Learn About

Mateja Petje

I’m a Holistic Psychotherapist and Stress Management Coach by training and education as well as a Counselor located in Palm Beach County, Fl. In addition, I’m the CEO of Holistic Coaching International. I’m also a University of Miami Graduate as well. My integrative technique with people and family is to take a holistic and humanistic approach to mental health to help heal. One that is based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Solution Focused Treatments. My focus is all about healing through holistic methods and good therapist techniques that achieve results for my clients.

Helping clients for over two decades

I’ve been helping clients now with different Holistic Services for well over two decades. One example of the way I help too is by using my techniques to provide a safe, healing environment for clients to relax. This comfort enables you to feel good about sharing your concerns. As a result, it also helps you to learn how to reach effective, short-term goals. I’m so excited to help people because of the skills I’ve acquired over the years. The results I see with my clients are amazing. Please don’t suffer in silence when help is available you see the end result is I might be able to help you to heal.

Background

I’ve always been interested in human relationships and how people heal from trauma and abuse. It’s exciting for me to tell you I’ve been helping people for over 20 years. The start of my healing journey began in my home country of Slovenia. Back home I had to face many life challenges so I became interested in how people heal from emotional trauma.

My parents came from a working-class family. Mom was a teacher and my father worked as a factory worker all his life. Tragically, my father died in an unfortunate hiking accident at age 52. This was when I was in the US for just 3 months. His death really devastated me even though we’ve never really been that close to one another.

At Home in Slovenia

I was born in Slovenia. This is a wonderful, amazing country that is quite beautiful. If you ever have the chance to visit I would urge you to do so. I have great memories growing up as a mountain girl, hiker, and nature lover. This was a sanctuary and my escape from a very difficult time living with my mother.

Coming to America

Over two decades ago I moved to Miami in 1997 to join my ex-husband. Soon after coming to the US, my unhealthy marriage failed. You see my ex was an abusive alcoholic. He was a master at masking it and he refused to get help. I had to make some serious choices right away about my future.

Creating New Family

For me, I’ve been blessed to create my new family. It consists of my friends who have been supporting and encouraging me during my journey. In December 2011, I met my fiance’ who is the light of my life (and my company’s marketing Guru). So I feel very blessed fortunately in many ways.

Education

While still living in Slovenia, I obtained my Bachelor’s Degree in English and Education. I’ve always been passionate about helping people. When I taught English for several years for example I had great success with a wide variety of age groups. In addition, I worked for the Slovenian government as a translator for the European Union.

In 1993, as part of my undergraduate education, I published my thesis. It was titled “The Development of Moral Judgment in the Field of Environmental Education”. My thesis was based on Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Development. The research was conducted among elementary school students.

Shortly after moving to Miami in 1997, I was awarded a graduate assistant scholarship from the University of Miami in Coral Gables. I graduated with Honors in 2003 with my Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy.

How I started

In Europe, we were like many other families who had to deal with the legacy of PTSD after WWI and WWII. My family has had a history of substance abuse and violence which has extended over several generations. This was particularly true on my mother’s side of the family. You see I’m a survivor of abuse and trauma myself. This abuse and trauma have really caused me deep emotional scars. However, I’ve been blessed to have had people around me who have helped me to heal emotionally. But this for me is an ongoing journey to add more tools about therapist techniques that heal and get results and learning which I can implement.

As a child, I didn’t feel loved or appreciated, and I didn’t have a sense of security. Over the years I’ve also been in and out of relationships all my life. Over and over again, I chose the wrong people. As a result, I have been suffering from anxiety and depression all my life.

My Escape

My “escape” and where I found solace was in my journaling, music, and in relationships. In my late twenties, after yet another painful breakup, my healing journey began in earnest. That’s when I started reading many self-help and psychology books. For example books such as the famous “Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus”. See I’ve always had a love for psychology.

All the challenges now make sense. Looking back those challenges were a blessing in disguise. I can relate to my clients’ Emotional Trauma and the challenges they are facing that much better. You see I’ve helped many of my clients that were abused or suffered from anxiety.

Training

About Therapy- Learning More

As you learn about therapist Mateja Petje you see my experience is vast including an extensive background working with families and at-risk children and adolescents. Although now, I primarily work with adults. I have more than fifteen years of experience as a counselor in the mental health field. Others suffered from Depression, PTSD, losses, and failed relationships. With my help, they are now leading healthy and fulfilling lives. This is the power of therapy and what can happen when people receive the help they need.

Education- Training– Work Experience

In the past, I’ve worked with many prominent agencies in Miami-Dade and Broward County. Some of those include Switchboard of Miami, Department of Children and Families, Memorial Health Care Systems, Chrysalis Center, and Jewish Community Services. Back in 2008, I obtained my license in Marriage and Family Therapy. From there I went to work in the managed care industry while building my private practice in Broward County.

Trained as a Professional Life Coach

Years ago I also acquired extensive training as a Professional Life Coach at the Institute of Life Coach Training founded by Dr. Patrick Williams. This training is invaluable as it is specifically tailored to psychotherapists. As a result of this training, I am now better equipped to assist both my therapy and coaching clients. Furthermore, I was trained in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). This was by a prominent Master Trainer in NLP and Hypnosis, Dr. Yvonne Oswald. Instead of spending years in therapy, my clients receive immediate and repeatedly positive results. They are able to change their beliefs and behaviors very rapidly.

Neuro-Linguistic Programming

Fortunately, I was trained in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). This was by a prominent Master Trainer in NLP and Hypnosis, Dr. Yvonne Oswald. Instead of spending months or even years in therapy, my clients receive immediate and repeatedly positive results. They’re able to change their beliefs and behaviors very rapidly.

Emotional Freedom Technique

Another great tool I use for myself and for my patients is my extensive training in Energy Medicine. More specifically, I have been studying the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT). This has been integrated into my practice with fantastic success. My clients really seem to appreciate the benefits of this technique.

Reiki Level II Practitioner

I was fortunate to be trained by Gwenn Bonnell, an EFT certified practitioner. I’ve also been a Reiki Level II Practitioner since 2003. Reiki is an outstanding form of alternative medicine centered around “universal energy”. Remember to ask me about the art of Reiki and the different healing benefits you can gain with Reiki.