Where She Started

When Charlene first began working with Pennie, she struggled to name even one thing she liked about herself. She wanted to become more confident speaking up, but longstanding beliefs about her own worth and whether others wanted to hear her made that difficult.

She hoped that being part of a group would give her a safe place to practice finding her voice.

What She Discovered and Practiced

Through years of Kokoro group participation, along with some private sessions, Charlene has been learning to recognize the thoughts and beliefs that shape how she sees herself.

She has practiced expressing her feelings, noticing automatic reactions, celebrating small victories, and giving herself permission to rest rather than continually push forward.

Within the group, she has found opportunities to speak honestly, explore difficult emotions, and learn alongside others who are practicing their own changes.

Evidence of Growth

Charlene now describes moments of greater self-acceptance, recognizing progress even during difficult weeks, and allowing herself to be where she is without making that mean she has failed.

During one group session, she recognized how deeply she had carried the belief that nobody wanted to hear her. And she began expressing a different understanding of herself.