About Firststep Therapy by Sonja Skarstol

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I HAVE LEARNED THROUGH LIFE THAT OUR EXPERIENCES CAN BECOME OUR GREATEST TEACHERS.  WHILE MY OWN JOURNEY HAS SHAPED ME DEEPLY, I KNOW NOW I WAS NEVER MEANT TO TRY AND DO IT ALONE. SOME HELPING HANDS SHOWED UP ALONG THE WAY TO PROVIDE SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE.  WHAT BEGAN AS A PERSONAL JOURNEY OF HEALING AND TRANSFORMATION, SOON BECAME A CALLING TO SUPPORT OTHERS.

LIFE HAS TAUGHT ME THAT CHANGE IS A CONSTANT PART OF OUR EXPERIENCE.  SOMETIMES WE INVITE IT AND SOMETIMES IT FINDS US. THERE WAS A TIME WHEN ANY CHANGE FILLED MY INNER WORLD WITH ANXIETY, FEAR AND CONSTANT MENTAL CHATTER.  THROUGH PRACTICE AND REFLECTION, I LEARNED TO PAUSE, CREATE SPACE, MEET MY EMOTIONS AND THOUGHTS WITH CURIOSITY RATHER THAN RESISTANCE.  MY PERSPECTIVE STARTED TO SHIFT AND BEGAN TO LET GO OF THE PAST, LOOSEN THE NEED FOR CONTROL, MOVE FORWARD WITH CLARITY.  HEALING HAPPENS EVERYDAY.

-Pema Chodron -

 WITH OVER 25 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, AND LIVING IN MEXICO, I HAVE WORKED WITH BOTH INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS,  I AM FLUENT IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH , AND IT IS AN HONOR TO WALK ALONGSIDE PEOPLE IN THEIR HEALING AND TRANSFORMATION. I BELIEVE EACH PERSON'S CULTURAL AND SPIRITUAL BELIEFS ARE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THEIR HEALING PROCESS AND SHOULD BE HONORED AND THOUGHTFULLY INTEGRATED.

 ANXIETY DISORDERS, TRAUMA, CO-DEPENDANCY, RELATIONSHIP ISSUES,  WOMEN AND MENOPAUSE, LIFE TRANSITIONS, GRIEF AND LOSS

 I AM AN EARLY MORNING RISER ENJOYING THE QUIET MOMENTS TO READ, MEDITATE AND EXERCISE. THERE  MOST PEOPLE SPEND THEIR DAYS RUSHING AND JUST TRYING TO "GET THROUGH THEM".  I BELIEVE THAT EVEN 10 MINUTES TO CULTIVATE NEW PRACTICES INTO YOUR MORNING CAN HAVE A HUGE IMPACT ON HOW YOUR DAY UNFOLDS.  I I LOVE TO RUN, WALK, HIKE AND YOGA.   ANYTHING NATURE INSPIRED BRINGS JOY TO MY LIFE.