, labor and delivery, and palliative care settings. I have also served through suicide prevention and mental health advocacy, family and youth support, crisis response, community outreach, mentoring, and leadership development.
The late Dr. Maya Angelou expressed something I have come to understand deeply through my own journey:
“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
— Dr. Maya Angelou
That truth has stayed with me throughout my years of service. Whether I am sitting with someone in crisis, supporting a grieving family, mentoring a young person, or walking alongside someone rebuilding their life, I want people to leave our time together knowing they were seen, heard, valued, and treated with dignity. My desire to serve others is rooted in compassion, empathy, and a genuine commitment to care for people from the heart. These experiences have strengthened my belief that meaningful support begins with compassion, presence, dignity, and the willingness to meet people where they are.
For me, service is not simply part of my work.
It is part of who I am.
LEADERSHIP BEYOND
GRACE WELLNESS INSTITUTE
Throughout my journey, I have been honored to serve through behavioral health leadership, workplace wellness, education, advocacy, and community service.
LEADERSHIP & EXECUTIVE EXPERIENCE
Founder & Executive Director — Grace Wellness Institute
Vice President & Director of Counseling — Domestic Violence, SEDFOB Inc. | Local & International
Former Vice President & Operations Manager — Venom Security & Protective Services, Inc.
Former PTA President & Vice President
Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient — Leadership, Service & Community Impact
25+ Years of Leadership & Organizational Experience
ADVOCACY & COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) — Prevention Education Committee | Healing Conversations Volunteer
Former Juvenile Justice Advisory Council Chairperson
Mental Health Advocacy & Volunteer Leadership with NAMI
Suicide Prevention & Postvention Advocacy
Community Mentor & Youth Advocate
Behavioral Health Educator
Family & Community Support
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH & CRISIS LEADERSHIP
Behavioral Health Crisis Responder | 988 Mobile Crisis
Corporate & Marketplace Chaplain
Chaplain — Northside Hospital Gwinnett
Behavioral Health Trainer
Workplace Wellness Consultant
Crisis Intervention & Resource Navigation
EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP
NASW Georgia Chapter — MSW Student Representative
Public Speaker & Professional Trainer
Faith-Based Education & Ministry Leadership
Community & Organizational Leadership
Continuing Education & Professional Development
Creating safe spaces, strengthening people, and helping individuals, families, organizations, and communities move forward with compassion, integrity, and hope.
WHEN FAMILIES ARE FACING THE UNTHINKABLE
Compassionate presence during some of life's most difficult moments.
During my Clinical Pastoral Education at Northside Hospital Gwinnett, I had the privilege of walking alongside patients and families during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives.
I served throughout the hospital, including the Emergency Department, ICU, Trauma, Oncology, Labor & Delivery, and Palliative Care, providing compassionate presence and emotional and spiritual support during medical crises, serious illness, grief, pregnancy and infant loss, end-of-life decisions, and unexpected loss.
Some moments called for prayer. Others called for listening, sitting quietly beside someone, supporting a family as they received devastating news, or simply making sure no one had to face an overwhelming moment alone.
This experience deepened something I had already learned through my own life: we may not always be able to change what someone is facing, but we can change how alone they feel while facing it.
WORKPLACE WELLNESS & CORPORATE CHAPLAINCY
Healthy organizations begin with healthy people.
As a Corporate and Marketplace Chaplain, workplace wellness consultant, and behavioral health professional, I partner with businesses, healthcare organizations, nonprofit agencies, churches, schools, and community leaders throughout Georgia and beyond to strengthen employee well-being, leadership, and organizational health.
My work includes confidential employee support, corporate chaplain services, behavioral health and crisis support, grief and bereavement care, leadership coaching, trauma-informed training, conflict resolution, professional development, workplace wellness initiatives, and organizational support.
I also support individuals, couples, and families navigating challenges that can affect both personal and professional well-being, including trauma, grief, addiction recovery, relationship concerns, parenting stress, family dynamics, and major life transitions.
This includes support for blended families, remarried couples, stepfamilies, co-parenting challenges, children adjusting to new family relationships, sibling conflict, and couples working to build trust, communication, and stability as two families come together.
Whether supporting an individual employee, leadership team, couple, family, or organization, my goal is to help create healthier environments where people feel supported, relationships grow stronger, leaders feel equipped, and organizations are better positioned to thrive.
Compassionate support for people. Stronger relationships for families. Healthier workplaces and communities.
MORE THAN A PROFESSION,
IT'S MY CALLING
Long before I became a behavioral health professional, counselor, chaplain, life coach, speaker, advocate, and leader, I was a young girl searching for hope.
My own journey has included childhood trauma, foster care, abuse, addiction recovery, grief, divorce, and unexpected life challenges. There were seasons when my future felt uncertain, but compassionate people helped me believe that healing, growth, and a different future were possible.
Those experiences never became my identity, but they became part of my purpose.
Today, I have the privilege of combining lived experience with professional education, behavioral health leadership, crisis intervention, trauma-informed and evidence-informed practices, faith when desired, and compassionate support to help others discover hope beyond their circumstances.
My work has allowed me to walk alongside individuals and families during some of life’s most difficult moments, from trauma, grief, addiction recovery, relationship challenges, family conflict, and major life transitions to moments of crisis, loss, and uncertainty. I believe people deserve a safe, compassionate space where they can be heard, supported, and empowered to move forward.
Whether I am supporting a couple working to rebuild trust, helping a blended family navigate new relationships and family dynamics, encouraging a parent, mentoring a young person, helping someone strengthen their self-esteem and confidence, or supporting an individual as they rediscover their purpose, my goal remains the same: to help people heal, grow, strengthen relationships, and move forward with hope.
My approach brings together compassion, lived experience, professional education, behavioral health leadership, crisis intervention, faith when desired, and practical support. I meet people where they are without judgment and help them identify meaningful next steps toward healing, stronger relationships, personal growth, greater confidence, and overall well-being.
My calling also extends into the workplace and the world of leadership. Through workplace wellness, corporate and marketplace chaplaincy, leadership development, business consulting, visionary consulting, training, and organizational support, I help individuals, entrepreneurs, leaders, businesses, and organizations move from ideas to purposeful action.
I especially enjoy working with entrepreneurs, business owners, leaders, and emerging visionaries who have an idea, dream, business, program, or initiative they are ready to bring to life. Together, we clarify the vision, identify practical next steps, strengthen leadership strategies, and develop an actionable path forward.
My passion for entrepreneurship, business development, and visionary leadership has also taken me internationally. In South Africa, I had the opportunity to speak to women about entrepreneurship, starting a business, business development, and practical steps for turning an idea into something tangible. That experience further strengthened my commitment to helping aspiring entrepreneurs and visionaries recognize the possibilities within their ideas and move from vision to action with greater confidence, structure, and purpose.
Whether someone is navigating a personal crisis, rebuilding a relationship, strengthening a family, developing confidence and self-esteem, leading an organization, starting a business, or bringing a long-held vision to life, I believe meaningful transformation becomes possible when people have compassionate support, practical guidance, and someone who believes in what is possible.
Because I know what it feels like when one person believes in you.
Helping people heal, grow, lead, build, and bring meaningful visions to life is more than the work I do, it is part of my calling.
For me, every part of this journey comes back to one purpose: helping people discover healing, hope, possibility, and a path forward.
EDUCATION & LIFELONG LEARNING
“I believe compassionate care grows stronger through lifelong learning.”
Master of Social Work (MSW) Candidate — Fort Valley State University, Expected 2027
Doctoral Program in Clinical Christian Counseling — Expected 2027
Master’s Degree in Christian Counseling
Master’s Degree in Chaplaincy
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology — Georgia State University
Associate Degree in Criminal Justice — Roxbury Community College
Board-Certified Christian Counselor
Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) — Northside Hospital Gwinnett
Certified Peer Specialist — Addictive Disease (CPS-AD)
Certified Peer Specialist — Parent (CPS-Parent)
Foster Care Peer Support Coach
Nonviolent Crisis Intervention Training
Behavioral Health Crisis Response Training
Trauma-Informed Care Training
Crisis Intervention & Suicide Prevention Training
EDUCATION, CREDENTIALS & PROFESSIONAL TRAINING:
AREAS OF EXPERIENCE & SPECIALIZATION:
Trauma-Informed Support
Childhood Sexual Abuse & Sexual Assault Recovery
Domestic Violence & Narcissistic Abuse Recovery
Addiction Recovery & Family Support
Grief, Loss & Suicide Postvention
Suicide Prevention & Crisis Support
Couples, Relationship & Blended Family Support
Parenting, Co-Parenting & Family Support
Conflict Resolution, Communication & Relationship Repair
Self-Esteem & Confidence Coaching
Behavioral Health Crisis Intervention & Resource Navigation
Workplace Wellness & Corporate Chaplaincy
Leadership Development & Executive Support
Life Coaching & Personal Development
Business & Visionary Consulting
Peer Support & Recovery-Focused Services
Community Education, Workshops & Professional Training
As behavioral health and the needs of individuals, families, workplaces, and communities continue to evolve, I remain committed to lifelong learning, evidence-informed practices, leadership development, and professional growth. My goal is to continue expanding my knowledge and skills so I can serve individuals, couples, families, leaders, and organizations with compassion, integrity, and excellence.
COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP, ADVOCACY & SERVICE
NASW Georgia — MSW Student Representative
National Small Business Association (NSBA) — Leadership Council Member
Socio Economic Development Foundation of Boston Inc. (SEDFOB) — Board of Directors, Mental Health & Life Enrichment
NAMI Georgia — Former Board of Directors Member
NAMI — Peer Leadership Council (PLC) Alternate
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) — Healing Conversations Volunteer & Suicide Prevention Advocate
International Public Speaker & Entrepreneurship Educator — South Africa
Juvenile Justice Advisory Council — Former Chairperson
Collins Hill High School PTA — Former President (1 Term) & Vice President (2 Terms) | Gwinnett County, Georgia
Brave Girls Rise Up — Founder & Youth Mentor
Community Behavioral Health Educator & Advocate
Suicide Prevention & Postvention Advocate
Behavioral Health Crisis Responder
Corporate & Marketplace Chaplain
Youth, Family & Community Advocate
HEALING. HOPE. WHOLENESS.
These three words represent the heart of Grace Wellness Institute and the journey we believe is possible.
HEALING
Healing is more than moving beyond pain. It is creating space to process what has happened, rebuild what has been affected, strengthen relationships, and move forward with greater understanding, confidence, and resilience.
HOPE
Hope is the belief that your present circumstances do not have to determine your future. Even during seasons of grief, trauma, uncertainty, conflict, or transition, new possibilities can still emerge.
WHOLENESS
Wholeness is not about perfection. It is about bringing the pieces of life back together, emotional well-being, relationships, family, purpose, faith when desired, leadership, work, and personal growth in a way that supports a healthier and more meaningful life.
At Grace Wellness Institute, we walk alongside individuals, couples, families, leaders, businesses, organizations, churches, and communities as they pursue healthier lives, stronger relationships, resilient workplaces, renewed purpose, and brighter futures.
Because every story matters. Every life has value. And healing is always possible.
Who We Serve
Grace Wellness Institute supports individuals, couples, families, youth, leaders, professionals, businesses, organizations, churches, schools, and communities through compassionate, trauma-informed, and practical support.
Our work includes support for:
• Individuals seeking healing, purpose, resilience, self-esteem, confidence, and personal growth
• Couples working to rebuild trust, strengthen communication, and navigate relationship challenges
• Blended families, remarried couples, co-parenting families, and families adjusting to new relationships and family dynamics
• Parents and caregivers navigating stress, conflict, behavioral concerns, and major family transitions
• Children, teens, young adults, and at-risk youth
• Survivors of trauma, childhood abuse, sexual abuse, domestic violence, narcissistic abuse, addiction, grief, and significant loss
• Individuals seeking support with anxiety, depression, burnout, compassion fatigue, and major life stressors
• Individuals and families affected by suicide, including prevention, postvention, grief, and crisis support
• Healthcare professionals, first responders, chaplains, behavioral health professionals, and helping professionals
• Business owners, entrepreneurs, executives, leaders, and emerging visionaries
• Workplace teams seeking employee well-being, conflict resolution, leadership development, crisis support, and healthier organizational culture
• Churches, ministries, schools, nonprofit organizations, healthcare organizations, and community agencies
• Individuals seeking faith-based support when desired, as well as those who prefer non-faith-based support
Whether we are serving one person, one family, one team, or an entire organization, our commitment remains the same:
To create safe, compassionate spaces where people can heal, grow, strengthen relationships, develop confidence, discover purpose, move forward with hope, and thrive.