“For as long as I can remember, I have always felt a sense of loneliness. That feeling of loneliness wasn't a constant feeling. Indeed, the feeling of loneliness manifested mostly whenever I was in a large group or when I had extended myself with work and study.
I am fortunate to be studying a subject I feel passionate about. This period of study has stretched me over an extended period of several weeks with little rest. It was during this period of intense but fun meetings, writing papers, reading journals and attending seminars and lectures that I called Catherine with a sense that I felt something was wrong.
Catherine is very good at listening. She listened to my ramblings about a sense of loneliness and then responded by asking specific questions and clarifying the positive function of loneliness in a way that I understand. Catherine empowered me on how to release painful emotions.
It came as a revelation that after several years of feeling a sense of loneliness in the middle of friends and family and the solution to feeling connected to friends and family could be conveyed in a few short words during a very effective call.
It was not easy to change but the stubborn side to me persevered and now I feel confident of going to meetings, meeting friends, seeing family and feeling fine to be with my own company surrounded by others.”
