Kathleen Smigels, MA, LPC, NCC

My recovery began at the age of twenty, where I began creating a journey through multiple pathways of recovery, creating a tapestry of my journey. I have abstained from and/or monitored use of various substances/behaviors throughout my adult life. Self-awareness and mindful living became my strengths while sharing my truth…my story. I learned how to express my values, beliefs, joys, strengths, fears, pain, and loss; and others gifted me with listening – as I listened to thousands of people’s stories…thousands. My continuous education and research about substance use began in high school; causes, conditions, and consequences versus benefits. Sitting in libraries, clipping newspaper stories of tragedies, and creating poster boards about incidences involving drugs or alcohol. Continually writing my personal experiences with substance use, relationships, dreams, and recovery. It all came together when I began the path to become a licensed professional counselor specializing in addiction and recovery, rather than my original plan to apply to law school (I was a paralegal for 25+ years). Now, I own Free Living Recovery, LLC, a state licensed substance use program, and counseling center, where my passion is supporting people in a self-directed recovery journey. I am involved in numerous advocacy groups around the world, supporting multiple pathways, alternative treatment approaches, psychedelic treatment integration therapy, medication assisted treatment, and harm reduction. I continue to be a seeker of new information, and be a part of a solution to reduce pain in the world with compassion.