My name is Elizabeth...
and I am an addict Celebrating 9 Years in recovery...
I am a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist in the state of Virginia. Since 2017, I have been thriving in long-term recovery from poly-substance use & co-occurring mental health challenges. In 2020, I felt called to turn my personal experience into professional purpose, & I joined the Behavioral Health and MAT/SU Outpatient Team at our local Community Services Board. Most recently moving into a full-time position in the Crisis Center.
Participating & leading groups like WRAP & APPR, I’ve seen that recovery connects people of all ages & backgrounds—proving that no label defines who we truly are. Because of this, I’ve had the privilege of using my training & experience in a wide variety of settings—from church groups & youth camps to treatment centers & jail ministries.
My ability to connect and communicate from a place of lived experience has strengthened my involvement with organizations such as Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Celebrate Recovery, CORE, ALPHA, & Good News Jail Ministry. In addition to coaching & outreach, I’m also a passionate event planner, having successfully hosted two recovery concerts that brought together over 300 attendees & resource partners in celebration of hope and community.
I believe that recovery resources shouldn’t be limited by geography. Smaller & rural areas deserve the same access to recovery support & community connection, & I am passionate about helping change that narrative. I stay actively involved in my home church, White Oak Worship Center, as well as with RASAP & The Harm Reduction Committee.
My mission is simple but powerful: to be a voice of hope in the community—offering both lived experience & professional support—and to advocate for recovery & mental health resources that empower lasting success!
See My Recovery...
The last week of my addiction was nothing like before. God knew it would take a life-or-death situation for me to finally surrender.
By January 20, 2017, I was done running & completely broken. I picked up the phone & called my dad. Through tears, I told him to come pick me up.
I will never forget what happened next. After everything I had done—all the chaos, pain, & worry I caused—my dad didn't yel
A Reminder of How Far I’ve Come
I recently found the identification bracelets I wore at the city jail. They serve as powerful reminders of a place—& a version of myself—I never want to return to again.
They’re not symbols of shame; they’re symbols of grace, survival, and transformation.
If sharing this part of my story helps even one person realize they’re not alone, then every moment of my past has
Before 2017, I found myself praying more often—asking God for recovery, begging for change.
For years, ever since I was a teenager, I remember praying for death. I didn’t want to live the way I was living anymore. But instead of death... God gave me a MIRACLE.
That moment marked the beginning of real recovery—not just from addiction, but from hopelessness, shame, and fear. It’s why I believe so dee
Discover how See Thru Recovery can help you—or someone you know—achieve the Recovery Dream. Whether you’re seeking personal recovery support, professional guidance, or community connections, we’re here to help.
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I know what it feels like to be hopeless—to carry shame & embarrassment over everything addiction has taken from you.
But I also know what it feels like to have your
HOPE RESTORED.
To rebuild trust.
To reconnect with your kids.
To finally start seeing yourself as worthy again.
It’s worth it. Every bit of it.
You just have to start somewhere.
From Fearful to Fearless
I was scared to get clean… but I was fearless in my addiction.
Now, I am empowered — and filled with hope — to never be an addict again.
What once felt impossible has become my mission. Going to God first, & then going to war against the spirit of addiction & all its consequences, is what makes me truly fearless today.
My recovery isn’t just about staying clean — it’s about s