A year ago, I made a decision that would completely change the trajectory of my life.

This transformation has been incredible not because of the physical changes, but because of the man I’m becoming. Sobriety gave me the opportunity to rebuild my life one decision at a time and I’ve taken every opportunity since.

Every early morning, every workout, every mile, every setback, every moment I chose discipline over comfort that led to this. The smile in these photos isn’t just about crossing finish lines or running ultra marathons. It’s the smile of someone who kept showing up for himself, even when it was hard.

Recovery isn’t just about giving something up. It’s about building a life you no longer want to escape from. I’ve done exactly that through consistency, humility, and a willingness to put in the work every single day.

I wouldn’t be where I am today without my therapist's guidance and support. Dr. Natalie gave me the tools, challenged me when I needed it, and believed in me even when I was still learning to believe in myself. I’ll always be grateful for the role Natalie played in my journey.

Stories like [mine] remind us that lasting change doesn’t happen overnight, it happens through thousands of small choices that eventually become a completely different life.

If you’re struggling, let this be your reminder that it’s never too late to start. One decision. One day. One step at a time. You never know where that path might lead.

This is just the beginning. Don’t forget Celebrate every small win.

I’ve been attending weekly visits with Dr. Natalie D’Annibale for almost 8 years now!

I first came to her for help after a long-term relationship of mine ended due to unresolved trauma from abuse in a previous relationship. She not only helped me work through my abuse trauma, but also helped me start my next (and current) relationship off on a much healthier page!

I’m currently in the most positive, successful relationship I’ve ever experienced and I owe much of its success to Natalie and her help throughout! 

As the years went on Natalie has also helped me through many stressful career moves around the globe (I often spend 5 - 6 months overseas for work at a time) and through any and all relationship issues ranging from work relationships, family struggles, and friendship conflicts. 

In 2024, I suffered an apartment fire at my home in Los Angeles while I was working abroad in Bangkok, Thailand, that devastated me and put an abrupt halt on my life. I honestly don’t know how I would have managed the situation if it wasn’t for Natalie’s help. I was in such shock I could barely function, let alone make decisions to start the recovery process.

Dr. Natalie was very stern with me and would tell me exactly what I needed to do next and what steps to take to move forwards. Every step of the recovery process was painful and traumatic, but Natalie was always there to help keep me as sane as possible and to offer guidance on how to get through it all - and to try to find the positives during the recovery process.

It took months for me to start feeling like myself again and to restart my life, but when I look back at how far I’ve come I feel SO grateful that I had Natalie by my side throughout this horrible experience to guide me through it.

Life seems to always have some crazy curveballs prepped to throw my way, but with Dr. Natalie D’Annibale by my side I feel prepared to take on almost anything!

I am a much stronger, more confident person than I was 8 years ago when we first met and I owe a lot of my personal growth and recovery through all that life has put me through to Natalie! 

I turned to Natalie D’Annibale after suffering from a pregnancy loss while in a highly toxic and verbally abusive partnership. Right off the bat, she told me I needed to leave my relationship, but it’s not what I wanted to hear at the time, so I decided to figure things out on my own. 

Nearly two years later, I returned to Dr. Nat after receiving a breast cancer diagnosis during a divorce from that same relationship. This was right before Los Angeles locked down during COVID. 

Feeling I had nowhere to turn, I finally admitted I needed therapy, especially while dealing with a potentially terminal diagnosis. Luckily, I got through it. I went from being on disability to unemployment to eventually getting my career back tenfold. To this day, I’m so beyond grateful for her help. 

I looked forward to each and every one of those sessions talking with Dr. Nat. Not only was she sharp and extremely knowledgeable, she also helped me — when appropriate — laugh through my pain. This is not everyone’s style of getting through life’s sometimes wicked curveballs, but it has always certainly been mine and she sensed that I was a bit more rambunctious than most. She adapts to what works for you. 

Dr. Nat is a strong, warm presence who is empathetic with her patients and passionate about helping people overcome mental health challenges and addiction patterns — tough when needed and softer when discussing more delicate topics. Overall, she is engaged throughout every moment of the discussion, provides excellent guidance in all areas of life, and is a true force in the mental health field. 

I am now a proud survivor and women’s health activist who has made it my mission to help others suffering. I turned my life around with the help of Dr. Natalie D’Annibale, who has also inspired me to consider a professional career in mental health counseling. 

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Marisa Sullivan is a full-time writer for PEOPLE.com with credits in The New York Times, Reuters, Variety, Today.com, Us Weekly, and Los Angeles Magazine. 

Turning to health writing while healing from her cancer journey, Marisa has written nearly 1,000 articles for SurvivorNet.com and the cancer community. As a presenter, Marisa has covered Variety’s Power of Women event with E! News and hosted an online show Bare by Giddy, discussing mental and sexual health topics with celebrities and fellow advocates for Giddy’s health site.

Marisa recently moderated a panel for Women Who Rock x Gibson, discussing women’s health topics with members of The Recording Academy and other prominent women in music. She now resides in New York City and just launched her own organization, Breast Cancer Bandit, to help newly diagnosed patients in need of financial assistance and peer support.

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Dr. Natalie is someone who truly cares deeply about her patients. She takes a kind, yet true and realistic approach to the hurdles we face in life.

As a young man in his mid 20's, I've been faced with many types of issues such as addiction, family problems, relationship discrepancies, and Dr. Natalie has truly been the compass that has helped me through many storms without fail.

She has provided a framework for a mental mindset that makes me feel unbeatable, yet humble in my successes and grateful in my losses.

I have spent a combined 2 years 4 months and 18 days of my life in a treatment center, detox or IOP. It was in one of these treatment centers, 12 years ago, that I met Dr. Natalie. 

In my addiction I could manipulate anyone. I had medical doctors who knew I was an addict writing me opiate prescriptions in Los Angeles and San Francisco. 

I also ran circles around my previous therapists… BUT NOT Dr. Natalie. 

She has seen me in my active addiction and I promise it wasn’t easy for either of us. 

Dr. Natalie “sees” me, listens to me, laughs with me and has guided me for the last 8+ years of my sobriety. 

I was addicted to opiates / heroin for 17 years… there is no way I would have my life exactly as it is today without Dr. Natalie.