Season 4- Episode 30: Nicole Tanguay

In this episode of the WC Podcast, Nicole Tanguay, CEO of RVIV Wellness, shares her incredible journey from incarceration to becoming a successful therapist and advocate for holistic health. Nicole faced significant struggles and hardships growing up, including financial difficulties and a turbulent home life. Her life took a significant turn after a car accident led to her time in prison. While there, she completed degrees in sociology and a master’s program at UNLV with support from Hope for Prisoners. This help and a vision exercise at Hope for Prisoners inspired her to dream big, start her own business, and become a licensed therapist, which are goals she achieved in just 18 months.

Nicole’s center, RVIVE Wellness, offers a holistic approach to health by combining mental, physical, and spiritual care. They provide services like therapy, wellness coaching, and spiritual guidance to help people improve their overall well-being.

Nicole often deals with issues like anxiety, depression, and trauma in her clients. She stresses the importance of grounding techniques, setting small goals, and addressing trauma to aid in recovery. She also highlights the struggles of accessing therapy for low-income or incarcerated individuals and the risk of burnout for mental health professionals, sharing her journey with self-care and setting boundaries.

She’s enthusiastic about how technology, like AI and mindfulness apps, is changing mental health care. These tools help manage administrative tasks and offer clients additional support.

Nicole offers practical advice for young people facing challenges. She says that past mistakes don’t define your future and encourages them to see setbacks as opportunities for growth. Surrounding yourself with positive people and believing in your ability to change is crucial. She believes that even tough times can lead to positive outcomes if you stay hopeful and persistent.

Finally, Nicole applauds the success stories of Hope for Prisoners graduates and urges businesses to support these individuals by providing job opportunities and backing their entrepreneurial efforts. Her story is a powerful example of resilience and transformation, showing that anyone can overcome their challenges and achieve their dreams with determination and support.

RVIVE Wellness:
 RVIV Wellness

Hope for Prisoners:
https://hopeforprisoners.org/