Our Apprentices say it best!
Lanae’s Success Story
Lanae Seaworth was born and raised in Tacoma, Washington and has found her purpose in giving back to her community and helping others see their potential through peer counseling.
Lanae is a Peer Support Specialist Apprentice at Valeo Vocation, an organization that has participated in the apprenticeship program since 2022. The Peer Support Specialist Apprenticeship includes 29 hours of classroom instruction and 2,000 hours of on-the-job training with support from a mentor. Lanae started the Peer Apprenticeship program in October 2024 and completed her coursework in May 2025. She continues to receive mentorship from Calvin Fahnestock, [insert link to his story] who graduated from the first cohort at Valeo Vocation.
Lanae began working in the mental health field about eight years ago. While working in this field, she realized she had a desire to better connect with people, especially because she understood so many of their stories. This led her to discover her passion for peer counseling.
“When I joined Valeo, I began as a Case Manager. At that time, the organization was working to expand its approach by incorporating not only case managers but also peer counselors to better support our participants.”
A Certified Peer Specialist brings their own model of resilience to benefit patients and enables them to overcome obstacles associated with substance use and other behavioral health disorders. Having personally navigated mental health challenges, addiction, domestic violence, and homelessness, Lanae has now been sober for 13 years and will remain committed to this journey every day. Lanae’s lived experiences fuel her desire to give back to the community and help others see their own potential for growth and healing.
Her early life was marked by challenges, including a turbulent home environment that led to separated parents. This difficult start pushed her towards unhealthy coping mechanisms, and by the age of 15 she was drinking heavily. By 19, shewas using substances and drifting from place to place. At 22, Lanae met her children’s father, and though they both struggled with addiction, she took her first brief step toward sobriety when she had her first child at 26. However, she relapsed until her second child was born when she was 30.
When her son was just three weeks shy of turning one, he experienced an accidental drug poisoning but survived. That moment served as her wake-up call, leading her to leave behind that past and pursue a new life. She moved to a new city, hoping for a fresh start, but after a car accident due to alcohol use, she found herself facing community service and substance abuse classes. That is when she lost everything and became homeless with two young children, but refused to give up.
Over the years, Lanae persevered and has dedicated herself to supporting others facing similar struggles. She is now a Peer Counselor with experience as a case manager helping individuals experiencing homelessness.
“I’ve worked as a case manager for four years—two and a half years at a homeless family shelter, and the last year and a half helping individuals experiencing homelessness overcome barriers to secure full-time employment and long-term stability. Before entering the Peer Apprentice Program, I struggled to connect with participants and understand how to help them overcome the challenges of homelessness. I didn’t yet have the tools to effectively communicate or fully grasp where they were coming from.”
Lanae has gained important skills through the apprenticeship as well as support from her mentor, organization, and instructors.
“Now, I’m more empathetic and understanding. I’ve learned how to actively listen and meet participants where they are. I’m able to communicate in a way that makes them feel heard and validated, and I’ve built stronger rapport with them. Trust is built through how I engage with them and how I speak to their needs. My understanding of my surroundings and the people in my life has deepened. It’s easier for me to “read the room”— to observe how people are behaving or feeling. I’ve also become better at interacting with my peers and truly listening to what’s going on.”
She has now obtained her certification, and this is just the beginning of her journey.
“I am earning college credits that contribute toward my goal of furthering my education, with the possibility of becoming a Substance Use Disorder Counselor. However, I’m still considering whether that is the path I want to pursue. Earning my Peer Certification has allowed me to shift into a more peer-centered role, meeting clients where they are. This transition has created stronger connections between staff and participants. People feel more comfortable and trusting, knowing that no matter their need, there’s someone who can assist.”
Through empathy, understanding, and guidance, Lanae strives to help others overcome their personal obstacles and rebuild their lives.