Shannon

firsthand Guide Coach
Johnson City, TN

Shannon grew up in a very religious home. As a gay woman, the conflict between what she felt on the inside and the familial pressure she felt from the outside caused her constant pain and internal turmoil. Shannon did not feel that it was safe to be her true self, which caused thoughts and idealizations of self-harm. She turned to drugs and alcohol to help hide herself. After attempting suicide, Shannon miraculously met a few amazing people who validated her feelings and her identity, and gave her the chance at creating a new “chosen” family who she could rely wholeheartedly on. Her new friends helped her realize that she was not alone with her feelings. 

As an adult, Shannon began working on the road with hard rock bands, living a true “rock ‘n’ roll” lifestyle. On the road, it was okay to drink and do drugs. In Shannon’s words, “it was almost required!” Shannon came to realize that her friends from that world were not well- and over the years many of them passed away from substance abuse. These sudden losses gave her a sense of urgency, and she almost immediately stopped using drugs and alcohol - cold turkey. Though she recognizes that this is not often the most successful path to becoming sober for everyone, she felt it was the best method for her because of the support she received from friends and family around her.  

Shannon began working with probation offices, performing assessments and arranging treatment for clients with substance abuse disorders. A co-worker mentioned the job opening at firsthand, knowing that it would be a great fit. When she read the job description, Shannon couldn’t believe that the company and the job were real- it seemed too good to be true!

In her job interviews, Shannon was assured that the job was real and learned about the potential of firsthand and our unique approach to caring for those living with serious mental illness and substance use disorders. Shannon joined firsthand as a firsthand Guide and the first team member in Knoxville, TN.

She’s most proud of connecting people without hope- with hope. She believes that firsthand embodies that sentiment and fills in the gaps in a real and meaningful way when there is little hope to be found. So many people have struggled with the healthcare system and have given up, and are willing to try a different way with the help of firsthand Guides. Shannon believes in treating each individual she works with as a friend, and that the support of a friend is invaluable to achieving recovery.