My Journey: From Struggle to Strength

When I left South Africa in 1997 to start a new life in Germany with my husband, I was stepping into the unknown. I had no job, no knowledge of the language, and was pregnant with my second child. My eldest, just seven years old, was navigating the challenges of a new culture and language, while I was battling profound loneliness and depression. Some days, the only thing that got me out of bed was the thought of my son coming home from school and needing me to be there.

The only work I could find was teaching English—ironically, a job that exposed the gaps in my own understanding of the language. Determined to master it, I pursued a Master’s degree in Teaching English, graduating magna cum laude. This achievement was more than academic; it was proof of my resilience and determination to carve out a new path. Teaching took me across the world—from Japan to China, South Korea to Dubai—offering me experiences that broadened my perspective in ways I never imagined.

Yet, even as I built my career, I carried unresolved questions about my own relationship with food. As a teenager, I was a competitive swimmer, outwardly disciplined and driven. But behind the scenes, I had been on restrictive diets since the age of 12. When my mother passed away, I developed binge eating patterns and suffered from bulimia. I knew there was a connection, and my need to understand it led me to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in psychology.

In 2017, I returned to South Africa and volunteered as a trauma counselor for the South African Police Service, supporting victims of violent crime. This experience deepened my understanding of trauma and self-esteem, and it became clear to me how profoundly these issues intersect with disordered eating. I knew this was the work I was meant to do.

My journey has been shaped by struggle, resilience, and transformation. Now, my purpose is to help others break free from the cycles of dieting, disordered eating, and self-doubt—to guide them toward a life of calm, confidence, and self-acceptance. Healing is possible, and you don’t have to do it alone.