A grateful mothers letter...

Over ten years ago I created a program called "The I AM Project" which was a blend of neuroscience, cognitive behavioral therapy, and neurolinguistic programming. I had originally designed it for my wellness clients, trying to find new and innovative ways to help my clients stay on track. I had started volunteering at a halfway house for addicts, introducing them to the concepts and strategies I had created within the program. What I had begun to discover was for many who chose various forms of numbing and escaping strategies, a key skill that was missing was the ability to orient themselves, as they had wrongly assumed there was something fundamentally wrong with them. I began to introduce my clients, including those struggling with addictions, health, or self-image issues, to an ancient part of the brain that we stopped activating daily over 200 years ago. With this discovery, we are able to do in just a few months what standard therapies cannot accomplish in years. Here is a beautiful message from a grateful mother whose son I had spent several months working with. It is truly the greatest gift to be of service to our fellow man...

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Michelle's Testimonial

At the end of his school year, my son asked me if I’d go to his locker with him to get his stuff. I asked him why wouldn’t he just go himself, and he replied, “I haven’t been to my locker in months”. He had been hiding in the library and washrooms for months after having fights with a peer that had been organized by his other peers. My son had been beaten up in front of his peers, twice. He had been interested in and cared for a young lady but had not developed the skills used to approach her, as he was contending with undiagnosed ADHD and Social Anxiety. He ended up getting charged with harassment and kicked out of school. This was confusing and devastating for him. His intentions were always good. He seethed with self-hatred. And disassociated as the devil.

My faith in the systems of support for at-risk youth had been depleted. I shared this disappointment with a friend, and she shared with me the name of a resource she highly recommends. I was familiar with David Gilks name and reputation and felt excited to reach out to someone whose values and beliefs lined up with my own when it comes to connecting with youth at risk. David provided genuine support and rapport with my son and almost instantly established a trusting relationship with him. David was a role model for my son, he mirrored him back in a way he wanted to be seen. David activated and engaged his beliefs and values, his strengths, and interests. With David’s support, my son slowly began to re-integrate into our family system and discover a sense of belonging.

My son had spent years in the darkness of his room and mind. His defenses had built a fortress around himself, a force field against the world. He wasn’t coming out of it or letting anyone in until he met David. David’s approach allowed my son to access his courage and slowly take the bricks out of his protective wall, brick by brick.

Within his fortress, he was using drugs to help him feel different than his usual self-hatred. This provided him with another disappointment in himself because this strategy never provided him with refuge from his self-hatred… only fuelled it.

With David’s support, my son committed himself to being a dad. This self-concept and belief provided him with the willpower for positive change. His new role as a dad provided him with the gumption to be courageous and move forward with becoming the best he can be, because he has a precious little one to love and support.

David was the key that unlocked the love for himself that he held hostage. With David’s support, my son is back. The greatest gift for a mom.