Helping people grow in authenticity, courage and connection.

Life up to this point has been hard. Trauma found me at an early age. I had food and shelter, parents who stayed married until their deaths. I also had an amazing protective older brother, but I was not allowed to be around him in order to keep the house quiet.  However, emotionally, there was no support. I tried to find connection with neighborhood kids, and well, that was worse. The bullying, sexual abuse, and lack of anything considered 'normal' kid stuff only served to layer on the shame and insecurities. I mean, what kid at four years old decides to go to the nearest strip mall driveway and purposefully lay down in hopes of being run over? I don't think I wanted to actually be run over, but something hurt so deeply, perhaps I just wanted to feel something.

Rejection on the deepest level hit during my early teens. My parents actually gave me over to the state and I was put in foster homes. I was on the honor roll in school, a state champion gymnast, yet they just didn't want to deal with me any longer. Needless to say, substance abuse took over. How else does such an adolescent brain cope? Foster dad's who molested me. Yes, more than one. Being kidnapped and gang raped by a biker group. No wonder I learned there is no safety or protection in the world. 

But I survived! I am here. I navigated through many trials. I was a single mom of four kids, worked two jobs, went to school full time all the way to a doctorate program. Yet, there always seemed to be something missing. The shame was a stench I could never remove. I would never be able to say that I am so thankful I have live through all of this, if I had not discovered exactly how to be set free completely and now live fully alive and wake excited for each day. It's a promise for me, and it can be a promise and reality for you too!

Susan is a certified NeuroCoach, Strengths Champion Certified Coach, John Maxwell Team Certified Coach, and the founder of ShametoShine ministries where she works with single moms and trauma recovery. Susan also serves on the CCNI Board as the Director of Education. 

Her passion is to serve single mothers through coaching and life skills programs. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Management, MBA with an emphasis in Leadership, and recently completed her Education Specialist Degree. Additionally, she is working on a Ph.D. in psychology. Susan loves to learn and share ideas with others as well as serving at her local church. Her latest endeavor is studying and applying brain science strategies into her coaching methods. She encourages others to live their destinies by helping them to discover and live from their inner beauty.  She is passionate about learning and enjoys any and every opportunity to share with others.