095: The Path from Surviving to Thriving with Cheryl DeHaven

Welcome to Rock Your Shine: After you’ve been cracked wide open. On this show, I sit down with people from all over the world to hear their transformational stories on their deep grief and loss journeys. 

In this compelling episode, we delve into Cheryl's extraordinary journey of triumph over addiction and mental health challenges, navigating through a tumultuous family environment, and discovering healing in the face of adversity.

Cheryl courageously opens up about her personal struggles and the profound impact it had on her family. Following her graduation, she takes a pivotal step towards recovery by checking into an inpatient treatment center. However, her battle does not end there. Cheryl shares the challenges she faced as anxiety and panic disorder began to manifest, eventually leading to agoraphobia—a condition that confined her within the walls of her home.

Amidst these obstacles, Cheryl shares her experiences of meeting her husband, their eventual separation, and the intricate relationship between her mental health and her personal connections. She candidly discusses her battle with suicidal ideation and highlights the pivotal role that organizations like NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) and In Our Own Voice played in providing support and guidance during her healing journey.

Cheryl's story takes a transformative turn when she becomes involved in working with incarcerated individuals, both men and women. As a training peer specialist, she discovers the immense power of the strength-based approach, shifting the narrative and empowering people who are incarcerated to build a better future for themselves. She emphasizes the importance of creating safe spaces within prisons, helping incarcerated people secure employment opportunities upon release, and actively working to change the correctional system's ecosystem.

Throughout the episode, Cheryl underscores the significance of individuals sharing their stories of recovery, while fostering hope and inspiration for others facing similar challenges. She also reflects on what self-love means to her today, acknowledging the importance of self-care and nurturing her own well-being.

Cheryl DeHaven, BS, ACC, CPRS, is the owner and founder of WonderousWays, LLC.  Cheryl has over 20 years of experience as a trainer working with peers in the mental health recovery field, 10 years of experience as a peer support trainer, and 5 years of experience as a DBHDS Peer Recovery Specialist Trainer. In 2021 she became a certified life and leadership coach with the International Coaching Federation.

Join us on this captivating journey as we unravel Cheryl's remarkable tale of resilience, advocacy, and the transformative power of hope. Through her experiences, we gain insights into the human capacity for healing and the profound impact one individual can have in changing lives and systems for the better.

**TRIGGER WARNING** This episode covers sensitive subject matter and is not suitable for all listeners. If this topic could be a trigger for you, listen to this episode with a friend, a sibling, a loved one or a parent so you can talk about any emotions that come up for you. The contents of this episode are not intended to replace therapy and should not be taken as such. If you need immediate help, please call the crisis hotline listed below in our resources.

Listen in as we talk about:

[2:50] Cheryl's experience with alcohol addiction and abuse within her family 

[8:10] Checking into an inpatient treatment center after graduation

[11:20] Developing anxiety and panic disorder

[12:45] The progressiveness of her agoraphobia 

[14:10] Meeting her husband who was 17 years older, marrying him, and their eventual separation

[16:00] How her mental health and healing was during her relationships

[18:10] Suicidal ideation 

[20:40] Getting connected with NAMI and In Our Own Voice  

[24:35] Learning about the strengths-based approach

[28:00] Working with men and women in prison 

[33:05] Becoming a training peer specialist and how transformative that work has been

[36:25] How to create safety for people within prisons

[44:10] How she helps inmates get jobs once they’re released

[46:35] Changing the ecosystem within prisons

[50:30] How a strength-based approach helps build prisoners up

[58:20] People sharing stories about recovery 

[1:01:00] What self love looks like for Cheryl today

[1:02:10] Hope is…

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Book: https://www.amazon.com/Rock-Mining-River-Sibling-Grief/dp/1732888892/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Rock+On%3A+Mining+for+joy&qid=1570199126&sr=8-1 

L.E.A.P 6 week virtual course: https://rockyourshine.com/l-e-a-p-into-light-and-healing-6-week-virtual-course/

BetterHelp

Go to https://betterhelp.com/rockyourshine for 10% off your first month of therapy with
BetterHelp and get matched with a therapist who will listen and help. #sponsored

Grief Hotline: 

https://www.griefresourcenetwork

Connect with Cheryl 

https://www.instagram.com/wawoos_world/

https://www.wonderousways.com/

Connect with Susan

http://instagram.com/susan.casey/ 

https://www.facebook.com/Susan-E-Casey-101187148084982 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDcl58l8qUwO3dDYk83wOFA 

https://rockyourshine.com/

https://www.tiktok.com/@leapwithsusan?