Community Highlights: Meet Devon Frontczak of Placed on Purpose

Today we’d like to introduce you to Devon Frontczak.

Hi Devon, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’m someone who has walked through a lot — childhood abuse, dropping out of high school, homelessness as a young teen, addiction, trauma, and emotional struggles — and chose to turn that pain into purpose. My own healing journey is what led me to become a therapist. I realized that I didn’t go through all of this and overcome to not share my education and experience with others. I became a peer support specialist in 2014 for our local community mental health and really found my passion, fueled by the staff there at the time, and I earned my master’s degree in social work from Wayne State University. Fast forward, I spent some time gaining my ground as a therapist and then felt pulled to build my private practice, Placed on Purpose, where we specialize in trauma recovery, emotional regulation, and working towards providing peer support.

My lived experience gives me a unique ability to connect with clients on a deeper level — I get it, because I’ve lived it.

Over time, I’ve expanded my practice, brought on other therapists, and created resources like my “From Triggered to Transformed” eBook to reach people beyond the therapy room. I also speak at events, integrating DBT and 12-step recovery, which are both powerful parts of my own transformation.

For me, this work isn’t just a career — it’s a calling. And I feel really grateful to be in a position now where I can use my story to help others write a new one of their own.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Honestly, healing hasn’t been a smooth road for me — I’ve stumbled through a lot of it. Learning new ways to live, to cope, and to actually implement those changes has been tough. I’ve had relationships fall apart simply because I didn’t know how to manage my own trauma responses. That pain is what sparked my passion to help not just individuals who are struggling, but also the families around them — to teach them how to understand, support, and cope with what trauma can look like in a loved one.

At one point, I was juggling two kids, a full-time job, going to school full-time, and still working on my own recovery and mental health. That’s when I truly learned what it meant to use coping skills — not just talk about them.

I guess I’ve always had to learn the hard way. But the beautiful thing is, the more chances I get to grow, the easier the road becomes. And that’s the perspective I bring into everything I do now — raw, real, and rooted in lived experience.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Placed on Purpose is my private therapy practice, rooted in the belief that healing isn’t just possible — it’s purposeful. We specialize in trauma recovery, addiction, emotional regulation, and supporting both individuals and families through the complex journey of healing. I bring a unique perspective to the work because I’ve lived it. My own experiences with addiction, trauma, and rebuilding my life from the ground up are what fuel my passion and give our practice a deeply human, compassionate approach.

What sets us apart is that we don’t just offer therapy — we offer real, practical support. We integrate evidence-based approaches like DBT with peer support, recovery coaching, and community education. We also create digital tools, like our “From Triggered to Transformed” eBook and upcoming masterclasses, to give people access to healing beyond the therapy room.

Brand-wise, I’m most proud that Placed on Purpose is known for being real, relatable, and deeply committed to walking with people through the messy parts of their story — not just the highlight reel.

If there’s one thing I want readers to know, it’s this: healing isn’t linear, and you don’t have to have it all figured out to start. Whether you’re the one struggling or the one trying to support someone you love, you were placed on purpose — and there’s help, hope, and a path forward.

How do you think about happiness?
My family and friends truly are my world. My husband, our children, my brother and his wife, my mom and stepdad — they’re my greatest source of love and support.

I’ve learned that happiness is really about perspective. Of course, I feel proud and excited when big moments happen — like being invited to speak at an event or getting the chance to do an interview like this. But honestly, it’s the everyday moments that bring me just as much joy.

Spending quality time with the people I love — laughing, connecting, just being together — that’s what keeps me grounded and reminds me what really matters.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://devon-frontczak.clientsecure.me
• Instagram: @placedonpurposetherapy