About Anastasia
A guide and companion for conversations at life’s sacred thresholds.
Many of the moments that bring us to deeper reflection are not easy ones.
Illness, loss, major life transitions, or the quiet realization that the usual conversations are no longer sufficient.
In these moments, what people often need most is not advice, but presence.
A place where questions can be spoken aloud, where uncertainty is welcome, and where the deeper layers of experience can be gently explored.
My work is rooted in a simple belief:
that when people are given the space to speak honestly and be deeply heard, something important can begin to unfold.
This is the spirit that informs my work.
How This Work Found Me
My path into this work did not begin as a profession, but as a long-standing curiosity about the deeper dimensions of human experience.
From a young age I found myself drawn to questions about meaning, consciousness, and what lies beyond the visible edges of life.
Over time, these questions were shaped by experiences within my own family. I witnessed two very different ways of meeting life’s most difficult thresholds: one marked by deep fear and avoidance, and another shaped by remarkable acceptance in the face of a devastating diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer’s at the age of forty-nine.
Observing these contrasting journeys left a lasting impression on me.
They revealed how profoundly our inner relationship with life, forgiveness, and acceptance can shape the way we move through its most difficult passages.
Alongside these personal experiences, I have spent nearly two decades closely connected with the near-death experience community. As the wife of a near-death experiencer, I have been immersed in the stories of people who have come close to death and returned with profound insights about life, love, purpose, meaning, and the nature of consciousness.
Even earlier, I was brought into close proximity with these questions through my family. My mother experienced what is often called a spiritually transformative experience, an event that opened our lives to a deeper spiritual dimension and profoundly shaped the way I came to understand the mystery of existence from a young age.
These encounters placed me in ongoing conversation with the deeper questions that arise when people come close to life's sacred thresholds.
I later assisted my husband in founding Inner Immersion, a transformational program inspired by insights from his near-death experience. Through this work we have spent many years supporting individuals navigating profound life challenges, including those in addiction recovery, experiencing homelessness, and incaraceration.
Walking alongside people facing these realities deepened my understanding of resilience, forgiveness, and the human capacity for transformation. My own life has also been shaped by the humbling experiences of parenthood, including supporting my children through significant life challenges. These experiences continue to remind me that the deepest forms of compassion are often learned not through theory, but through the willingness to remain present with life as it unfolds.
Over time, these experiences naturally led me toward work that supports individuals and families during some of life’s most profound transitions.
Today I have the privilege of accompanying people as they navigate these thresholds, offering space for reflection, honesty, and the possibility of meeting life’s most difficult moments with greater clarity and peace.
How I Approach This Work
Much of my work is shaped by a simple understanding: that human beings often carry profound questions and experiences that do not easily fit into ordinary conversation.
Moments of illness, loss, spiritual awakening, recovery, or major life transition can open inner landscapes that are difficult to navigate alone.
In these moments, what people often need most is not advice or interpretation, but a calm and compassionate presence that allows their experience to be explored honestly and at their own pace.
My approach is grounded in listening, what Gabor Maté, through his Compassionate Inquiry work, describes as an “empathetic abiding presence.” I try to meet each person with curiosity rather than certainty, and with respect for the complexity and mystery of human experience.
This means allowing conversations to unfold naturally, without rushing toward conclusions or forcing meaning onto what is being lived.
Whether someone is reflecting on life’s deeper questions, navigating a personal threshold, or simply seeking space to pause and listen more closely to their own experience, my intention is to create a setting where reflection and deeper understanding can emerge.
My perspective is shaped not only by professional training, but also by lived experience and many years spent listening to people as they navigate life’s most challenging passages. The work is informed by contemplative traditions and trauma-informed approaches, but it is not guided by religious doctrine or fixed belief systems.
At the heart of this work is a simple intention:
to listen with care,
to remain curious rather than certain,
and to meet each person with compassion and respect.
Background and Experience
My work is informed by both professional training and many years of lived experience accompanying people through significant life transitions.
My background includes:
• Certified End-of-Life Doula (2019) and member of the End of Life Doula Association of Canada (EOLDAC), accompanying individuals and families through illness, the dying process, advance care planning, and legacy work
• Currently a Student of Compassionate Inquiry, the trauma-informed approach developed by Dr. Gabor Maté
• Co-founder of Inner Immersion, an accessible, group-based trauma informed healing model, and creator of the contemplative life review process Where Your Treasure Lies
• Nearly two decades of close connection with the near-death experience community
My work also draws from ongoing study in contemplative traditions and the lived wisdom shared within communities exploring near-death and other spiritually transformative experiences. My perspective is also shaped by the cultural richness of my own mixed heritage and the many traditions that have informed my life.
I continue to be supported and guided by communities of practice that nourish both this work and my ongoing learning, including a women’s circle, the end-of-life doula community, and the learning community within Compassionate Inquiry.
A Personal Note
More than anything, I hope to offer my presence in a way that is steady, compassionate, and authentic.
A space where the deeper questions of life can be approached gently, without pressure, and in a spirit of openness and care.
If something in this work resonates with you, you are welcome to reach out.
Sometimes a single conversation can open the space for something new to emerge.
