I came to Mary-Margaret because I felt stuck in my life. There were changes that
I wanted to make but I was afraid. Mary-Margaret helped me to become more
confident – to understand my strengths and abilities. She saw more in me than I
did – but with her support and guidance, I came to see it too. I’ll always be
grateful to her for her quiet manner, caring and support.
I had never had counselling before and wasn’t sure how it would go but a friend
recommended I see Mary-Margaret after my wife left me. I felt lost and shut
down and Mary-Margaret helped me name and work through my feelings. I
came to understand how and why my marriage broke down and was able to
rebuild my life and began to look forward to the future. Mary-Margaret taught me
so much; I couldn’t have done it without her.
"Mary-Margaret saved me from me. I started my dream career in law enforcement in 1989. In those days when we experienced post-traumatic stress injuries (PTSI) we were told to ‘suck it up,’ ‘real Men Don't Cry,’ ‘drink the stress away’ or ‘be a man!’ I met Mary-Margaret in the mid-2000s after one of the most horrific calls for service I ever experienced as a Road Sergeant, when my shift and I tried to save a 2-year-old girl who drowned in her bathtub. I remember crashing after that call under the weight of a career of untreated PTSIs, two failed marriages, and emotional chaos that lead me to intense suicidal thoughts.
Mary-Margaret was a godsend in my life and rescued me from the pit of darkness, and I now enjoy the light. I now coach, counsel, and mentor 1000s through my work, and everyone knows how special Mary- Margaret was in my life. I share my experiences and treatment to assist others and I encourage them to get a mental health baseline before they fall into their own pit of darkness.
I have released a book, "Finding your granite my four cornerstones of personal leadership" and a podcast that outlines my journey through life and I'd encourage you to hear or read this story in my own words and voice. To learn more, please visit
www.RiseUpAndExcel.ca or https://player.fm/series/tactical-breakdown/sport-and-wellness-finding-multiple-roads-to-resiliency-with-doug-pflug"
