Meet Michelle (Mich) Fernandez, RCP | Recovery Coach Professional

We had the good fortune of connecting with Michelle (Mich) Fernandez, RCP and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michelle (Mich), what is the most important factor behind your success?
The most important factor behind my success is my sobriety, my recovery. As a certified Recovery Coach I am my brand. My life and how I carry myself each and every day is success. It stretches far beyond monetary profit and numbers. Being authentic and one’s true self is something that people can see immediately. It takes a certain level of trust for another soul who is struggling, in need of guidance and help to look into another’s eyes and see hope. A life to be lived. I want to be a reflection of that to them. That recovery is possible for everyone and I’m living proof.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
A Recovery Coach is a person with lived experience that goes through a series of trainings to develop a specific skill set and serves as a mentor in the recovery process. Provides support and encouragement. Refers an individual for additional services and builds and individualized recovery wellness plan. Provides information on wellness and whole health. Helps recoveree create goals and encourages shared decision making. Helps recoveree learn self-advocacy skills and advocates on behalf of the client. Supports recoverees connection to the community and building relationships. Provides education to increase practical living skills (personal, self-care, community living and social skills). A Recovery Coach will guide and find the necessary resources in making these connections and implementing into ones Recovery Wellness Plan. Each person’s recovery is a personal process and unique to the individual. My recovery may look different compared to that of someone else. This process is based on the individuals own vision of where and what they want their future to look like. Whereas I do believe we hold many common threads it is a very personal journey. I like to say that the recovery journey is a deep dive into self. I honor that. What they have to say is so important and it is such a blessing to be able to witness. I like to say that the recoveree is in the driver’s seat and I’m the passenger (pumping the brakes as needed). It is so exciting and motivates me to see another human being evolve in their process. To be a part of their everyday accomplishments. To be a coauthor in re writing their own story.
My battle with alcoholism lasted a decade and no it was not easy. I was so deep in that my only solution several years ago was to take my own life. I had reached the end of my rope, so I thought. I lost all sense of who I was. The proverbial light at the end of the tunnel was nowhere in sight. Finally, I was introduced to recovery, to a solution but still fought against it and was reluctant to let the drink go. Recovery became a revolving door for me. I wasn’t quite sold. Pure insanity. But I finally experienced that ‘surrender’ on Friday March 16th, 2018 and have been sober one day at a time since. My journey in sobriety has had many challenges, bumps and bruises and that’s where the support of others and their guidance has been absolutely vital. What inspired me to become a coach was experiencing the death of a beautiful soul gone too soon. It impacted me greatly and I knew there was more that I can do. That is my ‘why’! I was able to speak to one of her loved ones and told her that her sister’s death would not be in vain. I see her in each and every person that comes my way. I made the commitment to step out in the front lines as so many others have also done and do every day. It helps keep me accountable. It helps me continue to be willing to work on myself and evolve in my own personal journey. It has been a process of shedding who I thought I was and discovering who I truly am and meant to be. The biggest lesson learned for me was discovering my worth. That is priceless. That is the loudest message that I can give to others. Each and every person is worthy and can break free from the chains of substance use disorder. That is Renewed Recovery Coaching, LLC.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
This is a great question! Some of my favorite spots being a local (born and raised in Miami) would be to start down South and spend a few days in the Keys. Check out some local spots, maybe take a tour or two, possibly a sky dive. Enjoy the ocean which I personally love and catch a sunrise and sunset. Head to Coconut Grove and definitely bike ride through Key Biscayne. Check out Brickell and head to South Beach, especially at night to see Miami’s Skyline. It’s truly beautiful. Head to Little Havana and enjoy a cafecito or two and some authentic Latin food. Walkthrough Wynwood Art District. There are so many restaurants to choose from so we would have many options. But we’d definitely have to stop at Fujiya (located in West Kendall). Some of the best sushi that I’ve ever had! Take a ride on Brightline (which I haven’t done yet) and would take advantage of on this weeklong adventure. Miami is truly a melting pot and so diverse. It is the Magic City.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for the countless others who believed in me until I learned to believe in myself. Others who loved me unconditionally until I began loving myself. Shoutout to my family, my friends, God. All the souls that have walked the recovery path before me and paved the way. All those we have lost (they carry the strongest message for me). The therapists that not only are talented in their professional field but are driven and work tirelessly in helping others and their loved ones. Authors such as Emmet Fox, Michael A. Singer, Richard Rohr, Pema Chodron and Eckhart Tolle. Alcoholics Anonymous which was so instrumental in building my foundation in recovery. My team at Miami Recovery Project who saw something in me and made me a part of something which will carry its legacy for many years to come. Every single person who gets up each day and has been given another shot at life and wants to fight the good fight.

Website: Miamirecoveryproject.org

Instagram: mich_renewedrecovery

Linkedin: Michelle (Mich) Fernandez

Facebook: Mich Fernandez

Other: Email: michfernandez@renewedrecoverycoaching.com

Image Credits
Diego Morales