My story
How I transformed my loss and transformed my life
I want to share with you how I transformed my loss and changed my life. Just like you, I have encountered losses in my life, but the most significant happened when I was 12 years old.
I was a very happy child living in Nicaragua, my native country when my life changed in a heartbeat. My father unexpectedly died from an aortic aneurysm and my world turned upside down. My inner world actually stopped. I continued living but with great void in my heart.
For many years, I tried to understand so I could come to terms with his death, but I was stuck in my grief, not even knowing I was grieving. My healing came to be after working on myself and embarking in the field of grief and loss. I started to comprehend the human pain, the different losses we encounter in life, and the effect these can have in our lives. I realized the multiple losses I had experienced in my life and how necessary it was to process each one of them. It was then when I made the decision that changed my life completely. I chose to transform my loss into an opportunity to grow.
Enthused by this transformation, I wrote the book, dedicated to my father’s memory, Transform Your Loss. Your Guide to Strength and Hope. While I was writing the book, and inspiration overtook me. I reflected on the different elements which have been essential in my own process and I created The 11 Principles of Transformation®. I started using the system with clients, in groups, and in live seminars. Because my purpose is to help others transform their loss and change their lives, I offer it now, as an online program.
My mission in life is to empower others as they face painful situations because when we are in the midst of a loss we may feel we cannot continue, but we all have incredible resources within ourselves and the system of The 11 Principles of Transformation® is the catalyst that will help you achieve that transformation.
From my heart to yours…Also inspired by my story of loss, I developed professionally in the area of grief, loss, spirituality and personal growth.What follows is my professional background so you also know about me in that aspect.
Ligia Houben
Grief Specialist – Life Transitions Coach
Ligia M. Houben, FT, FAAGC, CPC, CHT, is the founder of My Meaningful Life, LLC and the Executive Director of The Center for Transforming Lives in Miami, FL where she consults individuals and families; by offering coaching/support, groups and workshops.
She is a fellow in Thanatology: Death, Dying, and Bereavement and a Fellow of the American Academy of Grief Counseling.
She holds a BA in Psychology and Religious Studies from the University of Miami, MA in Religious Studies and a Graduate Certificates in Multidisciplinary Gerontology from Florida International University and in Loss and Healing from St. Thomas University.
Ligia is a whole-hearted speaker in the field of grief and loss and life transitions. She has reached many people with her messages about transformation, meaning, and personal growth.
Certified Professional Coach
Ligia holds a certification as a professional coach from the International Coaching Academy (ICA) which is an accredited training provider by the ICF (International Coaching Federation).
Certified Grief Counselor
As a Certified Grief Counselor and a Fellow of the American Academy of Grief Counseling, Ligia has specialized in helping others deal with any loss or difficult life transition in a caring and empowering way.
Certified Thanatologist
Guided by this fascination with death and dying, Ligia became a member of ADEC. The Thanatology Association, where she has remained very active. This is the association which conferred her with the credential Certified Thanatologist and the prestigious credential Fellow in Thanatology: Death, Dying, and Bereavement.
Certified Gerontologist
Ligia has a passion for older adults and helps them deal with aging challenges. She is an advocate for their wellbeing and likes to guide adult children in the transition of taking care of aging parents. She did her certification in gerontology in 2002 at The Center in Aging located in Florida International University (FIU).