Nexa Wealth Planning

At Nexa Wealth, we believe managing your money is more than just numbers in a bank account – it’s about creating a life rich in choices and free from constraints. 

Here, money doesn't dictate your choices – it amplifies them. With us, you’re not just surviving; you're thriving. We're dedicated to crafting financial freedom for each of our clients, turning dreams into rock-solid plans, and plans into rock-solid reality.

Email: renee@nexawm.com for free consultation

CEO & Certified Financial Planner

Northwestern Mutual

Women are more than capable of taking control of their finances, and I'm here to help them do so. 

I'm passionate about empowering women to take ownership of their finances and achieve financial freedom. 

As a Certified Financial Planner, I help women executives maximize their cash flow, make smart investments, and develop tax-savvy strategies to ensure their money grows and lasts for years to come. 

With my help, women can confidently make financial decisions, assertively create a plan, and reduce their financial worries. 

•	Understand your financial options 
•	Create a forward-thinking financial strategy 
•	Make money decisions with confidence

If you are tired of second-guessing what your money is doing for you, and instead you want a simple roadmap to achieve the results you desire, I invite you into having a conversation.  

DM or email for a complimentary 30-minute Money Strategy meeting
📧 renee.cohen@nm.com

Certified Financial Planner™ for women executives and business owners 

Created financial literacy corporate workshops to inspire employees into financial action & eliminate money anxiety.

Financial Literacy Workshop Facilitator & Speaker

Bixel Exchange

Bixel Exchange is the innovation and tech arm at the second largest Chamber of Commerce in the US, Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce. Our cornerstone programs include Startup Launch Tech SBDC and Tech Talent Pipeline that combine forces to create an inclusive greater LA technology community.

Advisor

Fox Sports Net

Director, Corporate Partnerships

Big Ten Network

Manager, University Development

Designing Work-Optional Lifestyles for Women & Couples with Dynamic Financial Plans | Financial Consultant for Executives & Business Owners in Sports & Tech | Financial Wellness Speaker

The biggest money secret that not enough successful women know?

Creating financial security for life is actually insanely EASY.

- Dream of retiring by 50?
- Want to cover your kids' big moments?
- Looking forward to luxe vacations without needing an excuse?
- Need an iron-clad safety net for whatever life throws your way?

But it’s not just about the future. It’s about enjoying your life right now.

Financial freedom isn't just for later. It’s about living your best life now, knowing you are crafting your future while relishing today.

This is where I step in.

With all the financial advice out there, you need what works, not just noise. You need strategies that move the needle. You need results, not tasks.

My mission? To make managing your finances the SIMPLEST part of your day.  

I’m here to help you make smart choices that align with your dreams for your family and your future.

You've worked tirelessly for your success. So let’s save smartly and maximize and grow what you have. True financial freedom is more than account balances.  


I’ve partnered with many women and couples like you, creating personalized plans that balance today's lifestyle with tomorrow's dreams. This isn't about strict budgets. It’s about shaping your finances to fit your life today, while maximizing every aspect of your income and assets.

I’m more than a financial planner. I’m your partner, guide, and ally in achieving your financial dreams in the most straightforward and effective way possible.

Every plan is tailored to the individual because your financial success should be as unique as you are.

Ready to make these dreams a part of your everyday life?

Let’s unlock the full potential of your finances together. Because your money should support the life you want, now and in the future.

Send me a DM or email at renee.cohen@nm.com.

This conversation could change everything. ✨

Your journey goes beyond just managing numbers. It involves:

✨ Strategic Cash Flow & Debt Management,
✨ Tax Optimization for executive roles,
✨ Effective Navigation of Stock Options & Significant Financial Events,
✨ Personalized Retirement Planning,
✨ Comprehensive Insurance Solution

Renee Cohen, CFP®

They couldn't talk about money without it ending in silence.

Both earning six figures.
Beautiful house.
Kids in great schools.

And they hadn't looked at their accounts together in two years.

"We just handle our own stuff," she told me. “It's easier that way."

But easier wasn't working.

She was moving money to savings he didn't know about.
He was stressed about money but didn't want to seem worried.
Both were making decisions in isolation.
Both assuming the other had it handled.

I see this more than you'd think.
Successful couples who've turned money into the third wheel of their relationship.

Too charged to touch.
Too important to ignore.

So they danced around it:

She'd quietly pay for soccer camp before he noticed the email.
He'd handle the roof repair without mentioning the cost.
Both adding to their separate savings 'just in case.'

Amazon packages arrived without discussion.
Investment statements stayed unopened.
Tax time meant handing everything to the CPA and hoping for the best.

They could plan entire vacations without mentioning the budget.
Navigate private school applications without discussing the tuition.

Two successful people.
Living one life.
Never actually talking about how to pay for it.

We didn't start with a budget.
(That would've been like handing them firecracker.)

We started with one question:
"What does financial success look like for your family?"

For the first time in years, they heard each other's actual fears.

She wasn't hoarding money.
She was terrified of her mom's story repeating.

He wasn't being careless.
He was exhausted from feeling like the safety net.

Once they could see each other's why,
the how got so much simpler.

Now they have monthly money dates.
15 minutes. One dashboard. No judgment.

She texted me last month:
"We actually high-fived after paying the tax bill. Is that weird?"

Not weird at all.
That's what happens when money stops being a battleground
and starts being something you build together.

→ What's the one win you and your partner have celebrated together this year?

Renee Cohen CFP®

Financial Planner for Women | I bring your financial life together so your decisions feel easier and more intentional | CFP® + Founder, Nexa Wealth

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The $45K question that changed my client’s life 

 

She had $194K sitting in cash.
VP salary.
All the "right" financial pieces.

But she couldn't commit to starting her own business.

"I need another year of savings first."

We ran the numbers.

$45K to launch her consulting firm today.
Or wait another year while that dream compounds into regret.

Then I asked her the question:

"Would 65-year-old you pay $45K to watch 42-year-old you bet on herself?"

She went quiet.

We both knew the answer before I even asked.

Because future you isn't celebrating (all) the extra cash you hoarded.

She's thinking about the business you never started.
The clients you never helped.
The version of yourself you never became.
Wishing she could go back and shake younger you who played it too safe.

The women I work with don't have risk problems.
They have permission problems.

Maybe you've saved six months of expenses.
Maybe it's two years.
Maybe you're still building.

Doesn't matter.

We all wait for some guarantee that says "now it's safe to leap."

That guarantee doesn't exist.

What does exist:
Your ideas sitting in notebooks.
Your expertise waiting to be shared.
Your impact delayed by another year of "preparation."

She launched her firm six months ago.
Hasn’t replaced her corporate salary yet.

That takes time no matter what people promise you. 

But more importantly?

She stopped waiting for permission to become who she already was.

Because 65-year-old you doesn't care about the perfect financial moment.

She cares that you trusted yourself enough to try.

The math already works.
Future you is waiting for you to believe it.

→ What would you start tomorrow if you knew future you already knows the outcome?

Your portfolio doesn't need to be perfect to start living.


I had a client wait three years to book her dream Italy trip.

Three years.

Not because she couldn't afford it.
She had $300K invested and growing.

But she kept thinking she needed "just a little more" first.
Another $50K.
Another year of returns.
Another bonus cycle.

You know what finally changed her mind?

Running the actual numbers.

Not the scary story in her head.
The math.

We looked at what the trip would actually cost her long-term.
$15K today versus $45K in retirement (with growth).

Then I asked her:
"Would 65-year-old you pay $45K to give 40-year-old you this memory?"

She booked it that afternoon.

Because waiting for "enough" is a moving target.

There's always another goal.
Another milestone.
Another reason to wait.

But your life is happening now.
Your kids are only young once.
Your parents won't always be able to travel.
You won't always have the energy you have today.

The women who build real wealth?

They don't wait for permission from their portfolio.

They plan for both:
→ The life they're building for tomorrow
→ The life they're living today

One without the other isn't wealth.
It's just postponed living.

Your money should fund your life.
Not the other way around.

→ Where are you planning to travel in 2026? 🗺️

The biggest money mistakes don’t come from bad decisions.


They come from waiting too long to make one.

From that little voice that says,
“What if I mess this up?”
So you stall. 
You Google. 
You hold.

Not because you don’t care.
But because you care too much.

And when you’re earning more, that pressure gets louder.

Every move (investments, stock options, taxes) suddenly feels like it carries more weight.
More risk. 
More room for regret.

But confidence doesn’t come from knowing everything.
It comes from being in motion.

From creating a plan that moves with you 
so your income, investments, and taxes talk to each other. 

When everything’s working together, you stop overthinking.
You stop waiting for “perfect.”
And, you start leading your money with intention.

Because the real mistake isn’t getting it wrong,
it’s staying frozen in fear of what might happen if you move.

→ What’s something that helps you get past analysis paralysis?

A question I get often isn’t about investing or retirement.

It’s this one:

“Can I take the vacation without feeling guilty about it?”

A client of mine a VP in tech and mom of two brought this up on our call.
She was excited about planning a milestone family trip, but she kept thinking,

“Should this money go to savings instead?”

Totally normal.
And also solvable.

We made a few key moves:

1. The necessary stuff first.

→ Bills, savings, and goals? Already handled before she books.
Now she can enjoy the trip instead of doing mental math on the plane.

2. Use the right card.

→ We picked one that earns double points now and sets her up for a bigger trip next year.

3. Pay yourself for the fun.

→ She earmarked part of her bonus for travel so the memories are paid for before takeoff.

This is the part of financial planning people miss.

It’s not (always) the investment charts or the retirement projections.

It’s the confidence in your daily choices.

Knowing your “yes” to the trip, the renovation, or the time off
still keeps you on track for the bigger vision.

Because the real magic of a plan
isn’t in the charts.

It’s in how it changes the way you live right now.

My clients don’t want money to hold them back from living.

They want it to support their life. 
Now and 20 years from now.

→ Do you plan your trips around your budget, or your budget around your trips? 😅

I bring your financial life together so every decision moves you forward | Financial planner for 6-figure women navigating career, family, and legacy goals | CFP® | Nexa Wealth Founder

Most people think money problems come from not having enough.

They actually come from not having it connected.

You can earn six figures, max out your 401k, have investments growing...

And still wake up at 3am wondering what you're missing.

Because when your money lives in silos:
→ Your cash doesn't know what your investments are doing
→ Your investments don't talk to your tax strategy  
→ Your tax moves happen in isolation from your income

So you end up with:
Cash piling up while you're scared to invest it.
Investments growing while you pay unnecessary taxes.
Big tax bills because no one connected the dots.

Every account doing its own thing.
Like roommates who never talk.

I see this constantly.
Smart women with all the "right" pieces.
But nothing working together.

One client described it perfectly:
"I have all these accounts but no actual plan."

She was right.

When your money starts working as a team,
when every piece knows its role,
when your income, investments, and taxes actually coordinate...

That's when the noise quiets down.

You stop second-guessing every move.
You stop wondering what you're missing.
You stop feeling like you're working against yourself.

Because wealth isn't built in isolation.
It's built in connection.

→  If your accounts were roommates, would they be best friends or total strangers?


PS - To those who served and their families: your sacrifice created the freedom for all of us to build these lives we're planning. Thank you. 🇺🇸

She sat on $400K in cash for three years.

Watched the market go up.
Watched inflation eat away at it.
Read every article telling her to invest.

Still couldn't do it.

Why?

Her dad lost everything in 2008.

And even though she was earning $250K a year,
even though she knew the math,
she couldn't shake that image of him at the kitchen table.
Staring at statements worth nothing.

Her brain knew better.
Her body remembered different.

It took us six months to unpack that.

Not the investing part.
The trust part.

We didn't start with asset allocation.
We started with what safety meant to her.

Turns out it wasn't about the market at all.
It was about control.

So we built a plan that gave her both:
→ Ten months expenses in cash (not the six everyone recommends)
→ A 5 month CD she could see and understand
→ Index funds portfolio but only after she felt ready

The first investment was $15k.

She texted me that night:
"I keep checking to see if it's gone."

It wasn't.

Three months later, she moved another $50K.
Then another.

Now she's fully invested with a plan that makes sense.
Not because I convinced her.
But because she convinced herself.

Sometimes the smartest financial move
isn't following the perfect strategy.

It's honoring where your fear comes from
and building something you can actually stick with.

→ Fill in the blank: 'My parents always said _____ about money, but I've learned ____

Most people focus on the wrong part of wealth.


You’ve probably been told to:
→ Earn more
→ Find the “perfect” investment
→ Chase the next tax hack

And sure, those things matter,
but they’re only half the game.

The other half?
Getting your money to work together.
(That part’s closer to 70% of the game.)

When it doesn’t, here’s what happens:
→ Cash piles up without purpose
→ Tax time becomes surprise season
→ Every decision suddenly feels heavier than it should

But when everything starts talking,
your income, investments, and taxes
you finally see what’s working, what’s not,
and what to tweak before it snowballs.

That’s when money stops feeling chaotic.
It starts feeling led.

Because earning more without direction isn’t wealth.
It’s just juggling with nicer props.


💰 Right now, do your finances feel like teamwork or more like a group project gone wrong?

Sometimes the worst time to travel is exactly when you should.

Had a client text me her photos yesterday.
Barcelona with her family to visit friends instead of their traditional Thanksgiving plans.

Six months ago, she almost canceled it because her husband had been laid off.  
"Maybe we should wait until things are more settled."

They'd saved for this trip for two years.
Between their emergency fund and his severance, they had enough.
Not perfect "sleep-like-a-baby" money.
But enough.

The thing is, when life feels uncertain, "enough" never feels like enough.
You want to hoard every dollar.
Just in case.

But, they had the funds.
They had the time.
They had everything except permission.

I asked them one question:
"In 10 years, will you regret going or regret waiting?"

They went.

Her text yesterday:
"The kids are already asking when we're coming back."

Some moments can't be recreated.
Some windows close.
Some "next years" never come.

Your accounts will never give you permission.
That's not supposed to come from a spreadsheet.
That comes from you.

As we head into December, maybe it's worth asking:

What have you been putting off that your future self would tell you to do today?

→ What's your "Barcelona" that keeps getting pushed to next year?

"I'm tired of being my own CFO."

She said it on our intro call last week.

VP at a tech company.
Two kids.
Six-figure income.
Doing everything "right."

And exhausted.

Not from her actual job.
From her second job: managing money.

The Sunday account login sessions.
The 11pm Googling "RSU tax strategies."
The group texts asking colleagues what they're doing.
The constant feeling that everyone else has it figured out.

Sound familiar?

You're running a household, killing it at work, raising humans...

And somehow you're also supposed to be your own:
→ Investment advisor
→ Tax strategist  
→ Estate planner
→ Risk manager

All while making dinner and answering Slack messages.

I see this all the time.
Brilliant women treating their finances like another project to manage.

Building spreadsheets that impress their team.
But still feeling behind.

Because being smart doesn't mean you should do everything yourself.

You wouldn't perform your own surgery.
You wouldn't represent yourself in court.
You wouldn't cut your own hair.
(Well, 2020 aside.)

So why are you trying to be your own financial team?

The women who build real wealth?

They don't DIY everything.
They delegate what drains them.
So they can lead what matters.

Your time is worth more than the hours you're spending trying to figure this out alone.

Your energy is worth more than the stress of second-guessing every decision.

Your peace is worth more than proving you can do it all yourself.

The $12K question she almost didn't ask. 


She'd been sitting on it for three months.

"Is it too late to do anything about my taxes this year?"

We were on a call last week.
Six weeks left in 2025.
And she thought she'd missed her chance.

(Most people think tax planning ended in April.)

But when we actually looked?

We found $12,000 in deductions and retirement space she hadn't used.

→ Charitable donations she forgot about. Medical expenses that actually crossed the threshold. That advisor fee from January.

She thought she'd maxed out her 401k.

→ Turns out she had $8,000 of space left.

The underperforming stocks in her account became a tax strategy.

→ We sold them to offset the gains from her RSUs.
(The tax savings alone made it worth it.)

Those last two December paychecks became an opportunity.
Perfect time to fix her withholdings.

All of this disappears on January 1st.

The question saved her $4,800 in taxes.

I see this constantly in November.
People suddenly realizing there's still time.

Time to use those tax strategies that expire December 31st.
Time to top off retirement contributions.
Time to balance out investment gains.

Six weeks isn't the end of your financial year.

It's actually when some of the best moves happen.

→ You checking your stuff before year-end?

P.S. - Want to know what moves you could still make? Reply with 'MOVES' and I'll send you what I'm telling all my clients right now.

Having someone manage your investments isn't the same as having a plan.

I hear it constantly:
"I already have someone."

But then they follow it with:
"I still handle all the tax stuff myself."
"I'm not sure if I should exercise these stock options."
"We never talk about anything except the portfolio."

You have someone managing one account.
Not your financial life.

When April brings a surprise $20K tax bill, when RSUs vest with no clear strategy, when you're running private school numbers alone?

That's not in their department.

I see this all the time.
Smart women with "help" still playing CFO.

Still coordinating between:

Still coordinating between:
→ The person who handles investments (but not taxes)
→ The person who handles taxes (but not planning)
→ The estate attorney (from 2019)

Everyone managing their piece.
No one managing the whole picture.

One client put it perfectly:
"I have a team but no quarterback."

She had all the players.
But she was still calling all the plays.

Real planning connects everything.

Your investments know about your tax situation.
Your tax strategy considers your equity comp.
Your estate plan actually reflects your life today.

Because you shouldn't need a spreadsheet to track who handles what.

You need one person who sees it all.
Who connects it all.

That's the difference between having investments managed and having your life planned.

→ What would you do with your time if you weren't playing financial coordinator?

"Are we missing something?"


I hear this from people who already have financial "help."

They've got investments. They've got someone managing things.

But that nagging feeling won't go away.

Had a client come to me with $2.5 million in an annuity.
She'd put in $325k twelve years ago and $40k every year after. 

"It's been fine," she said. "I just haven't looked at it much."

Twelve years.
Her whole life had changed.
New job. Kids in college. Different dreams.

But that money was still sitting in 2013.
Stuck in a product someone sold her once and forgot about.

When we looked at everything?

That annuity hadn't made sense for her in years.
Nobody was handling her taxes.
Her ex-husband was still on her estate plan.

She had money. She had investments. She had "help."

Spread across seven different logins she could barely remember.

What she didn't have was someone looking at how it all worked together.
Someone asking "what else could this be doing?"
Someone who'd catch what everyone else missed.

We restructured the annuity to actually work for her current life.
Found $32K in annual tax savings she didn't know existed.
Got her ex-husband's name off everything.

She texted me last week:
"For the first time in years, I'm not wondering if I'm doing this wrong."

That's what my clients pay for.
To stop wondering.
To know someone sees everything.
To trust that the important stuff isn't getting missed.

Because the real cost isn't what you pay for planning.
It's living with that constant question mark.

→ How many passwords did you have to reset this year?🙋‍♀️

Founder of Mental Health Simplified - Transformational Coach | Speaker - I LEAD professionals through the DARKEST moments of their life.

My name is Corey Preston,

Personally, I have undergone a vast transformation over the past eight years, escaping homelessness on the streets, drug trafficking and three suicide attempts. Previously diagnosed with CPTSD/PTSD, but now mostly symptom-free due to a lot of hard work and commitment. I'm a true Phoenix who has escaped hell and was lucky enough to find my purpose in serving community.

I'm the Founder of Mental Health Simplified. An organization that provides Mental Health Coaching and Motivational Speaking seminars. Our Coaches all have Lived Experience. Meaning they have overcome Mental health & Addiction related challenges. This allows us to better connect and relate with our clients to support their needs. Not just guiding someone from a text-book, but by actually showing them the way from experience.

Corey Preston

SELF FORGIVENESS is a crucial mile stone on our Healing journey. ❤️

#healingjourney #personaldevelopment #livedexperience #overcome #traumarecovery

MASTER COACH 💪 | Leveraging Lived Experience in 🌪️ Trauma Recovery, 🧠 Resilience & Mindset Transformation | 💥 Overcame Homelessness, Addiction and PTSD.

STOP Trusting the WRONG people. 

Just because you trust someone… doesn’t mean you have to trust them fully.
We don’t have to live in extremes. Life isn’t black or white, especially when it comes to relationships..

Everyone has a shadow... A shadow is darkness we carry that comes up as toxic behaviors. We all carry unresolved trauma, and with that comes those toxic behaviors buried deep beneath the surface.

Some people do the work to heal, and because of that, they become more trustworthy.
Others don’t. And when someone doesn’t face themselves, they’re often living a double life, suppressing the parts of them they’re too ashamed to acknowledge.

That doesn’t mean they’re all evil.
But it does mean you need to protect your heart.

In relationships, when you don’t truly know someone, keep one foot in and one foot out.
You’ll never fully know a person who avoids self reflection and doesn't work on themselves...If they’re not vulnerable about their flaws, if they don't take responsibility for their actions, this means they’re wearing a mask.

You don't see who they really are.. You only see an ice berg.

Anyone who doesn’t talk about their emotional challenges or past pain isn’t telling you the full story.
But when you shift your environment and surround yourself with people who are into healing and personal development, trust flows differently.
It’s not forced.
You feel it in your nervous system.
It’s safe because they show up for themselves.

That’s why we need to build our circle around people who are intentional, not those just drifting through life neglecting their growth.

Their neglect affects us more than we realize.
And that’s why we must let go of people who don’t serve our highest path.

Because when you do,
You empower yourself to expand.
To evolve.
To finally stop absorbing the emotional projections of people who refuse to face their own demons.

Sincerely,
Corey Preston,

(Every post is Organic Gluten Free NON-AI.. It takes time to write so if you enjoy please drop a LIKE/COMMENT to support my mission) ❤️

For details on how to REGISTER with me 1-ON-1 or in my Group Healing programs. Private message me or text: 778-330-0437 ❤️

#healingjourney #mentalhealthmatters #overcome #mindset #trauma

I was a victim of severe domestic violence. She was my first girlfriend at 21 years old.

As a kid I was bullied all through school, and my self worth was empty. I was struggling with addiction. And met her in a treatment center. Not exactly a great decision on my part.

Regardless I ended up trying to FIX HER. But her demons were powerful and violent.

Everyday her personality would split. We’d watch a movie in peace. And then she’d be in the bathroom for an hour binge drinking wine. Only to come out with eyes of a great white shark.

She burned me with cigarettes, bit me, hit me dozens of times and tore my soul out of my body with her words. I was a people pleaser. I didn’t defend myself. I just took it over and over.

Until one day I called my dad. And he called the cops after she attacked me. She ended up going to jail for two weeks.

After this event happened I became suicidal. I felt that there was no point to live anymore. After this I kept attracting narcissistic partners that cheated on me, and abused me.

Unfortunately the abuse started to transform me into a very abusive person too. I became everything I hated. And eventually I decided that I needed to exit this world.

That was the moment I felt the shame. The dissatisfaction for my behavior. I abandoned myself and burned everything around me.

Within those ashes I found myself. I screamed to God please help me to overcome this. I made a commitment in my heart to never let the darkness that happened to me ever hurt another person again.

I’m grateful to say that I’ve made good on this promise and have grown significantly on my journey.

Don’t let the people that hurt you create a monster within your heart. Lean into love and let go of the dark.

Sincerely,
Corey Preston,

For details on how to REGISTER for my 1 ON 1 and Group Coaching programs please Private message me for details 🙂 🙏

#personaldevelopment #healingjourney #mentalhealthmatters #overcome #trauma

You don’t fucking love them. You just feel guilty, and that’s why you subject yourself to their abuse.

A narcissistic parent will entangle and warp your mind to feel guilt. It’s a control mechanism. They abuse you and, like a spider, wrap you into a web of guilt tripping to keep you in their grasp.

They will program you as a kid and as an adult, and make you feel that no matter what they do, you can never turn your back on “family,” even if that family has traumatized you and made you feel worthless.

So often I see clients tell me, “Corey… every time I see my parents, I feel dread and destabilized for days or weeks after because of their abuse and triggers.”

This is childhood guilt wired into your beliefs… that if you don’t show up for them, then you’re not good enough. But then you see them, and what happens? You crash and feel devastated after....

This is because of two things: 1) their manipulation, and 2) Self-abuse, because you feel you deserve these agonizing emotions of worthlessness. It’s not love. It’s expectation, and it’s harming your heart...

The way to break this cycle is, firstly, building awareness that you’re doing this. Secondly, tapping into the anger and dissatisfaction of how their hurt affects you. 

Thirdly, letting those feelings of frustration become the catalyst to start deploying boundaries and distance to protect your energy, and potentially working up to cutting them out of your life.

Sincerely,
Corey Preston,

I help people HEAL and OVERCOME Narcissistic famy related childhood trauma. If interested in registering to work 1-ON-1 or joining my Group Healing programs:

Text: 778-330-0437 
Email: Corey@mentalhealthsimplified.ca 
Or PM me for details ❤️

#HealingJourney #childhoodtrauma #traumarecovery

Smashing beers and chain smoking joints was my past mental health routine. When I really wanted to escape, I'd lean hard on cocaine and a cocktail of uppers and downers. If I felt sad or uncomfortable, I always had tools to make myself feel "better."

That was until the high went away, and I ended up feeling even worse than before. I was so stuck in trying to survive day to day that I didn't even know what I was fighting for. In fact, I didn't even know that there was any hope. When you're in the shit, you don't think about sunny days. That only made me more angry because I was in such a dark hole.

Eventually, I got so sick of drugs and binge drinking. Whenever I had the thought of getting wasted, I would think of all the shameful memories I had made. It would bring a certain type of inner disgust that I felt in my stomach. Each impulse I had to do drugs was met with significant discomfort. I'd visualize the worst moments of my life each time.

This actually reprogrammed my mindset with addiction. Previously, I would feel happy at the thought of getting high. But slowly, as I met each toxic thought with this approach, my desire for getting loaded began to fade. I replaced those self sabotaging impulses with healthy ones.

I'd work out, read books, watch personal development podcasts, and created a foundation of tools like grounding exercises, affirmations, cold showers, and practicing gratitude daily. I celebrated every positive action I made, telling myself that I'm proud of my efforts each time an action was achieved. Eventually, the monster within turned into an inner guardian. My inner voice no longer wished to hurt me, and I broke free from survival mode.

If youre struggling with addiction. Don't give up. Replace those negative impulses with healthy habits. Celebrate each win you have with gratitude. You'll shift your addictive mind to crave healing and growth. 

Sincerely,
Corey Preston,

To sign up for my 4-WEEK Group Healing program PM me to REGISTER 🙂🙏 OR TEXT 778-330-0437 ❤️

#healingjourney #overcome

Stop trying to KILL your inner critic.
That voice isn’t the enemy.
It’s the wounded version of you trying to protect you.

You don’t DESTROY it.
You EVOLVE it.
When you learn to sit with that voice…
…listen to what it’s protecting you FROM…
…and teach it a healthier strategy…
your INNER CRITIC becomes your INNER GUARDIAN.🔥

That is where true transformation takes place. 

#innercritic #selfmastery #traumarecovery #highperformance #healingjourney

No matter what PEOPLE will JUDGE you! Whether you PRETEND to be like THEM or you just be YOURSELF. So what the fuck is the DIFFERENCE? Just be AUTHENTIC.. Because you'll end up so much HAPPIER in life not SUPPRESSING who you really are!!! ❤️

Normally, soldiers leave the military with PTSD, whereas I went in already suffering from the debilitating condition. 

At the time, I didn’t even realize I had it. Being bullied for seven years in school motivated me to join the military. I never wanted to be hurt again. My dad was a soldier, and I wanted to make him proud. But when I joined the army, I had extreme anxiety from post-traumatic stress. 

I struggled significantly in basic training and battle school. Our instructors had just returned from a combat tour in Afghanistan, and they pushed us to our limits day and night. I almost broke three times and nearly gave up. Out of 52 soldiers, only 24 remained halfway through training.

One of the toughest challenges was a seven-day sleep deprivation exercise, where we were constantly under attack by enemy forces. I started hallucinating from exhaustion. It was brutal, so brutal that one soldier ended up on suicide watch and was later medically discharged.

Despite everything, my heart wouldn’t let me quit. Up until that point in my life, I had always felt worthless. I was tired of not following through on things. Every day, my mind told me to give up. It felt like I had to put in 200 percent just to keep up with everyone else. But I pushed through. Eventually, I graduated as a fully qualified infantry soldier.

Not long after, I was sent back to my regiment and marched in a Remembrance Day ceremony. I remember sitting in a restaurant with my dad and uncle when a little boy came up to me and asked if he could shake my hand. He thanked me for my service, and his father bought me a drink. I had tears streaming down my face. That was the first time in my life I ever felt proud of myself.

I hope this message inspires someone out there who is struggling. Take a moment to look back at the times in your life when you achieved something meaningful. Do not forget that you have the ability to do it again. Never give up. Things will get better. Let's break the stigma of Mental health. 🙏

Sincerely,
Corey Preston,

Many years ago I had a partner that would always flirt with other men. 

I was already pretty insecure, and her behaviour made me go crazy with jealousy.

One time we went on a trip, and a guy was making a move on her. They both disappeared behind a building.

I saw the man give her a piece of paper with his number. After I confronted her, she gaslighted me about the situation, even though there was evidence.

This was when I realized that yes I was insecure, but I also had a partner that was triggering those feelings.

We were not compatible, and that was a hard pill to swallow. Because I loved that woman a lot.

However, if you can't trust someone to be loyal. What's the point of having a life partner?

That type of behaviour unless you're in a non-monogamous relationship is unacceptable. Unfortunately, so many guys and women get stuck with partners that cheat, flirt and hurt them.

The best thing to do is to let these partners go. You may hurt for a while. But if you work on healing and personal development.

You will discover why you're attracted to non-faithful partners. It all stems from Childhood Trauma, and these toxic patterns can be reversed.

Don't settle for just having an attachment. If your partner keeps hurting you, and they're not aligned with your core values.

Do what's right by your heart. Let them go, learn from this and create higher standards for yourself. 

Eventually, you will find the right partner, and that person will help you heal your trust issues. I'm happily married now, and I'm no longer jealous. We can all break this cycle. 🙏

(The beautiful lady in the picture is my wife, and not my ex girlfriend FYI.)

Are you struggling and seeking support? Feel free to private message me for details on our 1 ON 1 and Group Mental Health Coaching programs. 🙂🙏

 #overcome #healingjourney #wellness #speaker #vulnerability

This is why you're DEPRESSED. This is how to OVERCOME it.

Hope this helps many of you! If you need support. Feel free to private message me for details on our 1-ON-1 and Group Mental Health Coaching programs. ❤️

#healingjourney #selfcare #coaching #resilience #mentalhealthawareness

Those who abuse other people HATE themselves. If someone in your past or present made you feel worthless. This message is for you. 🙏

My wife drove me crazy. Her triggers would bring raw aggression. I would then become defensive and fight back.

She wasn’t actually fighting me. She was fighting to be seen and heard. To have a voice. I wasn’t fighting her either. I was fighting for the little boy inside of me who was abused and left behind.

We had a one way ticket to divorce unless we both showed up.

As a healthy masculine man my responsibility is not to control her emotions. Rather to not lose myself in the midst of the storm. To focus on grounding myself to be the leader.

To lead her back to love by showing her empathy even when part of me feels resentful or wants to ATTACK.

When Ava would get triggered I would sit with her until I felt the energy was too powerful. Then I or her would set a boundary of space to calm down.

Upon returning I would think of the person I love beyond the feelings of hurt. Knowing that yes I am upset but that my wife is suffering. First I pull myself out of my dark hole. Then I go back for my wife.

At first she does not feel safe. So she tries to test my foundation by saying things that cause my nervous system to get on guard. But I keep the image of that beautiful soul in my minds eye.

“She needs me right now” I say to myself. I wrap my arms around her, and look her in the eyes and tell her, “I accept you. I love you.” The doorway to her heart opens. 

I feel her powerful energy slowly dissipating. Tears begin to fall down her eyes. Her anger fades and I see her soften.

She did not need me to defend myself. She needed me to be there for her. True masculinity is facing your own demons so that you have enough strength to face your partner’s.

When she sees im not reacting. Ava is able to see herself. Shes able to come back to love.

Sincerely,
Corey Preston

I was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder previously, but I also had CPTSD, which is childhood trauma over a long period of time in my early development..

It turns out the “BPD” label is starting to get a lot of heat, and thank God. For many years I knew this diagnosis was wrong, because people who have “borderline” always had complex childhood trauma. 

Our survival responses of becoming extremely aggressive to defend ourselves when triggered were seen as a personality disorder, when in reality it is a normal fight response from trauma.

This diagnosis carried a lot of trauma around it. This label became a mental prison where I felt helpless, because when you go on the internet, you learn about the mental health disorder and think you are screwed from everything you read.

The problem is that in our mental health system, trauma is not a focus. Labels and prescribing pills are the go to because the system is completely overwhelmed and underfunded. So many people carry a label that may not even be true.

My best advice is to always seek a second opinion and to find younger psychiatrists or psychologists if you are seeking a proper assessment. They tend to have less bias and bad habits and be more patient centered with their approach.

And to all those struggling with an identity crisis with your diagnosis, my advice is to let go of the labels. Focus on getting healthy with your mind, body, and nervous system. 

These labels do not define you. The more you focus on them, the more they will disempower your growth. You have the ability to overcome anything in front of you with enough effort and support.

Sincerely,
Corey Preston, 

For details on our 1-ON-1 and Group Mental Health Coaching programs please Private message me or TEXT: 778-330-0437 ❤️

#childhoodtrauma #personaldevelopment #healingjourney

How to PROCESS our feelings by UNPACKING❤️

To sign up for my 4-WEEK Group Healing program PM me to REGISTER 

#personaldevelopment #trauma #healingjourney #overcome #mentalhealthmatters #traumarecovery #childhoodtrauma

I told my wife lastnight that I didn't think I would make it. My Trauma was so severe, and I thought it was impossible to get better.

It was terrible shaking from tremors almost daily. My PTSD was that bad. There was a seriously sinister inner critic inside of my mind. When rage hit me I became possessed. My body would surge with uncontrollable energy. Because of this I hurt a lot of people I cared about. While sabotaging everything in my life. I'm fortunate to have survived the overdoses and suicide attempts.

This was only 6 years ago that I really started changing who I was and healed significantly. Sometimes it feels like a dream, and that I won the lottery. I don't have any toxic people around anymore. Nor can I accept drama or chaos in my life. Which can be weird at times. Because that's all I knew before most of my life. All I know is I'm grateful, and I don't take this lightly.

If people truly knew how bad off I was. I think most would believe that overcoming Trauma is possible. The same guy leading a Mental health organization was a person that cut himself to get attention, faked seizures and was a violent criminal. I was a certified lost cause in all books, but I proved with the right tools you can make it. Don't give up. Keep learning.

Biggest takeaways...

Somatic grounding exercises for Trauma will regulate your emotions. Affirmations done daily will reprogram your negative mind. Exercise will strengthen your discipline. Most importantly find a meaning in your life. We must feel useful like we're serving or contributing. Otherwise we will remain lost....

Many don't make it because their mindset is stuck in survival mode. But what's beyond survival? What does life look like when you're happy and feeling content? Start thinking in this way and you will overcome your circumstances. Because than your fighting for a better life. Not just to make it through the day.... Hope this inspires someone struggling. ❤️ Dont give up.

Sincerely,
Corey Preston,

🔥 I HELP people OVERCOME major life CHALLENGES 💪 | Leveraging Lived Experience in 🌪️ Trauma Recovery, 🧠 Resilience & Mindset Transformation | 💥 Overcame Homelessness, Addiction & PTSD 🙌

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