Blog — Empowered Connections Counseling

Iwona S Florianowicz MSc., CCTP

Becoming a Therapist- My Personal and Professional Journey

Becoming a Therapist- My Personal and Professional Journey

I’ve often been asked by others, how did I become a therapist? What motivated or attracted me to embark on this long and intensely challenging professional journey? Throughout my lifetime, both personal and professional experiences contributed to my choice of practicing psychotherapy and specializing in complex trauma.

I was born in Poland during the 70s, the era of the communists' regime. As a child, it came naturally to me to be a caring, empathetic and compassionate person. I often tuned into my feelings and expressed myself well. I would spend time alone to attune to these passing feelings and the state of my body trying to figure out why I felt this way, often expressing them through art and writing poems. This growing self-reflection in me lead to my curiosity towards what other people think and feel as well as why they behave in certain ways

Coping with Emotional Trauma During the Holidays


Holidays are supposed to be joyous and happy, but for many, it is a time of overwhelming stress. We may overextend ourselves emotionally and physically with a strong desire for belonging and connecting with others. For many of us, getting together with our families and friends brings joy and happiness; however, for others, it is the worst time of the year as it reminds them of an extremely stressful or disturbing event where they felt hopeless and emotionally out of control – traumatized. It is a time that can trigger all sorts of complicated feelings, memories, and anxieties.