AMIDST THE WHIRLWIND & CHAOS, FIND THE STILLNESS WITHIN YOURSELF.

The Importance of Showing Up: A Spotlight for Disability Awareness Month

I’m deeply honored to be featured by the Rick Hansen Foundation this Disability Awareness Month. In sharing my story, I hope to spotlight not just my work as a disabled entrepreneur and therapist—but also the urgent need for more inclusive and accessible mental health care.

A Journey of Resilience and Reclamation

Living with a spinal cord injury and navigating life in a wheelchair has reshaped every aspect of how I move through the world. But more than that, it’s transformed how I connect—with myself, with others, and especially with the clients I support.

As someone who lives with chronic illness, trauma, and the daily realities of navigating inaccessible systems, I bring lived experience to every therapeutic and coaching relationship. That lens allows me to show up with genuine empathy, presence, and a deep understanding that isn’t theoretical—it’s personal.

Why Representation in Mental Health Matters

For many clients, especially those with disabilities or chronic health conditions, working with a therapist who “gets it” can be deeply healing. You don’t need to explain what it’s like to live with pain, fatigue, medical trauma, or the loneliness of being left out of spaces that weren’t built for you. I understand because I’ve been there.

Having someone who knows the stakes firsthand—who understands what it means to fight for independence, accessibility, or even the energy to get out of bed—can make all the difference. This kind of connection doesn’t just offer support. It offers hope.

More Than a Milestone

This recognition by the Rick Hansen Foundation is more than a professional honor—it’s a reminder that representation saves lives. Disabled professionals belong not just in therapy chairs, but in leadership roles, healthcare policy, and public dialogue. When we show up as our authentic selves, we expand what’s possible for others. We shift the narrative from surviving to thriving.

Let’s Keep Building

If you’re living with a disability or chronic health condition and looking for support from someone who truly understands, I invite you to connect with us at www.headwaymentalhealth.com. Whether you’re seeking psychotherapy, Reclamation Coaching™, or trauma-informed consulting, know that healing is possible—and you don’t have to walk that road alone.

Let’s continue building a world where every mind has the tools it needs to thrive.