By Michael Seguin
Canadian physician and author Gabor Maté once wrote:
“Not every story has a happy ending, but the discoveries of science, the teachings of the heart, and the revelations of the soul all assure us that no human being is ever beyond redemption. The possibility of renewal exists so long as life exists. How to support that possibility in others and in ourselves is the ultimate question.”
How to heal from our pasts is indeed one of life’s most pertinent questions. And one with no simple answer.
Fortunately, trauma-aware coach Tamara Kowalska has a way to help.
Tamara is an accomplished public servant. Her career began as a high school teacher, and took a rambling path that included destinations like social justice work and yoga. She co-founded the Windsor Youth Centre, a drop in for homeless youth, in 2010, and served as the Executive Director for almost 10 years.
Unfortunately, her years at the Windsor Youth Centre, while tremendously rewarding, left her with an unfulfilled need of her own.
“I ended up leaving because I didn’t want to be an administrator,” Tamara recalls. “I started the Youth Centre because I wanted to work with people. And it eventually just got to be too big.”
During her years at the Windsor Youth Centre, Tamara was introduced to work of Gabor Maté.
“I read a number of his books, and they really resonated with me,” Tamara states. “His approach is not a medical model. The diagnoses, the symptoms, are not the focus. The goal he proposes is to access where in the body trauma is stored. His approach helps you unpack the core beliefs you have about yourself that are preventing your body from healing. It’s all based on a trust that the body knows what to do to heal.”
During the pandemic, Tamara took an online training course to learn Gabor Maté’s Compassionate Inquiry methods.
Now, as part of her Tamara K Connect life coaching practice, Tamara is offering nature walks to help people heal.
“The more connected we are to our bodies, the easier it is to access those places we need to access,” Tamara states. “Being in nature is beneficial—not just in terms of the physical health benefits—but because it allows us to connect with our own bodies.”
Tamara’s services allow people to explore nature with all five senses.
“What are you smelling?” Tamara asks. “What are you hearing? What do you feel? Whenever we do that, we bring ourselves into the present moment. If we’re occupying our mind in the present or future, then we’re living in the imagination. And our imaginations love to create scenarios for us to worry about. But by being in nature and experiencing it with all our senses, we can disengage and heal.”
Tamara has been offering her nature walks since February 2023. And already, her clients are responding in staggering ways.
“People have found these walks amazingly beneficial,” Tamara states. “And people have found the Compassionate Inquiry approach is really, really, really effective. People who’ve been in therapy for years have found more insight in fifteen minutes than they have in years. Others have tried all kinds of different therapies, but have found this one life-changing.”
Walks take place at the Ojibway Nature Centre, Spring Garden Natural Area and Black Oak Heritage Park.
Interested in Tamara’s services?
Reach out to her today at tamara@tamarakconnect.com.
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