Real talk, real healing

Have you ever poured your heart out to a stranger on an airplane? There’s something about the temporary nature of the encounter along with the feeling of anonymity that gives us a feeling of freedom and safety in expressing our deepest feelings. 

It was just this phenomenon that was the basis for the relationship between Annie Roth and Mary Ellen Bartlett, founders of Find Your Voice Now, a group with the mission of empowering women to unleash their inner strength and break the chains of toxic relationships. 

“On a four-hour flight to Seattle in 2021, Mary Ellen sat down in my row,” Annie says. “I was reading a book with the word ‘narcissism’ in the title, and it caught her eye. We connected immediately and began discussing our past experiences with all types of toxic relationships.”

From that serendipitous encounter, a deep connection—and a shared mission—was born. Today, through their creation of Find Your Voice Now, a virtual support group meeting twice monthly with more than 1,900 members, they are helping women worldwide find their power and their worth. 

“There can be a lot of shame involved when dealing with a toxic relationship whether it with a spouse, parent, co-worker, sibling or friend,” Mary Ellen says. “Many women feel stuck emotionally or financially and traditional therapy doesn’t provide the feeling of community. In our digital group format, you’re not alone.”

Through discussion of shared experiences, the group meetings offer the support, perspective, encouragement and motivation women need to gain the strength to take control of their lives again.

Annie and Mary Ellen are not therapists. Annie is a certified wellness coach and functional nutrition counselor with corporate coaching experience and Mary Ellen, a massage therapist, was a stay-at-home mother who raised four children.

“We bonded over shared experiences,” Annie says. “It doesn’t matter what label you attach to what or who you’re dealing with. If you don’t feel good about yourself in your relationship, we want to empower you to help yourself feel better.” 

Finding your own voice is about discovering your inner strength. Find Your Voice Now offers a safe space where women feel heard and comforted.

“No one is here to judge or question your choices,” Annie says. “No one is psychoanalyzing you. Everyone is willing to listen, understand and help find solutions.”

All Find Your Voice Now services are free. “We are planning corporate and school education programming in the future,” Annie says. 

If you’d like to help Annie and Mary Ellen continue to grow their mission you can donate directly at FindYourVoiceNow.org or by taking part in the Pickleball for Charity fundraiser.

“I could never describe why I was so sad all the time,” Mary Ellen says. “Sometimes all it takes is a little support to find the courage to stand up for yourself and discover that you are enough.”

For information on joining the next meeting, visit FindYourVoiceNow.org or email annie@findyourvoicenow.org or maryellen@findyourvoicenow.org with questions.