I’m so glad
you’re here!
Why?
Because that means that you are at least a little curious about either finding hope for yourself or helping others find hope. Exploring how that can happen for you is exactly why I am here.
I'm Ames . . .
a coach, trainer, public speaker, poet, survivor, and thriver. I believe that no matter what you have been through or how stuck you feel, you have the ability to make the absolute best of your life right now.
You may have landed here because you are an attempt survivor or have lost someone to suicide and you’re feeling stuck in the emotion and pain from that experience. I understand the kind of pain and “stuckness” that can bring. It keeps you from moving forward. As an attempt survivor and someone who has lost a few people she loves to suicide, I’ve worked my way past that pain and grief to a place of hope and healing. I'd love to use my experience and training to help you do the same. That’s why I’m a Certified Hope Coach as well as a Certified Emotional Intelligence Coach.
"There’s a possibility you found me because
helping hurting people is close to your heart."
That means you and I could be kindred spirits. Seeing the hurt in the eyes of a friend or loved one and not knowing how to help is not comfortable and can even be scary. It was for me. My passion to prevent suicide led me to spend the last 15 years training people how to have the tough conversation about thoughts of suicide. I’d love to show you how to have that conversation with someone close to your heart. That’s why I’m a Suicide Prevention and Intervention Trainer.
You could have also clicked the link for my site as a crisis hotline director, CEO or training coordinator who wants the individuals answering the calls on your lines to be the best they can be. You want your callers to get the best care which means effective training that meets the best practices set in place by accrediting organizations. As someone who has answered those calls and could have been the one calling, I passionately want that as well. That’s why I train crisis hotline specialists.
Wondering who I am behind the scenes . . .
I
live in Richmond, Virginia, but I’m originally from a tiny town outside of the glorious city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I am an AVID Steelers fan but that doesn’t begin to explain my passion for the Black and Gold! Let’s just say that game days are loud.
I love quality time with friends and a good cup of Starbucks nitro cold brew. Traveling is a drug that I can’t get enough of. Every place I visit and every training I go to, I collect people and the experiences I get to share with them.
In my world, reading and poetry are like breathing and music of all kinds is a constant.
How I got here . . .
I was a teacher for 11 years then moved into crisis intervention and suicide prevention work for the next 14 years. 6 of those I worked on a crisis hotline and provided training and consultation to schools and organizations across Central and Southwest Virginia. The last 8 years I’ve been an independent suicide prevention and intervention trainer and consultant expanding nationwide.
I am an ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) and safeTALK trainer as well as a trainer of trainers for both programs. Over the past 15 years, I have been honored to provide over 550 trainings and train over 8500 people. I’ve worked with a variety of people from military to teachers to college students and hotline staff.
I am excited to now be a life coach focusing on Hope and Healing for those who have been impacted by suicide and to provide certified training for multiple National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Centers.
Thanks so much for taking the time to discover more about my journey and passions. I am looking forward to partnering with you on your next adventure. Let's discover together!