Before joining the team as a certified peer specialist in 2018, I was a participant in its program. As a kid, my personality was always a bit introverted, so I couldn’t really tell anything different was going on with me until I was 24 and struggling under a lot of stress. I was referred to OnTrackNY, which started my turnaround. It also helped that I come from a large family and everyone supported me, particularly my dad, who was always willing to listen without judgment.

Much of what I do now as a peer mentor is try to emulate his way of offering space to share freely, of really hearing what people are saying and validating their feelings. I want to help others get through the tough parts, overcome the fears and stigmas, and build up their resilience so they can live the life they want.

It started freshman year in college, soon after I moved and got settled in my dorm. I began to notice a decrease in the way I was able to function. I felt like it took me a lot longer to do things that usually came easy to me, particularly in my classwork. The early intervention clinic was actually in the dorm where I was living, which was convenient. I don’t know if I would have been able to reach out for help if it were farther away. I was away at school, in a different town, and I didn’t know any local counselors, so I stuck with what was available within the university. Thankfully, I didn’t fall through the cracks.

When I was 19, I became overwhelmed with stress. I started hearing voices and before I knew what was happening, I was failing my college classes. I dropped out of school and refused to seek help. At 20, a family friend encouraged me to see a doctor. That conversation saved my life.

As soon as I started treatment, I realized how unwell I had been. Two years later I was back in school, and today, I’m a psychiatric nurse practitioner, helping young people get the help they deserve.

I’m OnTrackNY’s licensed therapist. I’m here to check in, listen to your story, address any concerns you have, and help you decide what comes next. I’ve worked with New Yorkers of various ages, backgrounds, and circumstances. If you’d like, think of me as a free alternative to “Dr.” Google: Instead of freaking you out with loads of impersonal and general info, I’ll try to allay your fears and offer options for getting appropriate support near you. 

You can reach out anonymously if you’d like, but please do reach out. I’ve seen first-hand that the bigger your circle, the better your outcome. If it makes sense for you, I can help connect you with well-informed, well-trained specialists in your area who’ll strive to understand what’s going on, check in with you regularly, and help you get back to feeling yourself again.