I provide empowerment, empathy & support.
I specialise in dealing with dysfunctional relationships, particularly narcissistic abuse & encouraging self-compassion.
Alongside the coaching, art therapy and support groups I am already offering, I would also like to share my brand new shop with you, called ‘Empowered Living’.
When you are on a healing journey and are trying to feel more empowered after trauma or narcissistic abuse, it is important to have uplifting reminders in your environment that keep ‘hope’ alive, even when things feel really tough.
Every piece of apparel, accessory, and homeware in my shop is designed to honour your strength, your resilience, and your ongoing journey toward freedom and self-trust. These items aren’t just products — they’re gentle reminders of your courage, hope, and power to rebuild.
Some designs remind you to keep going no matter how hard things get and others remind you to have gratitude for the little things in your life that bring you joy- such as a pet, a friend or your love for art or music.
Many of the designs are powerful symbols of renewal, such as the phoenix rising or the lotus flower.
Others, such as the mandala symbolise wholeness & unity and in psychological terms symbolise the self.
Whatever stage you are at in your healing journey, I wish you strength, courage & hope to keep going, no matter how hard things can feel at times.
Maybe the products in my shop will encourage you to not give up and empower you to rebuild and find joy again.
There is nothing wrong with treating yourself to something meaningful or giving your friend something that will help them through a difficult time.
For those of you who didn’t manage to join my 1st support group for adult children of narcissistic mothers, I am also starting a 2nd online support group which is exclusively for daughters of narcissistic mothers.
If you struggle with symptoms of trauma, with feeling isolated on your healing journey and with feelings of shame or low self-worth, then this support group will help you!
Growing up with a narcissistic mother can leave deep wounds — confusion, guilt, low self-worth, and complex grief. This safe online support group is here for daughters recovering from narcissistic maternal abuse, offering understanding, validation, and tools for healing.
💜 What you’ll find here:
A safe, judgment-free space to share your story
Connection with others who truly “get it”
Support for breaking cycles of guilt, shame, and gaslighting
Gentle strategies for boundaries, self-care, and inner healing
There will be two 90min online video calls per month with a maximum of 8 people. This will be a closed support group which fosters a safe, confidential and deeper level of intimacy and trust among members. This means that the same people only will be a part of this group, without any new people joining.
Talking to others in support groups reduces anxiety, improves self-esteem, and helps members’ sense of well-being overall.
It will initially run for a total of 6 sessions, over a period of 3 months and we will then reassess how to move forward.
If you are interested in joining this online support group, please email me at courageisallyouneed@gmail.com or leave a comment below with your name and email.
I will be facilitating this online group and I very much look forward to welcoming you!
If you struggle with symptoms of trauma, with feeling isolated on your healing journey and with feelings of shame or low self-worth, then this support group will help you!
Growing up with a narcissistic mother can leave deep wounds — confusion, guilt, low self-worth, and complex grief. This safe online support group is here for adult children recovering from narcissistic maternal abuse, offering understanding, validation, and tools for healing.
💜 What you’ll find here:
A safe, judgment-free space to share your story
Connection with others who truly “get it”
Support for breaking cycles of guilt, shame, and gaslighting
Gentle strategies for boundaries, self-care, and inner healing
There will be two 90min online video calls per month with a maximum of 8 people.
This will be a closed support group which fosters a safe, confidential and deeper level of intimacy and trust among members.
This means that the same people only will be a part of this group, without any new people joining.
Talking to others in support groups reduces anxiety, improves self-esteem, and helps members’ sense of well-being overall.
It will initially run for a total of 6 sessions starting in October (precise dates to be announced) over a period of 3 months. When we are close to the end of the 3 months, I will then reassess how to move forward with the support group.
If you are interested in joining this online support group, please email me at courageisallyouneed@gmail.com or leave a comment below with your name and email.
I will be facilitating this online group and very much look forward to welcoming you!
On the 21st of August, I sadly had to euthanise my beloved 8 year old dachshund. It all happened within 24 hours and it came out of nowhere. She collapsed after vomiting and we rushed her to the emergency vet hospital. They stabilised her over night, they did an x-ray and ultrasound and the only thing they could see initially was a little liquid in her ovaries which means she may have had the early signs of an infection.
The next morning, they called us and told us she was doing better and even managed a tiny walk. They said they would do a routine spaying operation just to be on the safe side and then she would be home with us in the evening.
A few hours later, after waiting in suspense to hear back from the vet, we got a phone call to say that they needed permission to take more blood, as she was showing unfavourable neurological issues. Unfortunately, the blood test showed high inflammation in her little body, severe anemia and essentially her body was shutting down. Her blood was no longer clotting so they couldn’t operate anymore. She had also had an aneurysm and we were told that the kindest thing we could do was euthanise her. The vet suspected that her body was shutting down due to a tick borne disease which is hard to spot and progresses rapidly. Even though she had been on anti-tick medication, the vet said it is not reliable in preventing disease.
This was an incredible shock, especially after we thought she was coming home to us. Our gorgeous little Daola, was the light of our life, our best friend and our emotional support. For 8 wonderful years, she filled our life with such joy, comfort and unconditional love.
Losing a pet when you also live with CPTSD, is incredibly hard, especially because you already struggle so much with regulating your emotions, self-soothing and hyper vigilance. As someone who lives with this myself, I have had a solid couple of weeks of increased anxiety alongside my grief for my little girl.
It is important to understand that an unexpected death, whether this is a pet or a person, is very hard to navigate. The circumstances may even be traumatic, so when you already live with trauma, your body and mind need time to adjust.
The loss is profound, so the sadness and despair you may feel is completely normal under the circumstances. The stronger the bond and attachment you had to your pet, the stronger the grief and the longer it may take for the intensity of those feelings to subside.
It has been nearly 3 weeks since I lost my gorgeous dog and the grief is still intense. Life feels dull and being at home feels very empty. I am allowing myself to cry and think of her and I am resting as much as possible where I can. Grief can be exhausting, so it is important to practice good self-care.
Many emotions have been present through my grief journey such as guilt, anger, despair and many ‘What if’s’. What if I had gone to the vet earlier? What if I had noticed the signs sooner? All emotions are valid. We try to make sense of the shock and instead of feeling helpless, we try to fill our minds with thoughts that distract us from feeling the pain. This doesn’t work however. Our pet is gone and there is nothing we can do to bring them back. We must grieve that loss and the deep love we felt. The only way to grieve in a healthy way, is through acceptance that they are gone.
A group of courageous souls came together in my first online art therapy group ‘Meet your authentic self’ — exploring creativity, connection, and self-discovery through the gentle power of art therapy.
They created and reflected in ways that helped them peel back the layers of “shoulds” and “expectations,” making space for the truest parts of themselves to shine. They pushed through any uncertainty they were feeling and bravely shared their honest emotions and how they viewed themselves throughout this therapeutic experience and in general.
Group art therapy offers significant benefits, including improved mental health outcomes, enhanced social connections, and increased self-esteem. It provides a safe space for individuals to explore emotions, develop coping mechanisms, and build a sense of community.
Benefits of Group Art Therapy:
Emotional Expression and Processing: Art therapy provides a non-verbal outlet for expressing and processing emotions, which can be particularly helpful for individuals who struggle with verbal communication or have experienced trauma.
Social Connection and Support: Group settings foster a sense of community and belonging, reducing feelings of isolation and providing a supportive network for emotional healing.
Increased Self-Esteem and Self-Awareness: Creative activities can lead to self-discovery, enhancing self-esteem and promoting a more positive self-image.
Reduced Anxiety and Stress: Engaging in art therapy can be calming and relaxing, helping to reduce anxiety and stress levels.
Development of Coping Mechanisms: Art therapy techniques can help individuals develop healthier coping mechanisms for managing difficult emotions and situations.
Improved Communication and Interpersonal Skills: Collaborative art projects and group interactions can enhance communication and build stronger relationships among participants.
Enhanced Creativity and Self-Expression: Art therapy encourages individuals to explore their creative potential and express themselves in new and meaningful ways.
I’m so grateful for each participant’s openness and presence. Thank you for trusting me on this journey! Here’s to carrying these insights forward — and to continuing to meet yourselves with curiosity, compassion, and courage.
If you are interested in joining future online art therapy groups, or one to one art therapy sessions at a discounted price, please leave a comment below!
I will be announcing new dates for online art therapy groups starting in October 2025. If you would like to explore the benefits of one to one art therapy sessions, then I am offering these immediately at only 48euros per session.
You can of course join me from anywhere in the world and I am happy to accommodate your time zone as much as this is possible. I am currently in the CEST time zone.
An online group art therapy experience to help you reconnect with the truest part of yourself. If you are at a transitional time in your life, or are maybe just struggling with feeling a little disconnected with yourself, then this art therapy group will help you feel more in touch with yourself and the things that truly matter to you! Held online, so you can join from the comfort of your home and guided by me, a trainee art therapist. The cost is only 70€ for all 4 sessions. Reserve your spot now—limited spaces available. Please comment ‘join’ below by the 11th of July at the latest! All payments must be made via Paypal, Wise or Revolut.
No art skills needed—just a willingness to explore your inner world in a safe, supportive space. Express, reflect, and feel seen—together.
When a parent is emotionally immature, abusive, or neglectful, it can be incredibly painful and confusing for the adult child. These patterns often make it difficult—sometimes even impossible—to maintain a healthy or meaningful relationship with that parent. The adult child may find themselves caught between loyalty and self-preservation, longing for love or validation while also needing to protect their emotional wellbeing.
Over time, repeated invalidation, manipulation, or emotional absence can erode trust, leaving the adult child to grieve the parent they never truly had—not because the parent is gone, but because the relationship cannot meet the basic needs of safety, respect, or mutual care.
Setting boundaries or choosing distance in these cases is not a sign of failure or selfishness—it’s often an act of deep inner strength, rooted in a desire to heal, grow, and break cycles of emotional harm.
If you relate to the above, then my newest video below might be just the right thing for you!
When you have grown up in a dysfunctional family home, with parents who weren’t able to meet you emotional needs and teach you healthy skills in relating to others, you will notice in adulthood that it takes you awhile to figure out how to heal.
In order to start healing you must first acknowledge that you actually had relational trauma. Some people unfortunately never become aware of this trauma and how it affects them and others find out very late in life.
The earlier you become aware, the better!
My new video talks about one of the biggest regrets I have heard my clients share with me about their healing journey.
Talking about childhood trauma can feel overwhelming, especially when opening up to a friend for the first time. How do we explore sharing our story in a way that feels safe and empowering, while also setting boundaries and managing expectations? How do we prepare ourselves for possibly being let down and invalidated by the person we tell?
Talking about something so difficult will never come easy to us, because safety was compromised in our childhood. Sharing the full range of our emotions, wasn’t acceptable and we may have been punished or invalidated a lot. That is why this feels scary and trust doesn’t come easy to us.
The first step to consider, could be to assess our friendship so far with the person we want to tell. Test the waters, so to speak.
Do we feel safe in their presence and can we truly be ourselves with this person?
Does this person listen to us empathetically?
Will we feel relieved by telling a (safe) friend about our trauma?
What will we do if they don’t respond in a validating way? Have there been any instances in the past where they may have invalidated us?
These are all good questions we can ask ourselves.
A safe person or ‘friend’ is one that listens and validates our experience, by saying something like ‘I am sorry to hear you went through that’.
In the above video, I talk about this tricky topic in a little more detail, so please watch it or share it if you think it will help someone.
The word narcissist is unfortunately thrown around a little too much nowadays, so it’s important to explore the key differences between narcissistic individuals and toxic individuals.
All narcissists are toxic but not all toxic people are narcissistic. Just because someone has a toxic behaviour, it doesn’t mean that they have a personality disorder. Let’s not forget that someone who is a narcissist, has NPD, which means they meet the criteria as listed in the DSM. Also, seeing someone as toxic is a subjective experience. Something that you may consider toxic, someone else may not have a problem with.
Check out the latest video above for more detailed information.
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