Despite her loss, Melissa has hope for other families
Melissa's stepson, Nicholas, died from an opioid overdose in May 2018. Since then, she’s made it her mission to help others by recounting her painful experiences and increasing awareness of addiction resources.
Ask a coach: Finding hope
Q: How can I get hope back?
A: First, I’m so proud of you for asking this question and trying to find answers. I know it’s not easy. I’ve been that person who was completely hopeless. It felt like there wasn’t any light and I was alone.
In those times, I felt a little lighter when someone else told me about their journeys through the darkness. I hope that’s what I can do for others.
What our members say
Helping people get well is our most important work. We're honored to support our members as they overcome challenges, meet goals and thrive in whatever ways are important to them.
“I really like the environment. The people there always say 'hi' – it’s a good welcome knowing you do have people behind you.”
“Terri looks at people holistically and is quite intuitive on detecting underlying issues that may be hindering a person from reaching their goals and overall potential. Terri's life experiences, combined with her remarkable level of knowledge, set her apart from others both personally and professionally. I would highly recommend Terri to anyone.”
“I remember the day after I met Dave, it was another sigh of relief. Little by little, I thought, ‘Maybe there’s a chance I can quit this.’”
“Finally a modern resource for navigating life with a loved one at risk/addiction. The remote support gave me access where I'm at, invaluable empathy, and real-life tools to deal with trauma. Forever grateful to my coach, Janelle, a parent who has walked this walk. May we never walk alone.”
“She cares; she wants to know how I’m doing. I can’t pinpoint one thing she’s helped me with because she done so much for me and my family. I tell her almost every time we talk.”
“I HIGHLY recommend Face It TOGETHER and encourage you to reach out and do the best thing you could ever do for yourself. Honestly, if it wasn't for my relationship with them, I'm pretty sure I would have not made it this far. The guidance and direction have been so helpful, but also not being judged in my darker times was what truly was the most helpful. Please do yourself a solid and call them today!!”
“Face It TOGETHER has been extremely rewarding and has truly made a positive impact on my life. The approach that this organization takes is much different than the countless groups and programs I have been to in the past and has helped me more.”
We can't wait to meet you
We bring a variety of life experiences to our important work. We hope reading about our backgrounds will demystify coaching, introduce our areas of expertise and demonstrate recovery is possible. If you prefer a coach within a certain community that you don’t see represented here, we hope you’ll still consider reaching out. And if you’re comfortable sharing that feedback, we’d greatly appreciate it. We’d love to know what qualities are most important to you and will keep them top-of-mind while hiring new coaches.
Sorcha (she/her)
Coach, Colorado Springs
Sorcha grew up with a genetic condition and was told she wouldn’t live past the age of 18. She started using drugs to numb her pain after the loss of her grandmother. Today, she relies on movement and self-care to stay present and live holistically.
Sorcha
Chantel (she/her)
Coach, Watertown
Chantel learned to use drugs to cope with her trauma at a young age. She’s honored to meet people in the darkness – a place very familiar to her – and show them there is hope.
Chantel
Terri (she/her)
Coach, Port Orange
Terri is Face It TOGETHER’s longest-serving coach. She has a special interest in helping members with childhood trauma and criminal justice involvement, as well as those in the LGBTQIA+ community.
Terri
Joe (he/him)
Coach, Sioux Falls
Joe has extensive personal and coaching experience with addiction and mental health conditions, including bipolar, depression and anxiety.
Joe
Shannon (she/her)
Coach, Sioux Falls
Shannon grew up around addiction and struggled with her own meth and morphine addiction. She still drinks alcohol in moderation. She loves making people feel welcome and heard, no matter what they're going through.
Shannon
Janelle (she/her)
Coach, Sioux Falls
For years, Janelle tried dealing with the addiction in her life on her own. One of her favorite phrases since finding wellness is “don’t waste the pain,” which is why she wanted to help other family members in need.
Janelle
Joey (he/him)
Coach, Colorado Springs
Joey grew up around alcohol addiction and started his own alcohol and other drug use as a teenager. What started as a way to build confidence became a cycle of emotional lows, isolation and suicidality. After committing to wellness, all areas of his life have blossomed.
Joey
Janelle (she/her)
Coach, Sioux Falls
For years, Janelle tried dealing with the addiction in her life on her own. One of her favorite phrases since finding wellness is “don’t waste the pain,” which is why she wanted to help other family members in need.
Janelle
Erik (he/him)
Coach, Florissant
Erik struggled with his cycle of addiction for nearly 20 years. After working from home during the pandemic, he realized he needed help.
Erik