My Story: Embracing Transformation
Acting and playwriting were sanctuaries of mine as a child, where I could inhabit another’s world and understand their struggles. It also helped me to understand my own struggles and pain, which at that time I had no idea how to voice. So, I threw myself into Drama at college, immersing myself in the art of storytelling.
But as my twenties approached, practicality nudged me towards the stable path of English teaching. This would be a path that would allow me to travel, be around others, and use my natural talent of teaching. It would also take me to South East Asia…
In my twenties, I found myself in the heart of Cambodia, a whirlwind of culture and chaos. Teaching became my anchor, amidst which I stumbled upon love and family. I ended up teaching for the next decade, completing a Masters in Education in the process.
Slowly though, beneath it all, a gnawing hunger for understanding the human psyche clawed at me, and I became more and more passionate about mental health.
Enter Covid, a newborn, and a lively toddler, along with the monotonous grind of online teaching. Picture this: seven days a week, nearly two years straight, juggling bills, breastfeeding, and the cacophony of children. My mental health? Hanging by a thread. Then, like a whisper in the wind, ayahuasca called. Well it actually started as a whisper, and then those whispers got louder and louder, and I chose to finally take the leap and listen…
In 2021, I took the plunge into the world of sacred plant medicine. In that one profound ceremony, I found myself not just a participant but a guide. As the sacred brew coursed through my veins, I wanted to be there for others, offering support and guidance through their own journey of self-discovery. I realized on the plant medicine that I was finally doing what I had always wished to do, be there with others while they were metamorphosing!
Emerging from that transformative experience, my purpose burned brighter than ever before. I realized my innate gift for holding space, for cradling others’ pain and helping them guide themselves home. Fast forward to a conversation with Joey Ra a month later, and just like that, I knew: coaching was my path. I threw myself into training, soaking up every ounce of wisdom from Joey Ra and Nady Chea, as well as diving deep into person-centered therapy. Counselling and coaching merged into my life’s mission, a mission that coincided with the unraveling of my own relationship to my long-term partner and my children’s father.
