About Lou Alpert
I am a certified and accredited life coach, author, artist and the mother of eight adult children and seven grandchildren. Over the past many years, I have worked with a cooperative women’s art gallery, created and owned a children’s book publishing house, founded the Lakewood Service League volunteer organization, and worked as a residential realtor.
In 2013, my life took an unexpected turn when I was forced to acknowledge that my daughter, Crystal, was a heroin addict. For the next five years, I went down the rabbit hole that so many parents of addicts experience. I hid in the darkness and became obsessed with trying to fix my daughter’s addiction. Crystal would eventually end up living on the streets, and I would end up spending many a night, awake and isolated, fearing for my daughter’s life
In December of 2017, I woke to a CNN story featuring Crystal shooting up heroin in an alley, visibly pregnant and being confronted by an Albuquerque policeman who offered to adopt her baby. The story went viral, picked up by media outlets throughout the US and the world and culminated in an appearance at former President Trump’s State of the Union Address by the policeman, his wife and Crystal’s newly adopted daughter.
The life I had so carefully guarded was now thrust into the light and I felt exposed and vulnerable. In 2018, I wrote and published my story, Surrender: A Love Letter to My Daughter, which chronicles my journey through Crystal’s addiction and my own inner struggles. This book has given me the opportunity to share my experiences, connect with other parents and offer support.
In January of 2021, I entered the Jay Shetty Certification School to obtain my coaching license and enhance my skills to better serve parents swept up in addiction. After graduating in December of 2021, I began my coaching business while continuing with my education and coaching supevision in pursuit of AC, Association for Coaching, accredidation. I received my Foudational Coaching accredidation in June of 2023.
My purpose in coaching is to assist parents in developing strategies for healing and nurturing themselves amidst the strains of addiction by implementing healthy habits and learning to set boundaries with the loved ones in their lives.
Jay Shetty Certification School is accredited by Association for Coaching and TRACCERT Canada and a member of EMCC.
