When I was 9, my mother suffered a stroke which crippled her body and stifled her speech for life. This family drama left its mark on me in that the themes of health promotion, personal development and self-actualisation have accompanied me throughout life. My backstory influenced my academic choices and career as well as the development of some particular traits and talents. I am a listener with heightened empathy for people and a genuine interest in their problems and life “stories”. I have a keen ability to hear the deeper issues and to pick out relevant connections within a person’s narrative. I have confidence that each person has the potential to heal and to evolve in mind, body, and spirit.