Carolina Bacalao

“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” - Mary Oliver

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I started my healing journey in my early 20s after experiencing work burnout and going through a terrible breakup. Before this, I was successfully escaping years of accumulated grief and a dysregulated nervous system by working long hours, drinking, and falling in love. That is until I found out that my boyfriend had been cheating on me and it was as if time itself stopped. It is hard to put the experience into words, but the level of suffering I experienced during this period of my life was enough to abruptly yield a life altering epiphany: Surrender. 

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I quit my job, packed up my things, moved with my cat to Costa Rica, and slowly started the process of embracing and exploring all parts of myself, of my past, my thoughts and behaviors, all the things that kept me stuck in an endless loop of suffering, disconnected from my essence. With this intention in mind, I have spent the last decade exploring different therapeutic methodologies, ranging from counselling, coaching, and support groups to silent retreats, yoga, meditation, and plant-medicine ceremonies.

 

We all reluctantly go through periods of transition, loss, pain, confusion, heartbreak. Yet suffering, just like joy, laughter, love, is a wise teacher, the great alchemist. Facing our shadows on our road to reconnecting with our true essence is undoubtedly work for the brave, but also guaranteed to transform the way you move in the world, your relationships, the way you respond to life’s waves (up and down). Coaching offers you the safe space to do this work, lifting the veil from your eyes long enough to humble you back into surrender and a soft heart.

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I hold a BA in psychology from McGill University and an International Coaching Federation certification as a life coach from Concordia University. I have over 10 years of experience in mental health, research, mindfulness, facilitation of support group and workshops. I offer sessions in English and Spanish, and am proficient in French. My areas of interest are mindfulness, somatic work, psychedelic-integration, and self-compassion.

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