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References & Case Studies

"I have managed to stop being just the version others expect of me. I discovered who I really am – beyond roles and expectations. And what was lying dormant within me, that I had yet to live. For the first time in a long while I feel free, alive and energised again. Thank you!"

Karina, 43, mother of two teenagers and employee
(5 sessions)

"I found the courage to face deep fears, and I discovered ways to overcome old patterns. My fear had paralysed me. Today I know: It was the key to my inner strength. I have not only learned to manage it – I have gained new trust in myself and in life!"

Dominik, 39, entrepreneur
(3 sessions)

"I am now aware that I am enough just as I am. Thanks to Marilena’s help, I’ve learned to pay attention to my needs and to stand up for them. Now I lead my team with more calmness – knowing that I belong here."

Andreas, 52, father, department manager
(5 sessions)

The following case studies from my practice illustrate how individual and profound change can be – and, how Colidao empowering can support you in this process.

From Exhaustion to Energy & Joy of Life
Stress Management & Healthy Boundaries

Initial Situation:

The client (38) came to me feeling inner restlessness, self-doubt, and a feeling as if she were merely "functioning". She described a constant sense of being driven and a feeling of not meeting anyone’s expectations – least of all her own. Although professionally successful, she felt disconnected from herself and from what she truly wanted.

Approach:

Over the course of five sessions, we combined Life & Business Coaching with therapeutic techniques. Step by step, we reached the core of her challenges. We also developed concrete strategies and exercises for implementation in her daily life. We worked on her beliefs and strengthened her self-worth. She gradually became increasingly aware of what truly matters to her – both personally and professionally.

Result:

The client learned to distinguish necessary self-care from selfishness. She learned to set and maintain healthy boundaries in a timely and effective way. As a result, she found inner peace, strengthened her self-confidence, and regained her joy for life.

From Profession to Calling
Self-Discovery & Unleashing Potential  

Initial Situation:

The client (35), an engineer, felt “not quite in the right place” in his job. He sensed an inner call for more creativity, meaning, and freedom. At the same time, he feared giving up security, especially since there is his wife and two children.

Approach:

In eight sessions, we combined Life & Business Coaching with Voice Dialogue, Dream Work, Inner Child work, as well as visualisation and strength coaching. Throughout the process, he gained a new perspective on himself and on his life. Old wounds surfaced that needed to be processed anew. He learned to integrate personality parts that he had suppressed for a long time.

Result:

The client discovered hidden potentials, and a long-forgotten yearning emerged. He succeeded in integrating previously suppressed parts of himself – finding a new inner balance. It became tangible to him what his true heart’s theme is and what really matters to him in life, besides his family. He gained clarity and determination regarding the next steps to implement his side passion project.

From Crisis of Meaning to Reorientation
Role Loss & New Direction

Initial Situation:

The client (47), mother of one child, had just lost her corporate job. The professional daily routine suddenly disappeared. At the same time, her child became more independent. She felt empty and lost, asking herself: “Who am I, when not performing or when not achieving anything?”

Approach:

In a six-session process, we combined elements from Life & Business Coaching, Person-Centered Counseling, Voice Dialogue, Systemic Coaching and Dream Work. Together we developed practical exercises for implementation in her daily life. We also reflected on her values, life roles, and biographical influences.

Result:

Through the sessions, the client not only found a new connection to herself and to her inner wealth of resources. But long-suppressed interests also resurfaced, guiding her back to herself and to her true calling.

From Self-Criticism to Self-Confidence
Overcoming Inner Critic & Old Patterns 

Initial Situation:

The client (45) is highly educated, and, from the outside, appears confident and successful. Internally, however, he struggled with doubt, self-criticism, a feeling of guilt, and a constant fear of being exposed. He described himself as suffering from intense self-criticism, which was hindering his relationships and professional development.

Approach:

In a six-session process, we combined Person-Centered Counselling, Voice Dialogue & Inner Child Work, along with elements from Systemic Psychology (constellation work with the system board), Nonviolent Communication, visualisation and strengths coaching.

Result:

The client got to know his Inner Critic, learned to engage with it, and work with it. Over the course of the process, he became increasingly able to treat himself with greater kindness, to notice and to allow his feelings and needs, and to communicate them clearly. New connections and insights became tangible and experiential for him. Throughout the process he strengthened his self-worth and found the confidence to apply internally for a position that excited him. He reported experiencing a new emotional freedom, feeling bolder, being more able to open up to others, and setting healthy boundaries.

From Overthinking to Clarity
Decision Conflicts & Finding Direction

Initial Situation:

The client (36) had been struggling for years with major life questions: whether to end or maintain her relationship, whether to take on a new job or stay with her current employer, and whether to move abroad. Nothing felt clear, leaving her with stress, overwhelm, and constant doubt.

Approach:

Through a structured coaching journey combining Life & Business Coaching, Focusing, Voice Dialogue, and Inner Child Work, we explored the heart of her conflicts and uncertainties. Together, we uncovered her inner loyalties, fears, and the driving forces shaping her decisions, creating a clear path toward clarity and self-empowerment.

Result:

Ultimately, the client chose to stay in her relationship, to stay with her current employer, and decided not to move abroad for the time being. She is now a happy mother. Throughout this process, she not only strengthened her self-confidence and self-worth, but also learned to make independent decisions that feel complete and authentic – without falling back into doubt.

From Emotional Turmoil (Separation, Loss, Upheaval) to a Fresh Start
Finding Stability & Daring New Beginnings    

Initial Situation:

The client (52) came to coaching a few weeks after separating from her long-term partner. On the outside, she appeared composed – but internally, she was torn. The relationship had been her anchor in life, and now she felt emptiness, grief and fear.

Approach:

In course of six sessions we navigated through her emotional upheaval. We worked on acknowledging and allowing her feelings – grief, anger, guilt – and we worked on consciously reconnecting with her inner resources. We also focused on recognising and letting go of old attachment patterns. Finally, we began a new inner orientation: Who am I NOW? And the first steps into the future: What do I concretely need for a fresh start? We combined Person-Centered Counselling, Focusing, Voice Dialogue & Inner Child Work, Systemic Coaching, as well as visualisation and vision work.

Result:

The client gradually developed a more compassionate relationship with herself. She learned to provide support for herself and began to make peace with her past. She reports that she now makes decisions not out of fear, but with clarity. The pain is not "gone", but the process of working through it is underway, supported by new perspectives. She has moved into her own apartment, is reconnecting with long-forgotten hobbies, and is steadily building a new foundation for her life.

From Being Controlled to Self-Determined
Overcoming Inner Restlessness & Fears; Gaining Freedom, Inner Stability & Self-Regulation

Initial Situation:

The client (35), a consultant at an international company, came to coaching experiencing a new feeling for him: constant inner restlessness, without a clear trigger. He was looking for a safe space to understand what was happening, and to regain inner stability.

Approach:

In course of five sessions we explored his restlessness in depth. Elements from Life & Business Coaching, Focusing, Voice Dialogue and Systemic Psychology supported his process. The goal was not to suppress the restlessness or anxiety, but to find a new way of dealing with it – mindfully, stabilising and empowering. We also developed concrete daily tools that allowed him to regain agency and to strengthen his self-confidence.

Result:

Throughout the process, the client was able to acknowledge and make sense of his inner restlessness and fears – clarifying which aspects were truly his and which had been adopted from others. The fear has not completely disappeared, but it has become more quiet and no longer dominates him. He has learned to remain calm both internally and externally, where he would have previously overreacted. He developed a new way of dealing with pressure and now regularly incorporates time for rest and reflection into his daily routine. He reports experiencing a new sense of inner balance and strength.

From Self-Sabotage to Visibility
More Self-Confidence at Work & Handling Dominant Colleagues

Initial Situation:

The client (39) is professionally competent and has innovative ideas. Yet when it came to meetings with senior management or presentations in front of larger groups, she held back. Internally, she struggled with thoughts such as, "I have nothing new to say", "What if I embarrass myself?" and "Others do it better than I do." When interacting with dominant colleagues, she experienced herself as passive and internally blocked.

Approach:

Over the course of five sessions, we combined Life & Business Coaching, Focusing, Voice Dialogue, Inner Child Work and Nonviolent Communication, along with body-centered exercises. We developed concrete strategies and tools for daily implementation, helping her step into her power and strength, and enabling her to set constructive boundaries with dominant colleagues when needed.

Result:

Throughout the coaching process, the client gradually reached the core of her challenges and recognised new connections. Her self-image shifted from "I must be perfect to earn recognition" to "I am effective when I am real". Since then, she has experienced herself with greater self-compassion, clarity, calmness, and courage – even when interacting with dominant colleagues. A few months later, she confidently presented a strategic project to senior management and a larger group, receiving explicit praise for her work. She has since been promoted.

From Over-Adapting & Exhaustion to Assertiveness
Toxic Work Dynamics, Conflicts & Self-Assertion at Work

Initial Situation:

The client (42) came to coaching at a point where he increasingly felt provoked, overlooked, and drained. His supervisor in particular seemed unpredictable – sometimes dismissive, other times especially friendly. "I never know what to expect next. I don’t want to quit immediately, but I can’t keep going like this for much longer", he told me. It soon became clear that it wasn’t only about the external conflicts at work. What was at stake just as much was his own inner stability – his ability to stay grounded and centered, no matter how turbulent the environment around him.

Approach:

Over the course of five sessions, we combined Life & Business Coaching, Systemic Psychology, Voice Dialogue, and Nonviolent Communication. Together, we unpacked the dynamics at play, identified his triggers and limiting old patterns. We developed a communication strategy that felt authentic to him. Step by step, we worked on expanding his options for action and on strengthening his self-leadership in the midst of tension. Instead of falling back into his old pattern of immediate withdrawal, he learned to respond with clarity, inner boundaries, and constructive influence – finding a way to stand his ground while still navigating the existing system.

Result:

According to the client, he has succeeded in developing a new sense of stability. He no longer takes his manager’s unpredictable behavior personally. Instead, he communicates with greater clarity and is able, when necessary, to say no in a constructive way. As a result of this shift, he has also earned the respect of his colleagues. He has decided to stay with his current employer – yet now with a renewed sense of self-determination and inner strength.