Samya's Journey

I was born in Argentina and I came to England when I was 19 and married my childhood sweetheart. Not knowing the language, I did a variety of jobs from cleaning to babysitting. When I was 21, I opened my first boutique in Kensington Market and within 3 years I had four boutiques spread over London. 

By the age of 26 my marriage came to an amicable end, for we had grown up to be different people in the twelve years we were together. 

This particular time in my life was a painful one and at the same time very transforming … I decided to have therapy and I ended up in India on a spiritual trail … where a nervous breakdown was transformed into a spiritual breakthrough …

 I joined a spiritual community in 1976 where I underwent several types of therapy, and I also assisted others in transforming their lives. This part of my life took me to live for some time in Japan and the US.

In Japan I led the integration of several therapy centers that were dispersed all over the country, into one centre in Tokyo. This took a lot of cultural understanding and also coaching the people that needed help with the transition.

While in the US, I was part of the leadership team of a five-year international project that combined spiritual growth with practical work and the re-development of arid land. During that time I worked therapeutically with homeless people enabling them to reintegrate socially. I was also the publisher of the International News Paper of the organization. My role covered organizing the journalists and the photographers and the leadership of the overall message presented by this publication.

In 1985 I came back to England and re-married. I returned to the Fashion Industry and became successful in the corporate world. However, at the peak of my career as a quality controller, liaising with designers of some of the most well know brands, I realized that my life was not heading where I wanted to go and within a few months I resigned my position.

In 1998 I remarried and within a few weeks lost my very dear brother. In 1992 my husband and I adopted from birth our two children in Brazil. I became a fulltime mother and I treasure the 11 years completely dedicated to bringing up my much-loved children. When they started secondary school I decided to go back to the helping profession, where my heart is most fulfilled.

In 2004, I joined Cruse Bereavement Care and volunteered as a bereavement supporter and at the same time I returned to West Herts College and did a Diploma in Counselling. In Cruse I became a Supervisor of Volunteer Supporters. I also became a trainer for the ABC Bereavement Course and now I am co-leading the new Supervisors Training Course. I am also a committee member of the organization.

I have found my work with Cruse immensely fulfilling. I am humbled and privileged by hearing clients’ stories and I am inspired by their courage and perseverance at a very difficult time. My experience in this work has covered sudden death, traumatic death, suicide and impending death. I have counseled clients from the age of 17 upwards.

After completing my Counselling Diploma I did several courses with the Post Adoption Centre. Adoption has been around my life since an early age, I grew up with an adopted cousin, I have an adopted sister, and as well as a few more adopted members in my family, I have two adopted children. I have a first hand understanding of some of the adoption issues and the pain that goes with it.

I also study Emotional Freedom Therapy and I am an EFT Practitioner.

Presently I run a private practice and I counsel clients with diverse issues: low self esteem, adoption, loss and bereavement, eating disorders, post traumatic stress disorder, stress, anxiety, panic attacks, depression, abuse, addictions, fear and phobias, relocation and transition, relationships, parenting, couples issues and I also can help with the loss of a loved pets.

I take my continuous professional development seriously, I keep up to date with new models of working and I attend workshops and courses regularly.

I hope that my story will give you a sample of my life journey and experiences encountered.  I firmly believe that through each of these experiences I have learned lessons that will help me counsel and support people with the issues described within this website.

In my private life, I am a devoted mother to two teenagers, a wife to my husband and best friend, I enjoy walks with our little dog, and I visit my family in Argentina and my husband’s family in Germany.