About three years ago, I was desperately seeking help for a close personal friend suffering from the physical decline brought about by years of substance abuse. I turned to Natalia-- someone familiar to me for years as a fellow Yelp Austin reviewer--for guidance.
The essence of my quest was to secure counseling resources for the person I cared deeply about. Although substance abuse is not her specialty, Natalia quickly reached out to me to provide several qualified counselors she trusted that might be able to help my friend.
If that's where it began and ended, although greatly appreciated, the singular event might not be particularly review-worthy. But what makes it notable, laudable, and five-star is that Natalia went well above-and-beyond a simple list of references. She offered sage advice on the merits of private counseling and the more traditional group therapy approaches. She patiently and gently set realistic expectations for my friend's likelihood of success. She knew I was working through personal pain, and saw that I was a "fixer", so she suggested coping strategies to keep me from losing myself in the morass. She persisted in the conversation with me, even though she probably sensed that I was trying to escape in deference to her time.
My friend is with the angels now, but, thanks to Natalia, at least I understand and can live with the choices she made while on Earth and with her passing. I know this is one of my simpler reviews, but I cannot emphasize how eternally grateful I am for all of Natalia's help. When it comes to personal counseling, accept no substitutes. She's the real deal. read more