Trauma Counsellor & Coach

On a warm Tuesday morning in September, my mother died after a period of great suffering. I could not imagine my life without her, and I did not know how my life would continue. Her doctor encouraged me to see my mother’s death as though it had brought her freedom. Freedom… I sensed by the energy of her words that being free must be wonderful. Freedom was a concept I had never known before; sadness and pain were what I knew. I felt that maybe it was a wonderful choice for my mom. Would I have to die first to be free from suffering? It was that day when I was 19 years old that I left home forever. I left behind darkness and violence and began my search for freedom.

Years later, while washing my hair, I caught myself watching the water disappear down the drain. A feeling emerged from within me that I could finally put words to: I felt as if my life was running away. I had a good job and a relationship, but I was trapped in my fears and with a deep sense of worthlessness. At that moment, I knew I deserved something better. I needed to change something and knew that only I could make a difference. I started the process of change — cutting my hair, taking drawing classes, and starting yoga. Then I moved into an international career, eager to see whether these changes would improve other areas of my life. At last, I was ready to take ownership of my happiness.

Months later, I sat in a little bar by the Bi Tan Lake in Taiwan, sharing stories of our relationships with my colleagues. I could hear the love and respect in their voices when they spoke of their partners. Suddenly, I noticed I could not talk about my partner this way; I did not feel those things. I realized that my relationship was not how I wanted it to be. Soon after, my attempt to make changes failed, and I decided it was better to leave my partner. Once again, I took the right action at the right time through self-awareness and responsibility.

In the following years, I worked towards integrating my childhood trauma — whether it was re-connecting with my fragmented parts, finding ways to navigate my trauma responses, or releasing the trauma that was stored in my body.

What I learned on my trauma recovery journey

These experiences taught me the power of self-awareness, responsibility, and action. They also showed me how important it is to tune in, grow as a human being, and learn to respect and trust myself. I understood that healing cannot be separated from systemic dynamics — recognizing and validating these forces matters, and true recovery requires power with, not power over.

These lessons shape my approach to counselling. I support people in taking ownership of their healing, navigating trauma safely, and finding empowerment in their lives. My own journey allows me to hold space with authenticity, empathy, and a deep understanding of what it means to reclaim one’s life after adversity.