Nicole Schuster is a volunteer SHE RECOVERS Together Online Zoom Gathering Guardian whose presence helps create the welcoming environment that defines our community spaces. As a guardian, she offers kindness and compassion to participants and fellow volunteers alike. Nicole describes volunteering as an opportunity to help create the kind of trauma-informed and inclusive space she needed when she first found SHE RECOVERS, a place where people can feel seen and like they truly belong. Her commitment to healthy boundaries, self-compassion, and showing up consistently for others reflects the very heart of the SHE RECOVERS mission, and we are so grateful for the care and authenticity she brings to our community.
She has recently been recognized as a SHE RECOVERS Gem.
SHE RECOVERS Gems are volunteers who have been acknowledged by their peers for their profound and life-altering contributions and service to our community.
We had the honor of interviewing Nicole about her role as a SHE RECOVERS volunteer.
What does being a SHE RECOVERS Foundation volunteer mean to you?
To me, being a SHE RECOVERS volunteer means helping create the kind of welcoming space that I needed when I first found the community. Recovery has felt incredibly lonely at times, and knowing that I am part of a space where others can be heard, encouraged, and/or feel like they belong feels like important/meaningful work.
What made you want to become a SHE RECOVERS Foundation Volunteer?
When I first found SHE RECOVERS, I experienced a sense of belonging that I hadn’t felt in a while. It was meaningful to find a community centered around healing, honesty, and compassion. I wanted to volunteer to help create that same sense of welcome and support for others searching for a place to feel seen.
What three words would your friends or fellow volunteers use to describe you?
Loyal, honest, compassionate.
How do these aspects of who you are show up in your everyday life?
I try to follow through on my commitments, show up consistently when I can, and encourage people without expecting perfection from them. I value creating spaces where people feel accepted and heard.
What is something of which you are proud?
Completing my Alive & Free emotional health coaching training. While my life has taken unexpected turns since then, I’m still proud of the work and personal growth that went into earning that certification. I hope to use those skills more fully in the future.
What do you do outside of your SRF Volunteer role for work and/or play?
Outside of volunteering, I work as a tutor and in event hospitality, helping to create wonderful memories for others. In my downtime, I enjoy playing The Sims, taking photos, learning about personal growth, and spending quiet time to recharge. Right now I’m in a season of rebuilding, so I also prioritize rest and try to maintain healthy boundaries.
What does radical self-care look like for you?
Right now, radical self-care means respecting my limits instead of constantly pushing through exhaustion. It looks like saying no when I need to, protecting my energy, allowing myself time to rest, and reminding myself that healing isn’t something I can rush.
Tell us a little bit about your recovery journey. What are you recovering from? What tools and resources do you weave into your patchwork of recovery?
My recovery journey has included healing from CPTSD, childhood trauma and neglect, perfectionism, shame, burnout, co-dependency, and religious trauma. Rather than recovering from one specific substance or event, I’ve been learning how to build a healthier relationship with myself and others. Some of the tools I return to include somatic practices, inner child work, recovery meetings, trauma-informed resources, journaling, faith (even when it’s complicated), and learning to practice self-compassion one day at a time.
What or who is inspiring you right now?
Right now, I’m inspired by ordinary people who continue to show up for their recovery, one day at a time. Watching people choose honesty, vulnerability, and hope—even when life is difficult—reminds me that healing isn’t about perfection but about returning to self consistently.
What SHE RECOVERS Intention & Guiding Principle resonates with you the most?
We answer the call to heal our past wounds and intergenerational traumas so we can live fully in the present.
What is your favorite SHE RECOVERS resource?
The twice-daily SHE RECOVERS Together Online Gatherings, or SHE RECOVERS Dance.
What is one piece of advice you would give to another woman/non-binary individual who is seeking a community like SHE RECOVERS?
Don’t wait until you feel recovered enough to belong. Community isn’t something you earn after you’ve figured everything out—it’s often one of the things that helps you get there. Be patient with yourself, and don’t be afraid to try a few gatherings before deciding whether it’s the right fit.
