Crystal started her professional career on college campuses in the residence hall setting after her own experiences as an undergraduate student. As a first-generation student, she realized that many college students need help, but many would never reach out for help or step foot into a counseling center even though the help and guidance was needed. 

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She obtained her Master's degree in Counseling and Personnel Services from University of Maryland, College Park through the University of Maryland, University College – Europe while living in Germany.  Her graduate internship was completed in a 6-week inpatient drug and alcohol treatment facility for military members and their dependents.

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After spending approximately 15 years in the college residence hall setting and moving all over the country, Crystal transitioned out of her helping role for a brief sabbatical.  Her return to counseling 5 years later was as a Program Counselor in the Therapeutic Community, at the Casper Re-Entry Center, an inpatient substance abuse treatment facility for prison inmates.  The treatment program was originally approximately one year in length but then was reduced to only six months. Crystal left the treatment facility shortly after to open Rising Phoenix Therapeutic Community & Rescue Center, a non-profit organization focused on providing support services to the formerly incarcerated population with a substance abusing history. Initially, Rising Phoenix offered intensive outpatient (IOP) treatment services to men who had graduated from the incarcerated treatment program in Casper, Wyoming, but expanded to also include females (treated in separate groups from the males) and participants of the RISE program at the Natrona County Detention Center

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When not doing work for Rising Phoenix, Crystal is either working on writing her dissertation on therapeutic communities to complete her doctoral studies or she is spending time with friends and "family" which consists of her four-legged children.

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