EX Coaches

Margaret has over a decade of experience in tobacco cessation treatment which she brings to EX Program to ensure our protocols are current and research based. Throughout her 18 years of professional experience, the common thread has been helping people achieve their personal and professional goals. When she's not online, she can be found volunteering across numerous causes that are important to her, and earning her most important professional title: Mom.

Bridget, or Ms. B, is a certified addiction and tobacco specialist with many years of experience. She has worked in the addiction field for over twenty years. She brings national and international experience as a smoking cessation coach and addiction counselor. She lived and worked in Sasebo, Japan, for nine years as a smoking cessation champion and addiction counselor with military personnel stationed abroad. Before joining EX Program, Ms. B worked with public health agencies in Alaska, coordinating community health fairs for middle and high school students. In addition, Ms. B is a published author, playwright, teacher, and speaker. She has served on the board of United States Selective Service 2001. She holds a Master of Science Degree from Shalom Bible College in Counseling.

Dhivyaa earned her graduate degree in Applied Behavior Analysis. She has worked in the mental health field in a variety of settings such as clinic, school, in-home, hospital, outpatient, and via different modalities including, in-person, video, and telephonic counseling. Currently, Dhivyaa works as a tobacco cessation counselor caring for individuals seeking treatment from addiction to tobacco products. A current area of interest includes current trends in vaping among adolescents and effective behavior modification techniques that can be utilized to treat nicotine dependence in adolescents.

Gabby, MS, CTTS, worked as a tobacco treatment specialist for 14 years at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minnesota. Previous to counseling patients about tobacco use disorder during their hospitalization, she worked as an exercise physiologist and cardiac rehabilitation therapist for 15 years. Gabby is certified by the Mayo Clinic Nicotine Dependence Center and earned her master’s degree in exercise physiology from the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse. She embraces the importance of cardiovascular fitness by staying active with her mini Australian shepherd. She enjoys spending time with her 2 young adult children and appreciates all that Mother Nature has to offer as her playground.

Heather, M.A., N.C.T.T.P. earned her master’s degree in Counseling and Psychological services from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. Heather began her career as an in-home therapist working with children and their families. She has experience treating individuals suffering from depression, anxiety, ADHD, trauma, domestic violence, and families involved with child protection. Currently, Heather works as a certified tobacco treatment specialist, at Mayo Clinic, she enjoys working with individuals in the inpatient, outpatient, and intensive treatment programming settings to assist with tobacco cessation. She finds it rewarding to help individuals develop their quit plan and create strategies to address anticipated triggers and challenges so they can continue to meet their goal of being tobacco-free. Heather is also an instructor in the Tobacco Treatment Certification Program through the Nicotine Education Program at Mayo.

As a Tobacco Treatment Specialist, Laura is passionate about helping people struggling with tobacco cessation and providing support. She has been a coach for several years with Truth and also works as a counselor. Previously, she worked at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN in the Nicotine Dependence Center, where she enjoyed working with individuals regarding tobacco cessation in the inpatient, outpatient and residential settings. Laura received her master’s degree in Community Counseling from Winona State University and B.A. from the University of Colorado. She interned at Empower focusing on Drug, Alcohol and Domestic Violence Counseling. She also interned at Compassion Counseling and has experience with Therapeutic Horseback Riding with children and adults with physical and mental disabilities.

Mike has more than 25 years experience connecting with people to support tobacco and vape free living. Through his work with Rutgers University and the Mayo Clinic he has also provided training and education to health professionals so that they can similarly empower their patients to live tobacco and vape free. Mike has a Doctorate in Counseling Psychology from Rutgers University, has served as Education Director of the Rutgers Tobacco Dependence Treatment Program, and Director of Mayo Clinic Nicotine Dependence Center, from which he retired in 2023. He is Licensed as a Professional Counselor in New Jersey and Minnesota and currently maintains a private counseling practice while keeping a keen focus on the leading cause of preventable death and illness in the United States: Tobacco Use Disorder.

Molly earned her master’s degree in Clinical Counseling from Winona State University. She is a Licensed Alcohol & Drug Counselor and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in the State of Minnesota. For the last 25 years, she has had the opportunity to work with children, adolescents, and adults with mental health, behavioral, substance abuse, and developmental issues, in both residential, in-home, and outpatient settings. She has worked at the Mayo Clinic for approximately 10 years as an alcohol and drug counselor and an emergency room social worker. She recently joined the Nicotine Dependence Center in the summer of 2019, excited about the prospect of educating patients and professionals in this field. One of her goals is working on making tobacco treatment more available in mental health and substance abuse treatment facilities.

Sarah received her Master of Social Work degree from St. Catherine University and University of St. Thomas and is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker through the state of Minnesota. Sarah also has her Master of Arts degree in Counseling and Psychological Services through Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. Sarah has previous professional experience in the area of medical social work and has joined the Nicotine Dependence Center as a counselor and educator in the outpatient, inpatient, and intensive tobacco treatment program. Sarah strives to meet each person where they are on their journey to be tobacco free and partner with them to work toward achieving their quit goals one step at a time.

Yeimi has worked as a Latinx health educator for more than 15 years in the United States and has facilitated tobacco cessation and prevention programs in both Spanish in English since 2012. She has a master’s degree in Spanish and Latin American Studies from American University in Washington DC and is pursuing a degree in clinical counseling. Yeimi is an advocate for culturally and linguistically appropriate healthcare services for individuals with limited English proficiency. She believes we all have the potential to grow, learn and gain wisdom from our experiences. Learning new behaviors to improve our wellbeing is an opportunity to learn about our true selves, become resilient and in the face of challenges, get back on track, and, try again.