Kathleen M. Smigels

I am a person in long term recovery that began in 1989, when my mother drove me to an anonymous program due to my heavy drug and alcohol use. I have since joined multiple recovery communities. In those early years I experienced a progression of my alcohol use due to occasional return to use. In 2003, my heavy alcohol use returned. Ultimately, I achieved sustained abstinence from alcohol since April 17, 2005.

I have lived my entire adult life examining and being aware of my mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health as a whole. Substance use and addictive behaviors have either been eliminated, and/or monitored throughout my entire adult life. In sharing my life story throughout these years, I learned how to express my feelings, emotions, and thoughts as others held space; celebrating successes, important milestones, strengths, and an increase in self-awareness and mindful living. I have had the honor, both professionally and personally, of listening to thousands and thousands of other people’s stories…thousands.

I began seeking information about substance use during high school; researching in the public library, clipping news stories that had anything to do with drugs or alcohol. I created poster boards of public information about drug and alcohol use resulting in tragedies, and I obsessively journaled about my own experiences. I was a Paralegal for over twenty-five years, and was headed to law school. As a result of a visit with a valued friend, my path changed. My life studies and passion came together when I made the decision to become a licensed professional counselor specializing in addiction and recovery services.

My passion in supporting people in their self-directed recovery journey led me to join and participate in advocacy groups with participants from all over the world. I continue to collaborate with, and seek out others who possess this hard-won wisdom earned through their own pathways in recovery. I continue to seek and research substance use challenges and join outreach and advocacy organizations; and strive to always keep an open mind and remain in continuous education with the latest research on substance use and behavioral addictions.

It is my mission to share what I have learned and to collaborate with other professionals and those in recovery to support self-directed pathways of recovery that align with personal values, to help people reach the potential they wish for themselves to have a desired quality of life.

This is what Free Living Recovery offers to each and every person who reaches out for help.