To understand how EcoRECOVERY® was born, we need to start with the history of Healing Mama Wellness. 

Dawn grew up in a world of violence, addiction, and being shuffled from family member to family member. As a result, she often found herself living on the streets, in runway shelters or couch surfing at a friend's. As a result of these early traumatic experiences, she found herself turning to substances to escape the reality of her life. She would continue these patterns into her young adulthood until she finally found sobriety.

Dawn began a company called "Healing Mama Wellness" while living on the East Coast, after the birth of her first child in 1999 when, as a new stay-at-home mother, she found herself struggling with her own mental health and sobriety. 

As a means of self-preservation, she started a small newsletter called Healing Mama as a way to connect with other mothers in recovery.  From that point, Dawn began speaking at treatment facilities, youth shelters, and to high school groups about her personal story of overcoming the adversities of trauma, houselessness, and addiction. It was not long before Dawn was being asked to speak to groups of healthcare and social service professionals about trauma informed client care.

It was during her engagement with healthcare groups that Dawn realized the void between what is taught in healthcare trainings and what is needed in the actual clinical setting, especially for marginalized communities, for patients to feel heard. This was the match that lit the spark for Dawn to enter college with the goal of becoming a Nurse Practitioner with a focus on wellness and addiction.  Little did she know that her healthcare journey would lead her slowly across the nation from her starting point in New Jersey, to the Navajo Nation in Arizona, to Oregon where her family now calls home on the West Coast. 

Dawn's academic achievements include three degrees in the field of nursing, and three national board certifications. She is a Board Certified Family Nurse Practitioner through the American Nurses Credentialing Center, Board Certified Addictions Registered Nurse – Advance Practice through the Addictions Nursing Certification Board, Board Certified Psychiatric-Mental Health-Registered Nurse through the American Nurses Credentialing Center. She is also a Certified Health Coach through the National Society of Health Coaches. Dawn is a Fellow in the International Academy of Addictions Nursing. She is also a Certified BLS/CPR instructor and is certified in wilderness first aid essentials through the Institute of Wild Med, and Mental Health First Aid for remote communities, industries, and Wilderness Guides. 

Dawn is an avid outdoors enthusiast and credits her continued connection with nature as part of her personal healing journey. Because she knows first-hand how nature improves both physical and mental health, Dawn embarked on a new journey, becoming a Certified Forest Therapy Guide through the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy. She enjoys guiding walks for both community members, private organizations, and professional groups. She then increased her training in nature based skills and became a Certified EcoNIDRA™ Teacher. Through her practice experience as an addictions specialist, Dawn combined her education, training, and passion for nature and created the EcoRECOVERY® program for people with the lived experience of addiction. Dawn is also a registered Oregon Outfitter Guide, as well a a registered guide in the Redwoods National Park. 

The overwhelming response to Dawn's message of strength, hope, and courage, combined with the impact her training has had on communities across the nation has brought Dawn full circle with EcoRECOVERY®. 

Dawn stands by the belief that "when we raise the health and wellness of one person, we raise the health and wellness of the community as a whole". 

Nature connection is the foundation of Dawn's self-care routine. Sometimes that means a hike, and sometimes that just means enjoying some gentle, playful time like catching a sunset.