Certified Counsellor & Life Coaching Professional

Hello

I am Dido, my passion is empowering people to become extra-ordinary. To meet them where there are, and yes, ordinary is good enough to get by, but most of us aspire to live according to our authentic values, reach our own potential and fulfil our deepest desires.

All my adult life, as a healer, mentor (educator), creative visionary and philanthropist, I’ve been empowering people to break through the obstacles that seem to be holding them back in their lives, and to see the impact of their own unconscious belief systems, expectations, fears, unhelpful/ unhealthy coping mechanisms, thoughts and behaviours and poor communication skills on the outcomes they manifest in their lives. It is my privilege honour and delight to travel with clients as they courageously embark on their own alchemical journey's of self-discovery and extraordinary self-actualisation.

My Story

After a series of epic crises in my own life, I realised that experience is indeed the mother of all Wisdom.

Adopted as a baby, I grew up and was schooled in Johannesburg (South Africa). I saw Apartheid come to an end and had to undo the socio-political programming and rewrite the narrative (version of history) we were taught. I survived sexual abuse, self sabotaging and self-harming behaviours and a couple of suicide attempts. I learned to wear my scars as badges of courage and regret nothing. I all taught me how to see life's challenges as enormous learning curves which up-skill and up-level one's life. Where I could have chosen self pity, depression, post traumatic stress and regret, I chose self mastery, self actualisation, self awareness and growth. I have done much studying and shadow work to overcome the trauma and challenges I'd endured.

Surviving and indeed thriving, cannot be learnt from any book, I CAN trumps IQ, every time! It comes from TAKING BACK your power, taking back the responsibility to empower your own change and becoming accountable for it. This comes from recognising and REALising your own resilience, courage and strength and releasing the self-limiting and self defeating thoughts and B.S. (Belief Systems) that prevent you from fulfilling your own potential. It's about Letting go of baggage which no longer serves you (whether it's having been victimised, a dead end career, failed relationships) and instead, striving for happiness, peace, purpose, meaning and fulfilment. Experience, combined with understanding, self-awareness, insight, healing and much study means I am not a wounded healer but rather someone who can help guide and mentor others on their own alchemical journey to self-actualisation.

I studied Psychology and am a qualified and certified Counsellor, Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (including advanced certification in Complex PTSD, Human Trafficking and Sexual abuse and exploitation)

Certified Family Trauma Professional, CBT Counsellor, NLP Master Practitioner, Life Coach, and Tarot Card Reader.

I practice meditation (self hypnosis), mindfulness and live in accordance to my value system - I am a vegan, and have been involved in rescuing, rehabilitation, fostering and re-homing dogs for decades. I was a teacher, university lecturer, and even a Paws for People therapy dog handler. I have summited mountains (including Kilimanjaro and Mt Elbrus), I have run ultra marathons (including Two Oceans and Comrades), I have travelled and journeyed and come back home. I have grown into someone I am authentically happy, content and proud to be. Life's challenges and lessons are nowadays definitely outweighed by blessings!