My journey started when my grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. The experience of what I went through with my family — starting with no understanding and going all the way through the impacts on each of our lives made me want to help other people and families navigate through that. Though Alzheimer’s may not be a mental health disorder, the navigation of the experience very much so was. Ultimately, now, I feel like it’s the most selfless thing I can do because it’s purely based on helping someone else find their peace or happiness.

The feedback I’ve gotten from patients solidified my belief that it gives people a place and a person that is safe, that will listen with truly no judgment, someone that is there for them, that can be neutral and put their best interests at the forefront which may be hard for us to find elsewhere. It’s been life-changing for many people to have someone merely validate their feelings and help them work through something with unconditional want for their wellbeing.