Ellie Bozmarova, 28

#MyTherapyJourney

Ellie Bozmarova, 28

📍 Oakland, California

“I graduated from college, got a job, and felt really successful...until I found myself facing childhood trauma. I came to the US with my family as a political asylee in 1995. I'm also a survivor of parental suicide. I was dealing with it with substances and an eating disorder. Not good. I felt hopeless, powerless, and was overall in a really negative mindset. I really felt like there was no roadmap—that I'd been absolutely tricked into thinking there was hope in the future. It was a dark time. My friend recommended her therapist, so I gave her a call. 

During our first session, my therapist looked at me compassionately and said, "You know, you don't have to smile when you're talking about sad things." My therapist helped me reframe my thinking and treat myself like a beloved daughter. Additionally, she uses neuroscience to help me truly heal from past trauma. My therapist helps me move through the world as a loving, responsible adult. With her help and other support, I no longer struggle with an eating disorder or substance abuse of any kind—pretty incredible.”