While serving in the U.S. Marine Corps as a helicopter and tiltrotor aircrew/crew-chief, I suffered a debilitating back injury. The resulting pain from that injury eventually led me down a very dark path. I tried every drug, device, therapy, and modality that the VA had to offer and then some…while my life gradually spiraled out of control. After over a decade, the constant pain along with the powerful medications left me a mere shadow of my True Self: a far cry from what God wanted my life to become. I felt broken, lost, alone, forgotten, and miserable. I used prescription opioids and self-medicated with alcohol to numb not only the physical pain, but also the feelings of shame and regret I began to feel every day. Everything important in my life was caving in around me, and I was quickly approaching my breaking point. Something had to change and change immediately.

I began to look for any realistic way out from under the shadow of opioid addiction/chemical dependance. The only thing I found with any real promise was something I had never heard of before, but it kept popping up in various places. Ibogaine, a derivative from the root of a naturally occurring rare Iboga shrub that can only be found in Central Africa, seemed to show real promise. However, I was extremely skeptical since I had never tried, nor desired to try, a hallucinogenic drug. I continued reading and researching, but this psychedelic medicine continued to surface in various seemingly random ways. After extensive research and conversations with other veterans, I eventually made the decision to seek treatment at Ambio, an addiction center clinic in Tijuana, Mexico, that utilizes both Ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT to help individuals heal themselves from addiction.

After months of difficult preparation, I finally recieved the treatment that helped save my life from prescription opioids. With the help of my Integration Coach and a lot of work, I completely transformed my life, striving to become person that God originally intended…my True Self. I remain committed to this endless journey that I continue to this day.

I wholeheartedly believe that people possess this True Self at their core, but life and its difficult circumstances all too often block our way and steer us off our intended course. Our addictions begin to leave us feeling empty, hollow, and unfulfilled. We look outside of ourselves for happiness, and search for anything that might fill that void. Addictions temporarily help us fill that void, but inevitably they begin to take over every aspect of our lives and destroy everything we hold dear. This destruction can be seen even in the socially acceptable forms of addiction like alcohol or even the “healthier” addictions like excessive exercise. We eventually spend all our time either trying to fulfill our addiction needs or hiding them from anyone who doesn’t understand. Yet, we continue to feel increasingly empty and more alone than ever.

I’m not here to give advice or therapy. You’re probably here because neither of those methods is working for you. You inherently know, at your core being, what your True Self should be. I merely act as a guide, helping you to find way back to your True Self. Your internal compass may be distorted or quietened through the years, but I can help guide you to rediscover the best authentic version of yourself. Then we begin to work towards that goal through insightful guidance and accountability without judgement. My goal is to help you adapt to all that life has previously thrown your way and overcome any future obstacles that are in your path…Warriors At Peace: Adapt and Overcome Coaching