I have always used arts, photography and writing as a way to express myself and reflect on my thoughts and feelings. This was not a conscious choice; it simply felt natural. Whenever something moved me – whether joyful, confusing or difficult – I felt the urge to respond creatively. Over time, I began to understand how much this practice helped me navigate challenges, deepen my self-awareness and cultivate resilience. All of this happened long before I knew that art therapy even existed.
First instinct – tourism and creativity
My first instinct after finishing school was to pursue a career in tourism. Opportunities were limited in my hometown, so I followed my creative impulses instead. I completed an apprenticeship in a creative agency and learned about visual communication, design, storytelling and the many subtle processes that bring creative ideas to life.
Travel psychology
Eventually, a familiar nudge arose again – the desire to combine my passion for foreign cultures with my creative background. I found my way into a bachelor’s programme and specialised in travel psychology. Later, I worked for a tour operator where I conducted market research on traveller motivations, developed concepts and creative campaigns, and travelled to destinations around the world. It was a dynamic, curious and deeply formative time.
Solo-backpacking, photography, writing
After a few years, I felt ready for a major shift. I left my management position and spent almost four years travelling solo across different continents. I lived and worked in places like Marahau (New Zealand), Dublin (Ireland) and Alice Springs (Australia). Between jobs, I immersed myself in photography and writing – creative tools that helped me process the intensity and beauty of life on the road.
Meaningful work
Across these years, one longing became increasingly clear: I wanted to do work that mattered to others – work that connected creativity, meaning and human experience. I completed additional qualifications in psychological counselling and career coaching, and gradually began supporting people during personal and professional transitions.
My path eventually led me back to Europe, where I now work as an art therapist in a psychiatry and run my online mentoring and consulting practice on the side.
Work and well-being – what I have learned
Work and well-being are deeply interconnected. Especially when working full-time, it is essential that your natural strengths, talents and personality are not only recognised but genuinely used.
Choosing a career path that reflects who you are – your values, your curiosities, your way of seeing the world – has a profound impact on your mental and emotional health. When your work supports your authentic self, you experience more fulfilment, energy and meaning. When it doesn’t, the imbalance can be felt in every part of life.
A meaningful vocation fosters confidence, reduces stress and gently nudges personal growth. It helps you feel connected to something larger and encourages a healthier, more spacious work-life rhythm.
Discovering the right fit is never just a practical decision; it is often a deeply personal process of understanding your story and how it led you to where you stand today.
A natural transition into life story conversations
Over the years, I realised that many people search for exactly this kind of clarity – not only about career decisions, but about their broader life direction. Much of this clarity emerges when we take time to explore the stories that have shaped us, the beliefs we carry, the transitions we’ve moved through and the inner strengths that quietly developed along the way.
This is why life story conversations became such an integral part of my work. They offer a reflective space to trace your personal narrative, recognise underlying themes and understand how your past experiences influence the choices you’re making now. Sometimes this process reveals strengths that were overlooked; other times it gently loosens beliefs that no longer fit.
If you’d like a sense of how such a process can unfold, you might enjoy reading Isabel’s story – a short case example where I describe how exploring her life story helped her gain clarity, reclaim confidence and reconnect with a part of herself she had unintentionally left behind. Her journey illustrates how powerful it can be to pause, reflect and allow your narrative to emerge in a supportive, structured space.
Whether you are navigating a transition, seeking more alignment in your work, or simply wishing to understand the path you’ve travelled so far, life story conversations offer a grounded and creative way to make sense of your experiences – and to move toward what feels meaningful next.
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