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TestimonialsI was psychologically tortured throughout my childhood so that by the time I was 23, I was trapped inside a whirlwind of compulsive thinking, toxic self-talk, panic attacks, flashbacks and multiple addictions.
I was in denial that there was anything wrong with my childhood so I believed that there must be something really wrong with me.
This was reflected back to me by the people around me, who did not understand what had happened to me either and so could only see me as neurotic, wild or crazy.
Then I found the Coming to Life Project and for the first time, somebody saw me.
Andina saw me.
She recognised me as a survivor of childhood trauma, seeing my strengths as well as holding the most fragile and wounded parts of me.
Through the respect, mirroring, identification, patience, commitment, skill and love she has given me, I am coming to know myself.
The Coming to Life Project has brought survivors together who might otherwise never have found each other. The safety and acceptance that exists within our group has encouraged the most broken parts of me to come out of hiding and into healing.
There were still times when I believed that I would not make it through. Andina somehow made it bearable enough for me to keep on going. I truly owe her my life. Miraculously, it is a life that is now definitely worth living. Hannah
The Community
After twenty years of searching
At last a place where I can feel safe
At last a space where my comfort and wellbeing matters
A place where I can be vulnerable and not be harmed
A place where my brokenness is seen as an effect of what was done to me
and not as something I'd done to myself.
A place where people who have been harmed like me
come to be accepted, supported, seen and heard and work like unknown Olympians to get well.
A place where we care for each other and acknowledge
and validate each others pain and celebrate every personal breakthrough
no matter how seemingly small.
And in this community
As I slowly and painfully reclaim my fragmented self
I grow in my desire to fight for the right to break through the stigma
and shame of being societies hidden, shunned and denied minority!
Tina
London
The Coming to Life Project has literally been life saving for me and I know I would not be here without it. To try to put into words how grateful I am does not do justice to how I feel. The level of support and knowledge that continues to help me heal at all levels; physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. The wisdom I receive helps to show me that I will be able to get a life that I never thought possible and should have had if it hadn’t been for the severe abuse and neglect received during childhood.
The Community is very important to me because it meets many of my needs for: safety, validation, connection with like minded people, support and learning. All of which are vital for me when I am isolated and overwhelmed a lot of the time and find it very difficult to meet so many unmet needs.
Julia
My childhood was severely dysfunctional and abusive and for most of my life I found it very difficult to function and do the things most people take for granted. About 10 years ago it all sort of exploded out of me and I had a complete mental, emotional and physical breakdown… or breakthrough. Without Andina I would almost certainly be dead and at the very least heavily medicated. But with Andina’s amazing, consistent love, care and support, her acceptance and validation of me and my pain, her always being there for me, on my side, fighting my corner, not to mention her incredible skills and expertise… with all of that and so much more, each day I become wholer and more solid, peaceful and self-accepting than I ever knew was possible. Not only has Andina literally saved my life she has given me 'me'. What a huge gift, I am so grateful to her.
Over the last 10 years I’ve participated in many of Andina’s workshops and groups including the Recovering From Your Childhood Course, the Breaking Free Group and now the Coming to Life Community – all have played an invaluable part in my healing. The Coming to Life Community is special to me because it is run by us, the members. Not only does the Community provide me with a healthy, healing support group, whom I trust and with whom I can be completely, uncompromisingly real, but it is also helping me to step back out into the world.
Anna
I value our Community as it meets my need for supportive and caring friendships and aspires to healthier lifestyles for people and planet by actively pioneering better ways of healing and communication. By sharing many new and useful ideas the work we do inspires me to know that I am living some of the changes I want to see in the world.
Joe
Landscape Gardener
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