Let your actions define who you are, not your past.

I'm Simone, author and expert on PTSD and Service Dogs. U.S. Army Veteran, military sexual assault and domestic violence survivor, mental health advocate, life coach and a public speaker. I teach people how to kick PTSD's ass!

I enlisted in the Army after 911 and my career was cut short after being violently assaulted by a fellow soldier. From the attack I suffered from undiagnosed PTSD, medical and emotional issues. My assault led to harassment and my unit attempting to cover it up. At the time I had no idea PTSD could be acquired from all forms of trauma, not just combat. I didn't have to be sent overseas to see combat I learned the hard way. I also learned the military was not going to provide healing and justice. I had to learn to find that on my own years later. After discharge from the Army, I started exploring every avenue to find healing and recovery. My search for peace and healing led me to get my service dog, Gunner.

I now refer to him as Saint Gunner, since his passing in 2026. His lifelong companionship and service not only changed my life but also changed the lives of many other survivors and service dogs. Saint Gunner was the reason I started the nonprofit Service Dog Strong, which pairs sexual assault PTSD survivors with Service Dogs in Maine. At the time of writing this, the nonprofit has paired 21 teams. That means 21 dogs have been rescued from shelters and 21 Survivors have found relief from their SA-PTSD. Thank you, Saint Gunner for your love, selfless service, gentle nature and hugs, you will forever be missed but never forgotten.

Gunner being trained as my Service dog granted me huge amounts of confidence I didn't have in public before. Gunner was the missing piece that put the healing puzzle together. Service dogs offer freedom to PTSD survivors and offer 24/7 support. I wanted other survivors to feel the same empowerment. Thus, my idea for one of the first nonprofits in the country to provide service dogs to Sexual assault survivors diagnosed with PTSD was born.

Service dogs and sexual assault Survivors are one of the best matches. There is something magical that happens with the bond and allows the Survivor to feel safe again and learn how to get back to living a healthy, successful life after trauma.

Saint Gunner showed me the strength I had within myself the whole time but didn't see it. It was hidden under years of trauma and attempts to avoid thinking and dealing with the trauma I had endured. Saint Gunner helped me heal and I was able to see the real strength was within me to recover. Your Service dog is not in charge of you; you are in charge of the dog. Their safety, their training, their health and their happiness is reliant on you. This showed me that I am capable of taking care of myself and leading a healthy life with my dog by my side.

Now, years later I make it my life's mission to share my experience about service dogs and encourage others to take their mental health healing into their own hands and spread awareness that PTSD is treatable.

I enjoy speaking and writing about many issues such as sexual assault awareness and recovery, service dogs, running a business/nonprofit, PTSD, mental/physical health as well as raise awareness on the less talked about forms of trauma that can cause PTSD, such as from sexual assault or gun violence.

No matter what trauma caused PTSD, recovery from PTSD IS possible. A better life awaits with dedication to self and the mindset to never give up until you find what works best for you.

I work with clients as a Life Coach to help individuals find their own path to their most healthy self. Contact me to find out availability on coaching. I wrote the book and accompanying workbook, PTSD and What Helped Me, as a step-by-step guide to outline simple and easy steps to help you find solutions to reduce PTSD symptoms. What makes PTSD and What Helped Me different is it is NOT a memoir and only is filled with explained steps on how to reduce PTSD symptoms. Written by someone who has been there, done that and found relief.

Just solutions. Easy to read and to the point.

Healing IS possible! Never give up, and thanks for being strong with me friends❤️