My name is Kirsten Doyle, and I am the founder, owner and sole operator of Word Salad With Coffee. In 2013 I stepped away from a successful career in information technology and turned my side hustle of writing into a full-time gig. Although I have experience in a broad array of industries, for the last few years I have been specialising in mental health and addictions content. I have a passion for this work. I believe we need to get rid of the stigmas surrounding mental illness so that people can feel empowered to seek help when they need it. It is my hope that the writing I do results in positive change for people experiencing mental illnesses and addictions, as well as their loved ones.
Many people took on “pandemic projects” during the COVID-19 lockdowns. Some people stress-baked, some took online classes to learn new skills, and I started making videos. My pandemic project was a new YouTube channel focused on writing tips and other writing-related discussions. This is a form of content creation that has taken me out of my comfort zone and propelled me to learn a lot not only about the process of producing videos, but about how to inspire myself to grow and develop personally.
In terms of my bio, I was born in South Africa and relocated to Canada in 2000. I live with my husband and two sons – one adult, one on the cusp of adulthood. Like me, my older son is on the autism spectrum. Since he entered the school system, I have been an outspoken advocate for children with special educational needs and for people with disabilities in general. I currently serve as Vice-President on the board of directors of Citizens With Disabilities – Ontario (CWDO).
Much like my disability advocacy, my work is driven largely by lived experiences. Having lived with anxiety for most of my life and having experienced post-partum depression, my goal is to be a resource for people who are struggling and need to know that they are not alone and more importantly, that there is help available to them.