I was born and raised in a fully unstable, but extremely loving and lively family in Zagreb (Croatia). I was a shy kid and a rebellious teenager.
A mix of Croatian and Austrian roots on my mothers’ side, and Croatian and Italian roots on my fathers’ side, taught me how to appreciate different cultures with their own sets of beliefs, values and norms from an early age.
My mother instilled in me the values of thoroughness, punctuality, ambition and orderliness. My father, on the contrary, taught me the power of selflessness, generosity, family well-being and liveliness.
Moving to Switzerland over 20 years ago was a bittersweet experience. While I understood and spoke High German, I couldn’t understand a word of Swiss German.
Despite having a job interview, I still didn’t have a job offer. I longed to start my own family, but the only family I knew was in Croatia. I felt invisible, horrified, overwhelmed, worried and deeply sad and lonely. I left behind too many familiar things that I missed.
Each life transition not only tests but also strengthens our resilience. Although taking the difficult path can be challenging and requires a lot of effort, it provides an opportunity to pave the way for a more rewarding, meaningful and fulfilled life.
As I grew more familiar with my Swissness, the cultural differences began to reveal themselves.
Not only through my kids’ birthday celebrations, cooking style and mastering the planning of friends visit well in advance, but also in family dynamics, communication, and the way I raised my children. It was an amazing opportunity to boost my self-awareness and open myself up to new perspectives.
This experience is also one of the reasons why my counselling approach reflects curiosity, flexibility and sensitivity. I seek understanding and demonstrate empathy rather than judging those around me.
A cultural inheritance provides us with the sense of belonging to someone and something we hold dear. Aside from being a source of strength, a cultural inheritance can be a source of stress, misunderstanding and conflict.
For me belonging is full of paradoxes. I have a feeling I belong everywhere. When I fly back to visit my family in Croatia and the plane is making a large U-turn over my birth town before landing, I still feel completely overwhelmed with joy and happiness.
Croatia feels like my home even though I have had a Swiss passport for a long time. Yet, when I hear people yelling into cell phones and see aggressive drivers texting while driving, I think to myself “That’s not for me”.
The same happens when I return home to Switzerland. Every time I see the Alps on a clear day, I catch my breath and my heart melts. Even so, in everyday life I still find it difficult to understand when people would rather keep quiet and stay reserved than inconvenience someone and ask for help. I think to myself “Why on earth do they hold back?”
TRUST
Gaining and honoring your trust is my highest priority, which is why my counselling services are always confidential and customized to your specific needs.
COLLABORATION
I foster caring, empathetic, and non-judgmental relationships with my clients, creating a supportive and inclusive atmosphere.
EXPERTISE
I embrace the latest research and best practices, delivering high-quality, body-centered holistic counseling to facilitate transformative change.
HOPE
I am here to help you live your best life. Whatever challenges you or your family may be facing, there is always hope.
Use the form below to get in touch. You’ll receive a short guide on how counselling can help, plus a link to book a free call if you’d like.
I’ll be in touch soon — whether you have a question or just want to explore counselling together.
Sag mir, wie ich dir helfen kann.
Du erhältst einen kurzen Download und einen Link zu meinem Kalender für Terminbuchungen.
Ich melde mich bald bei dir – egal, ob du eine Frage hast oder ein Gespräch vereinbaren möchtest.
