Using holistic therapy to heal people globally
When Bożena Skarbek-Cielecka’s parents named her Bozena meaning ‘gift from god’, little did they know that she would live up to the name and help heal hundreds of people globally. An accredited Psychodynamic Psychotherapist with NHS in the UK, Bozena works primarily with students. She facilitates their experiential and personal development groups, teaching them how to work with groups in an analytical way.
In addition, she has established her company – Seeds of Love, through which she hopes to plant a seed of love in every human heart.
In the field of healing for more than 2 decades, Bozena’s biggest dream now is to create groups that will integrate different therapies, yoga, ayurveda, mindfulness, and spirituality. “I dream big but I believe in integration the most. Body, mind, and spirit are not separate parts, they are whole. After I read Anthony de Mello’s book ‘Awareness’, I decided to do everything possible to ‘wake up’ from my state of ‘sleep’. I wanted to sing kirtans, play the crystal balls, live with full awareness, and create my life as a whole.”
Polish by birth, 64-year-old Bozena back in Poland in 2002, after finishing her music therapy training before she travelled to the UK and turned to psychotherapy in 2006. As a four year old, she escaped from her kindergarten and went to a music school to sign herself up for piano classes, without her parents’ knowledge. Independent since childhood, she followed her passions, learnt from nature, as well as elderly people’s wisdom.
When Bozena had a breakdown after losing her fourth pregnancy due to miscarriage, she fell into a dark pit with depression. This is when she decided to change gears and embark on a journey of holistic wellness. After successful treatment, she studied Art & Music Therapy, and then deepened her skills by studying Psychodynamic Psychotherapy at the Laboratory of Psychoeducation in Warsaw, Poland. Today, she can hold her clients’ darkest feelings, understand the most shocking traumatic experiences, and be compassionate to other human beings.
Her business portfolio stems from Mary Morrissey’s Dream Builder Program, which she attended not very long ago. Inspired by the philosophy of the program, she started to build her own dream, which resulted in the birth of ‘Seeds of Love’.
“I had in me compassion, tenderness, and respect for differences, yet I always believed in the wholeness of the human race. I wanted to share and spread this love to others, and now I’m doing it every single day. I share love wherever I go, whatever I do, whenever there is the need to embrace trauma, suffering, depression, addiction, or despair.”
An award-winning therapist, Bozena values feelings more than achievements. As a teacher fluent in English, Polish, French and Spanish, she got the High Diploma Degree, but more important for her were children’s hugs and smiles. She achieved a lot in psychotherapy too, including the European Certificate of Psychotherapy (Certificate of Excellence). However, for Bozena her biggest achievement in life is that she brought up her three children in such a way that she does not have to worry about their lives. They are responsible, compassionate, and have tender hearts.
“As a single mum, I was working very hard to afford education, holidays, and attractions for my three children and one ‘adopted’ girl (She is now my daughter-in-law). I spent a lot of time trying to advertise my company, write articles about my group work, and engage myself in facilitating experiential and personal development groups for the students. Despite my difficulties, I persevered.”
Are there any dreams yet to be realised, we ask Bozena. “My desire is to learn how to fly. I want to paraglide, to see the Earth from the sky, to have never ending horizons in front of my eyes. My other inspiration comes from India. I would love to go to an ashram to study Eastern wisdom, which motivates me to meditate and open my third eye. Climbing the Himalayas is another dream of mine. As my dreams usually come true, I believe I can fulfill my life with smiles.”
Has she ever fallen prey to the rat race, we wonder. Bozena tells us, “I am definitely an amazing tiger or an innocent puma. I can see that the human race, due to ‘brainwashing’ politics and a controlling culture, is going towards the rat race. But when others run, I try to stop, reflect on my life, and have fun.”
As a parting thought, Bozena shares what she thinks would make an ideal community. “I dream about a society where we could spend more time around a fireplace to discuss life’s obstacles and day-to-day difficulties together. I am fond of multi-generational meetings, as I deeply respect elderly people’s knowledge and wisdom, and enjoy children’s innocence and spontaneity. I learn from others every single day and live as a symbol of ‘radical compassion’ (full responsibility for other people’s suffering).”
