Photo by Carolina Basi
From about 2011 until 2022, I blogged regularly—often twice weekly—to unearth difficult feelings and begin to process them. I cannot stress enough how necessary this process was for me. I had spent the first 30 years of my life as most of us do: fairly unconscious, trying to figure out who I was through the lens of how other people saw me, in a kind of survival mode, and unaware of what made me happy.
It wasn’t good for me.
But I didn’t know this in the beginning. All I knew was that everything in my life was shifting without my permission (ha!), and I was emotionally and physically devastated. Navigating single motherhood and healing a long-held eating disorder was a-fucking-lot, and the only way I could make sense of all the turmoil within was to WRITE. IT. DOWN.
Here’s an excerpt from an early post:
In one moment, all seemed lost. I took the opinion of one person and ran with it. My mind took me through the depths of the worst-case scenario. It helped me set up camp there, and panic, I stayed there and allowed the pain and worry to wind its way through me. I pictured myself in this new life, this new version of myself. It ached. I felt my joy ripped from me and allowed my head to rest in my hands. And there, in that moment of despair, a light flickered. I glimpsed it. I recognized the hope and the promise in it. I breathed.
And rubbing my tear-filled eyes, a thought occurred to me: This is not what I want to run toward. I may not always call the shots, but I get to decide where they land. In short, I am the one who lends significance to the events in my life.
I am not a victim. I am a compassionate interpreter. I decide what I learn from. I choose what to forgive, and I am learning now that I am meant to forgive it all.
I choose to intend a life of love and joy. This does not mean there will not be pain, but it does mean that I need not suffer.
I think I’ll rest here.
Power and freedom are right here and now.
I can sense the newness, the getting-unstuckness in the words of this former version of myself. It’s a weird, nostalgic thing to witness how far I’ve come without judging where I was. Writing, no matter how shitty or beautiful or in between, was the thing that helped me know myself. It was the thing that helped me get honest, seek therapy, and heal my relationship with myself and others.
And now, I help others do the same.
Whether in groups or individually, one of my favourite things to do is guide people through the process of unearthing long-ignored feelings and turning them into new and treasured prose. Which brings me to…
Two Ways to Work with Me
- One-on-One Writing Coaching Sessions
For the first time in over a year, I’ll be taking on new Writing clients through February. These sessions will be over Zoom and tailored to each writer’s needs, goals, and aspirations.
Here are a few testimonials from clients:
“Working with Danielle has been nothing short of the privilege of a lifetime. She has been an absolute godsend in my world.
Danielle is trauma-informed in her approach, brilliantly sensitive, and I am convinced was made to do the work she is doing.” ~ S. D.“A sheer joy to work with!” ~ M.P.
“I am overwhelmed with gratitude for Danielle’s insights, which clearly came from a place of compassion and empathy.” ~ L.G.
Sessions will include reviewing up to 3000 words and providing constructive feedback to boost confidence, teaching outlining techniques for clearer structure, and keeping you accountable with realistic goals. And if you simply need a guiding hand to guide you through the difficult emotions as I did, I’m here to help with that, too.*
Duration: 1 hour
Cost: $125
2. Three-Question Tarot Reading
*Note: Sessions with Danielle are not meant to replace therapy or treatment with a mental health professional.
