About Bonnie

Hi! I’m Bonnie Deroo.

I’m passionate about helping people with anxiety, addiction, and alcoholism to overcome these challenges and live a life of meaning and purpose. I also help family members who have loved ones with addiction, and who also need support.

There’s a special place in my heart for adults and teens who suffer with anxiety, and for those who use excessive drinking or other substances to control it. I love helping you learn ways to manage anxiety and live a life of meaning and purpose. I really enjoy helping family members learn to support their loved ones in effective ways.

How my passion developed

I’ve struggled with anxiety as long as I can remember. Even as a kid, I worried about things that other kids didn’t. As I got older, with the added pressures of a career and family, my anxiety just got worse. It felt unbearable.

I tried controlling my anxiety with alcohol. But it always came back.

So I drank more, and still anxiety was there. Every morning, every day. Anxiety and drinking were affecting my health, my relationships. I felt stuck. I didn’t know what to do but I knew something had to change.

When I stood back and was honest with myself, I realized that my job was a big chunk of my anxiety. What I thought was my dream job turned out not to be a good fit. I realized I needed to do a job every day where I help people. So I went back to school, changed careers, and became a therapist. This time I got it right.

My experiences with anxiety and alcohol gave me a deep sense of compassion towards anyone struggling with anxiety and trying to use substances to control it.

In my therapy training I learned better ways to manage my anxiety. I still have anxiety--but now I have the skills to manage it without drinking, so I can do what I love and be the kind of person I want to be. And so can you.

How I live out my passion as a therapist

It’s such an honor for me every day to help people manage their anxiety in ways that are consistent with who they are and who they really want to be, and not to rely on drinking or other substances.

How I help others

I help people cope with anxiety without drinking or using other substances by offering tools for managing anxiety. I help people take control of their lives, figure out what matters to them, live a life of meaning, and be proud of who they are. And we do all of that together.