RICHARD DOLENRichard was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and raised on a dirt farm with his family scratching a meagre living. He is Métis ... a registered member of the Métis Nation of British Columbia, Canada.

Through the eyes of poverty, hatred, ad discrimination, he developed feelings of guilt, shame and self-hatred. At six years of age Richard had lost hearing in one ear and labelled slow in school. He also suffers from dyslexia. Suicide often entered his mind as a method to simply stop the pain.

He had first-hand knowledge of the now-openly discussed topic of sexual abuse in the Church ... he was an altar boy and abused. He left home at 15 seeking a better life.

Richard soon realized many of society's ills evolved from addictions, family violence, family secrets, physical/sexual/alcohol/drug abuse, and feelings of inadequacy living in societies where being Métis or First Nations was/is looked down upon. The fact he was Métis was a family secret, never spoken openly in the family. He suffered from years of family dysfunction.

Richard became a life-skills coach working in suicide prevention, addiction, and violence in the home. He facilitated groups in transition houses in California for adolescents realizing there must be a better way to help people who descend into debilitating hopelessness.

Richard felt he could help those who lost their way through providing workshops dedicated to encouraging participants to face their fears, develop self-confidence, and move beyond the quagmire of depression, fear, and physical/emotional torment.... Read More Read Less