For many years, Marilyn
experienced a wide range of intermittent and persistent anxiety
symptoms including dizziness, a feeling of unreality, gastro-intestinal
distress, chronic gastritis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, lactose
intolerance, an inability to relax, a feeling that the floor
was moving, panic attacks, impending doom, hot and cold sweats,
nervousness, agitation, depression, insomnia, and many more.
In her early forties, her condition grew worse, eventually culminating
in a nervous breakdown.
Marilyn then received Christian counselling and healing for
her abuse issues, and was prescribed numerous medications for
her symptoms and anxiety including an anti-depressant. While
the medications helped to reduce the gastro-intestinal symptoms,
they weren’t eliminated.
Using a natural approach to recovery, Marilyn began to understand
her condition, learned tools and strategies to reverse her condition,
and implemented changes in her life. Over the course of
her recovery, she successfully came off of her multiple medications
and now enjoys normal and medication-free health.
Marilyn’s professional background includes, graduating
from the University of Alberta School of Nursing diploma program
in 1986, and graduating from the University of Alberta with a
Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in 1999. Additionally,
she attended Taylor University College and Seminary where she
received an award in the category of theology, philosophy, and
ethics.
The practicums for her nursing degree included experience working
with women and their children who were residing in shelters for
victims of domestic violence, and working with pregnant women
and their families in acute poverty who were often in abusive
relationships.
During the spring and summer breaks, Marilyn worked in group
homes that fostered behaviorally challenged children who were
often suffering from the effects of abuse and ineffective parenting. Upon
graduation, she provided specialized services in her home, as
a foster parent to an adolescent male who had severe emotional
and behavioral problems.
In 1996, Marilyn established a private counselling practice. Marilyn
has experience working with women in abusive relationships; adolescent
and adult survivors of childhood abuse and sexual abuse; children
and adolescents experiening anxiety, depression, grief, stress,
and sleep problems; troubled children and their parents whose
marriages had terminated; adolescents experiencing difficulties
transitioning the developmental stage into adulthood; individuals
experiencing spiritual challenges; and families, providing information,
support, and encouragement for the development of effective parenting
skills.
In 2002, as a registered nurse, Marilyn worked as a team member
with mental health care professionals (psychiatrists, psychologists,
social workers, and so on) who provided assessment services and
related counselling to children and their families in a children’s
mental health program at a major hospital. As a part of
the program, Marilyn provided observation and documentation for
the diagnoses of disorders such as Tourette’s Syndrome,
Autism, Aspergers, Munchausen by Proxy, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum
Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Oppositional
Defiance Disorder, Childhood Depression, Obsessive Compulsive
Disorder, Anorexia, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Psychosis. Additionally,
Marilyn offered parent teaching and strategy planning to the
parents of difficult children.
Marilyn and Jim Folk currently live in Calgary, Canada, and
attend Centre Street Church.
Marilyn has 9 years experience as a counselor and
personal coach.
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