FULL CIRCLE. When I was 19, I was already dreaming of being a therapist. My first year of university was in psychology. But life, as surprising as it can be, took me on various paths that I had never expected I would choose to explore. That is how I became a biologist and worked in ecology for many years. Nature was my cathedral and still is. When I was 40, I decided I needed to explore new avenues and I obtained a physiotherapy degree. As a physiotherapist, I became interested and developed a speciality in pelvic health therapy. In my physiotherapy practice, I discovered that what inspires me most is the person who is in front of me. I strongly believe in a global approach to health. To be healthy is to acknowledge our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual being. And to appreciate the intertwining and dependence of each aspect on our ability to be healthy. It is with this in mind that, when I was 50, I decided I needed to go back to school to get the skills I was missing, the skills I had dreamed of as a young woman, to pursue the profession of counselling therapy. FULL CIRCLE.
Freedom is a value that I have cherished all my life. In my early twenties, freedom meant doing what I wanted, when I wanted and the way I wanted. It is in the spirit of freedom, adventures and discoveries that I travelled the world. Today I am well into my fifties, and freedom has a new meaning for me. To be free now means to be able to look at myself with honesty, to live aligned with my needs and my values instead of being directed by my fears. To be free is also to live a life filled with authentic relationships, with myself and with others. To be free is to strive at being my best friend when I am well but also when I am struggling. To be free is to constantly evolve and redefine myself as I move ahead. Freedom is still my beacon, and I work hard at it every day. The road that I travelled during my training with the Centre de relation d’aide de Montréal (CRAMMD) is without any doubt the biggest travelling adventure I have ever undertaken. To my biggest surprise, it is on this path into my own heart that I got to really know myself and discover freedom. I really did not expect that. And I am deeply moved to share this with you.
It is on this journey towards freedom, a journey into your heart, that I am inviting you.