client testimonials
Dear Gisela – your understanding with just the right amount of empathy has been integral in shifting the dark cloud in my head. Compassion is a big part of helping a person heal. It only takes one person to hear you, to believe you and to show you empathy to give you a sense of new hope.
You have been that one person for me.
– Angela
I find Gisela to be a very warm and accepting person and feel that she brings herself to the table. Sometimes I’ve felt that counsellors are so busy wearing their professional hat that they don’t connect on a personal level, so it can create less trust. With Gisela I feel like she is genuinely wanting to understand and connect. She’s very “real”.
I appreciated feeling comfortable to talk about any topic, not feeling silly or wary about what I was saying. Gisela wasn’t quick to label anything, but was there helping me to explore, which for me is more helpful. I could feel Gisela’s warmth, even through a computer screen! I always felt like I was catching up with a good friend, rather than a person wearing a professional hat, which made me feel really at ease.
I developed new perspectives on things I have been carrying for a long time… different ways of thinking about things. I felt like I threw off a few things that were hanging over me. And the new perspectives helped me view aspects of my life in a new and more positive way. I liked being given homework and people to look up and read – I like frameworks and points of reference.
I recommend Gisela because of her warmth and open mind, her lack of judgment and her willingness to explore with you, rather than trying to fix you.
– Claire
I found Gisela to have a very calm and reassuring presence. She provided a very safe space that allowed me to feel nurtured and heard.
Gisela’s holistic counselling style added a new dimension to my personal problem-solving arsenal and has sent me on a new journey of self-discovery.
– Emma
I found Gisela to be extremely intuitive to my needs. Once I arrived at the session bursting with energy and things I wanted to discuss and didn’t quite know where to start. Gisela suggested that we begin with a minute’s meditation, to come back to my self and my body. This was so helpful and exactly what I needed in order to have a productive session.
I feel that Gisela has a very individualistic approach to her counselling. She senses what I need to look at, and gently guides me through exploring that part of myself. We delve as deeply as I am ready into any area that I want to understand or work on in my life.
I have been to many regular counsellors over the years, and I have found the holistic approach to be able to address the core issue or challenge much more quickly and effectively. I also have found the sessions to be therapeutic in nature, and more experiential. Each session has been like a journey into my self and my thoughts.
I appreciated that the sessions were flexible, yet guided. I often didn’t know or couldn’t put into words what I was feeling, and Gisela helped me to get in touch with my self in a way that went beyond just speaking and being listened to.
I also appreciated that sometimes Gisela wasn’t sure about which way to go in our sessions, or what answer to give me, and so she asked for time to “sit with it for a while,” to see what came to her. This has taught me to do the same in my life, with myself and with others. Also, it showed me that Gisela was always honest with me, and this instilled a sense of trust in her.
I have come to understand that I can often misinterpret my thoughts and feelings. Sometimes I need to step outside my thinking – and take a bird’s eye view of what is really going on, and then my feelings can actually act as my teachers.
I have become much more confident in my intuition and my ability to guide myself through challenging times. I have overcome a lot of fears as a result of the work that I’ve done in Gisela’s sessions.
I also found Gisela’s non-judgmental perspective, either of me, or toward other people in my life, has really helped foster within me a desire to also be less judgmental of myself and toward others… to look at the reason why I am feeling judgmental of that person, and to allow myself to feel more compassion.
Also, I really appreciated how at times Gisela suggested a few different possible approaches in our sessions, and asked me which one I wanted to try… which one felt right?
I would recommend this work to others. I think that for anyone who wants to work through issues in a gentle, safe space, this type of therapy is life changing.
– Erika
Gisela guides me deeply and insightfully, always inviting me to trust and act upon my own inner wisdom, through awareness and acknowledgment of my body sensations, feelings, emotions and thoughts.
Every time I have a session with her, I walk away feeling more connected, clear and centred. I feel equipped to make healthy choices in my life.
– Rebecca
I have lived a life full of confusion and self-doubt. Over time the self-doubt turned to self-hate which manifested into a deeply embedded belief that I was hated by everyone. And that was the one and only thing I was certain of – that the world hated me – but I didn’t understand why.
And as much as the world hated me, I in turn hated my parents. The only feelings I truly felt were hate, confusion, guilt and, when I allowed myself to admit it, intense sadness. When I came to you, all I wanted was peace – not happiness, that was far too ambitious – just peace from my noisy and relentless head.
Our sessions together have given me a new set of eyes and a much quieter mind – the cloud of confusion is gone. I no longer see hate in people’s eyes, I no longer have doubt and my mind is at peace. And while my story remains the same, I finally understand it.
I know who I am and why… And that has been one of the most empowering transitions.
Your counselling has given me energy to create a different future for myself – one that acknowledges my past but won’t be tarnished by its trauma. Not only have I learned more about myself and how to manage my debilitating thoughts – I have also learned more about people and society as a whole. I have developed a compassion for others because I see that we’re all just trying to get by and feel happiness in this crazy, mixed up world. So dear Gisela, thank you for your counsel, help and understanding – life is so much better with the filter of hate gone from my life.
– Roxy