Karen Hyatt – NCPS

With what she calls a “PhD in lived experience,” Karen brings a deeply personal perspective to the BuildWell team. Having navigated the complexities of Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and mental health challenges within her own family, Karen understands that this path isn’t always one we choose—sometimes, it’s where life leads us. She believes that to truly “talk the talk,” one must first “walk the walk,” developing the profound empathy required to support others through their darkest moments and toward a message of hope.

Karen has been a cornerstone of BuildWell since its founding in 2024 having held a similar role at Youturn Health for many years prior. Her professional background is rooted in decades of community service and formal advocacy. She is nationally certified and state-certified in her home state of South Carolina. Karen spent 13 years prior to peer coaching as a facilitator for several parenting programs throughout South Carolina. Long before “peer coaching” was a formal title, she was already providing support to friends, neighbors, and her church community.

Karen is a lifelong learner with a passion for growth—provided it doesn’t involve a computer screen! When she isn’t supporting participants, you can find her gardening as has a soft spot for rescuing both plants and dogs. She treasures every moment spent with her grandchildren and further spoiling her two rescue dogs, Jake and Ragamuffin (“Rags”), who she says “generously allow” her to live in their home.