SELF CARE MASTERY - GIVING BACK

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At the heart of my work is a deep commitment to supporting women who are reclaiming their lives after abuse, crisis and hardship.  This path is deeply personal to me, it's one I’ve walked myself for many years. I know what it’s like to face the darkness and slowly, through grace and forgiveness, emerge into a light that is stronger, wiser, more self-aware and self -empowered.

At the core of my being is a primal desire to live an authentic, holistic, and beautifully simple life. This calling runs deep in my veins and is woven through my ancestral roots, family traditions, and the quiet wisdom passed down through generations of strong, resilient, intuitive and courageoulsy brave women. And I am here to honor them because without their stories, I wouldn't be here. 

I’m inspired daily by the bounty of the Earth and the sacred pause it invites when we choose to slow down, breathe deep, and attune to its rhythms. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a seeker.  A seeker of healing, of wholeness, of truth.  I'm a lover of real food, self-liberation, and soulful connection.

For four decades I juggled corporate jobs, compulsive people pleasing, unhealthy relationships, and the silent complexity of chronic stress, overwhelm and burn out. My nervous system finally waved the white flag, and I discovered that real healing isn’t found in a pill bottle or a productivity hack. It’s rooted in radical, integrated and intentional self-care mastery.

I believe that our purpose in this life is to heal from unhealed trauma. We are not meant to stay in pain but to transform it, to grow from it, and to use it as fuel for our own growth and evolution.

My journey hasn’t been linear and I don't believe that any healing jorney is linear, there are many ups and downs. In 2018, after years of toxic relationships, I made a choice that would alter the course of my life: I left my marriage of 17 years. It was the most certain I had ever felt in my life and it was the most scared I had ever felt in my life. I was 55, standing at a crossroads, unsure how to move forward. But I knew I had to.

I faced everything: the grief, the anger, the loss of my family, my security and the loss of my identity. I blamed others at first but ultimately realized that a mindset that blames only kept me stuck in my own pain and my own victimhood.   My true healing didn’t begin until I turned my attention inward and took full ownership of my life choices, my patterns, my trauma, my pain and the unconscious ways I had been abandoning myself.

I began to recognize how my childhood survival strategies, people pleasing, overgiving, and self-sacrifice had evolved into co-dependency in adulthood. This wasn’t a truth I wanted to own, but learned through grace that it was an adaptation and coping strategy I learned as a child in order to survive.  And now, it was time to unlearn those patterns of conditioning and re-define who I was.

That process of deep healing became the foundation of my life’s work.

During my 17 year marriage, I experienced a slow erosion of my well-being -  physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Despite living what appeared to be a “healthy lifestyle,” I battled chronic fatigue and brain fog, migraine headaches, autoimmune issues with my thyroid, allergies, gut issues, adrenal dysregulation, and emotional and mental burnout. I struggled with anxiety, apathy, sleep deprivation, and a deep disconnection from my true self.  

I coped by overextending myself for others, keeping the peace, walking on eggshells and numbing with cannabis.  Unbeknownst to me, my nervous system was in a chronic state of dysregulation.  Outwardly, everything looked fine. Inwardly, I was running on empty.  I spent years trying to "heal" myself with holistic and natural remedies.  Eating organic foods, taking supplements to imporve immunity and brain function, walking and caring for my body daily, massage therapy, accupuncture, IV infusions, chiropractic care, journaling, practicing gratitude.  I had a library of books on healing, nutrition, herbs, yoga, meditation, mindfulnlness, spiritual awakening. Nothing worked.  

The shift came when I read the book, Dodging Energy Vampires by Dr. Christiane Northrup. I don't remember buying this book or why but somehow it ended up in my pantry burried behind a bunch of other items until one day, I found it and it called me to explore its contents.  The book unveiled the truth of my life like it was written for me and by me.  Nothing I had read thus far had reasonated with me like this book did.  For the first time, I saw the invisible thread: narcissistic abuse and the co-dependency relationship dynamic I had been living in for 17 years.  That awareness changed everything. I stopped looking for the magic fix and started doing the real work.

In May 2018, I made the leap.  No plan, just the clarity that the pain of staying had become greater than the fear of jumping.  And so it began.

And that’s when Self Care Mastery was born.  In my sister’s basement in Baltimore, Maryland during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.  The dark night of my soul had emerged and there was not way out but through.

Seven years later, I’m still healing but from a place of empowerment, not survival. I am no longer chasing peace. I am peace. I have learned to trust and honor myself again, to set boundaries, to say no without guilt, and to build a life aligned with my own values.

I share my story because I want other women to know that there is a life after challenging and very difficult times.  The dynamic of co-dependency and narcissism is more common than we talk about. It’s a relationship dance rooted in childhood adaptations and unmet needs. But this dynamic can be unlearned. With time and safety and self-care, your work can begin.

Self-Care Mastery is a personalized, heart-centered program designed to help women reclaim their health, rebuild self-trust, and restore balance after trauma, burnout, or abuse. Every woman’s journey is unique, so her healing path should be, too. 

Healing begins by telling your story and reclaiming your voice. How you choose to move forward becomes your power. You choose. You decide. I offer a safe space, compassionate guidance, and practical strategies to help you begin again.

At the heart of this work is a deep commitment to accessibility for all. I believe healing shouldn’t be a privilege, it’s a birthright. That’s why I offer selected services on a sliding scale for women in crisis who are navigating hardship. This is my way of giving back to those who are ready to step into their healing, but may not have the resources to access support. If you’re in a time of transition, crisis, or hardship and feel called to this work, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m happy to explore sliding scale options with you.

As part of my commitment to community care, I also host a free monthly Support Group for Estranged Parents. This gathering offers a safe, nonjudgmental space where parents can find comfort, understanding, and connection with others who share similar experiences. It is a community built on empathy, respect, and shared healing and a place to be seen, heard, and supported through the complex emotions of estrangement. Each meeting is guided with compassion and gentle structure, creating room for reflection, resilience, and hope. My goal is to remind every parent that even in the midst of loss, they are not alone and that healing begins when we come together in truth and tenderness. 

If you have any questions please contact me directly using the contact options below.