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Life at LifeWorks NW
Meet Cheryl Moten, Chemical Dependency Counselor
Jul 25, 2025
Cheryl Moten is a Chemical Dependency Counselor, advocate for women’s recovery, and beloved grandmother. Cheryl supports women in LifeWorks NW’s Project Network program as they recover from substance use disorders, many of whom have children involved with Child Protective Services.
“I help women recover, get their children back in their lives,” she explains.
From healing to healer
During her 20 years with LifeWorks NW, Cheryl has witnessed amazing transformations as she has guided women healing from addiction. Eight of those women have come back to work alongside her at Project Network.
Recently, one of those women joined Cheryl on her lunchtime walk.
“She said, ‘You know, it is so funny to just see you as a person, I just thought Miss Cheryl kind of walked on water,’” Cheryl recalled. “I said, ‘Hey, well here I am in all my glory; this is me on the other side of the curtain.’”
Part of that work behind the curtain is sitting with women who come to Project Network devastated after losing custody of their kids. Cheryl draws from her own experience to give them hope that they will be able to get their children out of foster care.
“[Our clients are] angry, they’re hurt, they’re sad. There’s been trauma from losing their child. Before I was in treatment, my kids were in DHS, in and out of jail,” she says. “So, I believe treatment works. I tell all the clients, ‘It won’t always feel this way, and clean moms get their kids back, and they keep their kids.’”
MRT expert and teacher
After spending time as a Peer Specialist, Cheryl gained more education and experience. She is now a Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor II and has specialized training in Moral Reconation Therapy. Known as MRT, it is an approach that helps those with substance use disorder and criminal histories develop their moral reasoning. Cheryl is now certified to teach MRT.
Developed in the corrections system, MRT takes participants through a process of examining their values. Cheryl believes it is effective because it challenges people who have been incarcerated to choose to see their situation differently. Doing so allows them to make positive changes.
Crafts to cope
Cheryl also creates positive changes when she is not working. She crochets, a hobby she takes to work with her, introducing it to her clients. They often discover their own ability to create as they heal from addiction. Cheryl also makes t-shirts with inspirational sayings like “Faith over fear” and “I’m stronger than my storm.”
Spiritual focus
Cheryl states that recovery is a mind, body, and spiritual connection. She needs all three to be successful at her job and in her recovery. Cheryl attends church regularly and is part of the praise team. Singing brings her joy.
Loved more than peanut butter and jelly
Cheryl’s family includes three grown children and seven grandchildren. Each year for Mother’s Day, her family treats her to a special trip. Those have included vacations to Hawaii, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas, and Florida.
Because she has been sober for 33 years, her sons’ memories of her addiction are faint, and her grandchildren have never seen their grandmother that way.
“I tell people all the time, my grandkids love me more than peanut butter and jelly,” she says. “They think I am the best, and recovery gave me that.”
