TESTIMONIALS
Here’s what clients say...
Our teenage daughter has experienced anxiety and depression for much of her life but it was only formally diagnosed when she was 14. At the time, she was seeing a Psychologist who recommended that she use antidepressants to manage her symptoms and while these did help initially, over the following 3 years her symptoms became far worse. Some investigation into the most common side effects of her medication revealed that many of the newer issues she was experiencing were in fact side effects of the drugs.
As well as insomnia, anxiety, panic attacks, weight gain and lack of motivation, she found that she basically felt ‘numb’, most of the time, and indicated her desire to get off her medication. Her Psychologist was unsupportive and critical of her wishes and instead suggested she switch to Psychiatric care and heavier drugs.
This was a turning point in her mental health journey and she began her therapeutic relationship with Kinga.
Kinga took the time to get to know our daughter and the earlier sessions were important to establish whether our daughter felt comfortable with Kinga. From the outset, Kinga was extremely supportive of her mental health goals. With the guidance of her GP, our daughter has slowly reduced and now stopped taking antidepressants.
We have found Kinga to be incredibly kind, but at the same time extremely focussed and ready to hold our daughter to account. She has encouraged our daughter to explore the sources of her pain, to work through them and find ways to manage the (sometimes) paralysing emotions they evoke.
Kinga has gently but firmly moved our daughter forward and helped her to achieve insights with a clarity that would not have been possible had she continued on her medication. As well, she has taught our daughter important foundational skills that are setting her up for a greater degree of resilience. Our daughter has learned that her sensitivity is not a curse or a burden but rather a blessing, and she is learning to explore and deal with her emotions rather than avoiding or suppressing them.
Prior to working with Kinga, we felt a genuine sense of dread for what lay ahead for our child. But we have watched her grow, mature and develop life skills that most adults do not even possess. Her confidence has flourished with self awareness. She has gone from being a child who was barely able to get out of bed, to a young woman who is planning and dreaming for a future that we would not have thought possible had she stayed on her previous trajectory.
As parents, Kinga respectfully kept us ‘in the loop’, without breaking confidence. We appreciate this greatly, as our role in our daughter’s life was barely acknowledged by her former Psychologist. That was very disappointing.
As I write, I feel extremely emotional. The future our daughter was most likely consigned to does not bear thinking about. I do not have enough words to thank Kinga for what she has done for our child, and by extension, our entire family. She stands head and shoulders above ANY mental health professional I have ever known.
I would highly recommend Kinga for anyone who is struggling with anxiety and depression. She is extremely qualified and experienced, but more importantly, patient, kind and absolutely focussed on helping her clients improve their lives. She genuinely seeks to help you progress. In a world of revolving door mental health plans and ‘clients for life’, I believe this is rare.
Tanya