Guest Contributor – Kate Vitela
In 2018, I hit rock bottom. As a nurse, my life was supposed to be about saving others, but I found myself needing saving. Struggling with addiction, I entered a monitoring program for healthcare professionals—a humbling and transformative experience that felt like the end of my career. It wasn’t. It was the beginning of something greater.
The program held me accountable in ways I never expected. Random UAs, strict requirements, and a community of others walking the same path forced me to face my reality. For the first time, I surrendered—to recovery, to vulnerability, and to the idea that I could rebuild.
Sobriety didn’t just restore my life; it redefined it. I returned to my nursing roots with a renewed passion for mental health and addiction care. I earned board certification as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse and became a Certified Addiction RN. But I wanted to do more than treat symptoms—I wanted to guide others toward transformation.
This led me to write You’ve Been Selected, a blog about my recovery journey and the lessons I’ve learned along the way. It also inspired me to launch a podcast of the same name, where I dive into topics like addiction, sobriety, spirituality, and personal growth. Through storytelling and real talk, I share how life’s toughest moments can become opportunities for purpose and connection.
Today, as a Nurse Coach specializing in addiction, I combine my lived experience, medical expertise, and no-BS approach to help others navigate the messy, emotional, and deeply personal journey of recovery. Sobriety has given me a purpose far beyond what I ever imagined, and now, I’m here to share that hope with others.
A Registered Nurse for over two decades, Kate became sober in 2018 and shifted her career to focus on mental health. She is board-certified in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing and a Certified Addiction RN. Kate also writes a blog, You’ve Been Selected, chronicling her journey to becoming a coach and launching her upcoming podcast. Focused on discovering purpose after hitting rock bottom, the podcast dives into spirituality, personal growth, and the infinite possibilities that emerge when we rise from our darkest moments.
Follow Kate on Instagram and for coaching inquiries email her at: katevitelacoaching@gmail.com
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