My Story

Hello, I’m Christina

I’m a Certified Advanced Peer Addiction Specialist (CAPAS), Community Services Worker, Employment Specialist, Author and founder of Unity Path Family Support.

My Journey

Unity Path grew from both my personal journey and professional experience.

As a mother of a child affected by addiction, I know firsthand the fear, uncertainty, difficult decisions, feeling of helplessness and hope that can come with loving someone who is struggling. I also know how isolating it can feel.

Families often spend so much time trying to help the person they love that their own needs are pushed aside. My experience taught me something that became the foundation of Unity Path:

Families need support too.

My journey first led me to write my memoir, Love, Let Go, and Hope. From there, I began creating journals, practical resources, and educational materials to help other families feel less alone.

Why Unity Path Family Support?

Unity Path provides a compassionate, non-judgmental place for families and loved ones affected by addiction to find peer support, practical education, resources, awareness, and connection.

There is no single path through addiction, and every family is different. Unity Path isn’t about telling people what they should do. It’s about helping families feel heard, better informed, supported, and less alone.

I also believe honest conversations about addiction matter. By increasing awareness and challenging stigma, we can help create communities where individuals and families feel safer asking for help and sharing their experiences.

Addiction does not define a person’s worth, and families should not be defined by what someone they love is going through.

Visit Book Store

Breaking the Silence

Addiction affects more than the person struggling with substance use. Its impact can reach parents, grandparents, partners, children, siblings, friends, and entire communities.

Yet stigma can leave both individuals and families feeling isolated, judged, or afraid to speak openly about what they are experiencing.

I believe honest conversations matter.

By increasing awareness, sharing trustworthy information, and talking openly about the realities of addiction, we can challenge stigma and help create communities where people feel safer asking questions, seeking support, and sharing their experiences.

Addiction does not define a person’s worth, and families should not be defined by what someone they love is going through.

Where I Hope to Take Unity Path

My vision for Unity Path extends beyond a website, books, resources, and one-to-one peer support.

I hope to establish a permanent community space in Muskoka dedicated to families and loved ones affected by addiction—a welcoming place where people can access peer support, practical resources, education, family peer-support groups, community programming, and connection.

I want to create the kind of space where someone can walk through the door and know they don’t have to explain why this is hard.

A place where difficult conversations can happen without judgment.

A place where families can learn, connect, find resources, and know that someone understands.

And as Unity Path grows, my hope is to continue giving back to the addiction and recovery community while bringing greater awareness to the needs of families.

My Vision

My vision for Unity Path is to create more than a place where families can find information. I want to help build a stronger, more connected community where people affected by addiction and other life challenges have opportunities to find support, build confidence, develop practical skills, and connect with resources that can help them move forward.

I know all too well what it feels like to love someone affected by addiction while wondering what to do next. Families need places where they can ask questions, learn, connect with others, and find support without judgment or stigma.

As Unity Path grows, my long-term vision is to establish a permanent community space in Muskoka that can offer family and loved-ones peer support, educational workshops, peer-support groups, addiction awareness initiatives, practical resources, and community connection.

I would also like the space to create opportunities for people who may face financial or other barriers to participate in accessible community programming, practical learning opportunities, and skills-building activities that encourage confidence, independence, connection, and personal growth.

This vision is about more than addiction awareness. It is about strengthening individuals, supporting families, reducing stigma, creating opportunities for connection, and helping people feel that they have somewhere in their community to turn.

Everyone deserves the opportunity to feel supported, valued, connected, and capable of moving forward.

Unity Path provides non-clinical, non-crisis, peer-based support and does not provide counselling, psychotherapy, diagnosis, addiction treatment, medical advice, or crisis intervention.

Thank you for visiting Unity Path Family Support. I’m grateful you’re here.

Professional Qualifications

Professional Background

Over 7 years as an Employment Specialist / Client Success Specialist and Case Manager supporting individuals in achieving employment, stability and personal goals.

Former Night Manager & Case Manager at Men's Emergency Shelter, providing support to individuals experiencing homelessness and complex life challenges.

Credentials & Education

Certified Advanced Peer Addiction Specialist (CAPAS)

Community Services Worker (Mental Health & Addiction) Diploma

Professional Development

Mental Health First Aid Training

ASIST Training

Motivational Interviewing in Clinical Addictions and Rehabilitation

Foundational Skills for the Substance Use, Treatment and Recovery Workforce

Supporting Children and Youth Who Use Substances

Understanding Stigma

Opioid Poisoning Response Training

Published Author

Love, Let Go, and Hope: A Mother's Journey with Addiction

Learning to Breathe Again: Support, Reflection and Boundaries for Families Affected by Addiction

Home

My Story

Hello, I’m Christina

​

I’m a Certified Advanced Peer Addiction Specialist (CAPAS), Community Services Worker, Employment Specialist, Author and founder of Unity Path Family Support.

​

My Journey

​

Unity Path grew from both my personal journey and professional experience.

As a mother of a child affected by addiction, I know firsthand the fear, uncertainty, difficult decisions, feeling of helplessness and hope that can come with loving someone who is struggling. I also know how isolating it can feel.

Families often spend so much time trying to help the person they love that their own needs are pushed aside. My experience taught me something that became the foundation of Unity Path:

Families need support too.

My journey first led me to write my memoir, Love, Let Go, and Hope. From there, I began creating journals, practical resources, and educational materials to help other families feel less alone.

Why Unity Path Family Support?

Breaking the Silence

​

Addiction affects more than the person struggling with substance use. Its impact can reach parents, grandparents, partners, children, siblings, friends, and entire communities.

Yet stigma can leave both individuals and families feeling isolated, judged, or afraid to speak openly about what they are experiencing.

I believe honest conversations matter.

By increasing awareness, sharing trustworthy information, and talking openly about the realities of addiction, we can challenge stigma and help create communities where people feel safer asking questions, seeking support, and sharing their experiences.

Addiction does not define a person’s worth, and families should not be defined by what someone they love is going through.

​

Where I Hope to Take Unity Path

My vision for Unity Path extends beyond a website, books, resources, and one-to-one peer support.

I hope to establish a permanent community space in Muskoka dedicated to families and loved ones affected by addiction—a welcoming place where people can access peer support, practical resources, education, family peer-support groups, community programming, and connection.

I want to create the kind of space where someone can walk through the door and know they don’t have to explain why this is hard.

A place where difficult conversations can happen without judgment.

A place where families can learn, connect, find resources, and know that someone understands.

And as Unity Path grows, my hope is to continue giving back to the addiction and recovery community while bringing greater awareness to the needs of families.

My Vision

I know all too well what it feels like to love someone affected by addiction while wondering what to do next. Families need places where they can ask questions, learn, connect with others, and find support without judgment or stigma.

As Unity Path grows, my long-term vision is to establish a permanent community space in Muskoka that can offer family and loved-ones peer support, educational workshops, peer-support groups, addiction awareness initiatives, practical resources, and community connection.

I would also like the space to create opportunities for people who may face financial or other barriers to participate in accessible community programming, practical learning opportunities, and skills-building activities that encourage confidence, independence, connection, and personal growth.

This vision is about more than addiction awareness. It is about strengthening individuals, supporting families, reducing stigma, creating opportunities for connection, and helping people feel that they have somewhere in their community to turn.

Everyone deserves the opportunity to feel supported, valued, connected, and capable of moving forward. Unity Path provides non-clinical, non-crisis, peer-based support and does not provide counselling, psychotherapy, diagnosis, addiction treatment, medical advice, or crisis intervention.

Thank you for visiting Unity Path Family Support. I’m grateful you’re here.

Professional Qualifications

Everyone deserves the opportunity to feel supported, valued, connected, and capable of moving forward.

Unity Path provides non-clinical, non-crisis, peer-based support and does not provide counselling, psychotherapy, diagnosis, addiction treatment, medical advice, or crisis intervention.