I believe that often our passions, gifts and callings grow out of our life experiences. I am passionate about helping women heal their relationship with food, their bodies and themselves because of my own learning and my life journey.
Early childhood circumstances saw me being raised by grandparents who were war survivors. Today I know that they were well intentioned and just doing the best they could. But growing up, I interpreted the regular physical punishments, strict rules and continuous criticism as proof that there was something wrong with me. Certainly just being me wasn’t only not good enough, it seemed to trigger unpredictable reactions of wrath.
I started to use food to cope with my emotional overwhelm in my early teens. For the next 1.5 decades nobody would notice my struggles because my weight remained fairly constant and just slightly above normal. While I was trying to control my anxiety and depression, nobody witnessed my purging, my over exercising or my distorted perception of my body; nor was anyone aware that I battled feelings of shame and despair while I felt held hostage in a cycle of disordered eating.
It wasn’t until I started practicing and studying dance movement therapy and somatic psychotherapy that I felt connected to my body. And only in this place of connection was I able to heal from emotional eating / bulimia.
Today, I practice somatic psychotherapy which integrates mind and body, because I experienced powerful transformation and I continue to witness similar healing in my daily work with clients.
I have learned that the fastest way out of your head and away from the chorus of contrasting “voices” is to get into your body, especially if you struggle with any form of addiction.
Because I know the pain of disordered eating and the often associated body shame, I have chosen to specialize in helping women heal their relationship with food and their bodies.
I also have intimate knowledge of the journey of learning to love myself just the way I am. I am well acquainted with the mindset of trying to be “perfect” or feeling responsible for the well-being of those I love. I’m more than familiar with being driven by the longing to be loved and the desire to feel “good enough.”
Sadly, trying to be the best mother or the perfect wife did not create the happy family I dreamed of. The process of having to learn to lovingly forgive myself and others for the mistakes we made was arduous. It felt like an impossible task to try to come to terms with the fact that even doing ones best didn’t stop pain from touching those I love the most.
While navigating this landscape of grief, loss and forgiveness, I was blessed with amazing teachers and healers whose support and guidance was a great gift.
Not all gifts that life bestows upon us however are easily recognized as such. Have you ever felt like saying “I’ll return this, thank you very much. Don’t really want to have this experience?”
That is how I felt when years after my separation; I fell in love with a woman. I felt like everything I knew and had learned to love and accept about myself was turned upside down. I didn’t like this new part of me that had been hiding in the shadows.
It brought up all kinds of questions. Who am I? The voices in my head were working overtime, sharing various opinions…none of them very helpful. My family was in shock and also not very helpful.
In the end I learned the most important lesson of all. Becoming who I really am, revealing my inner Goddess and allowing her to shine, is an inside job.
My Goddess revealed loves both men and women and she’s not a perfect mother, even though she adores her children and grandchildren.
My Goddess is a “perfectionist in recovery” and a bit of a control freak at times.
She’s also a loyal friend, dancer, animal lover, world traveler, bird watcher and devourer of books. Grounded in my spiritual belief system, I’m incredibly grateful for everything I have become and for all the gifts the Universe has bestowed or sometimes thrust upon me.
My Goddess Revealed is also a dedicated healer, counselor and intuitive. I feel very blessed that my extensive professional training and the school of life allow me to follow my calling and do this work.
I am passionate about offering my wisdom and my gifts to women who are on the journey of healing their relationship with themselves. I aim to be your cheerleader and guide while you heal and let go of what no longer serves you, so you can proudly and lovingly reveal your Goddess and claim who you really are.