Tatjana (she/her)

I was born and grew up in the countryside. When I was 10 years young the Yugoslavian war started. It ended when I was 19. At the same age I went to study, escaping childhood sexual, physical, emotional abuse, political situation and lack of future, unfortunately stepping into several decades of unfortunate neurotic relationships and migration-related discrimination. The result of 19 years of trauma left me with complex PTSD, flashbacks, intrusive memories, dissociations, panic attacks, nightmares and severely depression and anxious, which then saw me entering a string of destructive relationships and situations. I was repeating unhealthy patterns, being triggered to much and to often and I wanted and needed to change – monumentally.

My recovery journey began aged 28, just few years I moved to Zurich. I’ve had lots of personal therapy, with several different therapists using different modalities, over the decade. I put myself on recover and wellbeing courses, read books, write notes, watch talks, documentary videos, do art and soak up as much knowledge as I can. Learning how to self-care through healthy way of life, power training, environmental and self-awareness, meditation, mindfulness, creativity and lots of practical tools. And I am still learning. I am surrounding myself with a supportive network – therapist, doctor – which I am grateful for.

Feeling comfortable in my own skin and also realising neurodiversity – ADHD, autism, high sensitivity and empathy qualities helped to create more self-compassion, self-consciousness and understanding, I want to pass my knowledge and tools that I had learned, that had put me back together when I felt broken. I want to make what I had been through mean something – to support others recover.

I worked up from an assistance to social educator for various schools, kindergarten, day cars, youth and adults homes, as well as a voluntary for Red Cross in Zurich and surrounding. Following my passions I studied Fine Arts and I am currently in training to become an counsellor – therapist. 

I don’t believe that one way fixes al and that there is only one straight path. So I continue to add strings to my bow.