I was born and raised in the Big Apple. NYC amplified my life's experience; I've seen it all. I've dealt with all walks of life from the rich and famous to the downtrodden homeless person—every kind of religion and ethnicity, every kind of social class from the rich Wall Street executive to the drug-dealing kingpin and everything in between. I've seen the devastation of substance abuse and the various forms of addiction and mental health issues ruin the lives of many. I have firsthand experience with the effects of substance abuse, but today I have the good fortune of having survived the hell that is addiction and in doing so I have become well-versed in exactly what it takes to help others with their particular issues.