About me
Hi, I am Janja Kin Tilia. Janja is pronounced as ‘Yanya’.
I am no stranger to physical and emotional pain, loss or addiction. Through my work and meeting many many inspirational people I have learnt the difference between pain, suffering and freedom and how to chose between them.
How I got to do what I do
My life was influenced by work and activities from a young age. When was 11 years old I had my first Saturday job, working in a factory. My parents were building a house when I was little and there was always work to be done to get it ‘finished’, wood to be gotten from the forest and chopped. During the dark, snowy winter times I had more time for the more gentle and creative activities. Many books got read then, jumpers knitted, I learnt to sew, made lace, I taught myself to touch type when I was bored one time, learnt the dressmaking… I was interested, keen and I did it.
From early on, I understood that we have the power, and responsibility, to create, not just jumpers, but one’s LIFE.
When I was 18 I moved from Slovenia to the UK to enjoy more freedom and independence.
I took my sense of freedom freedom and independence very seriously. I did what I chose to do and what I did I loved doing.
My career started as a health care assistant in mental health before I trained to become an Occupational Therapist. I worked in a clinical hospital setting rotating from rheumatology, orthopaedics, stroke, care of the elderly and medicine speciality before I specialised in Parkinsons's disease and later in Chronic Fatigue and Pain Management as well as CRPS (complex regional pain syndrome) services where I worked 10 years. Whilst my job in OT had always about empowering individuals, the Pain Management job was more about coaching and influencing behaviour change, mindset.
I thought I had the best job in this world.
Then, during my pregnancy with my second son, a geneticist and paediatric cardiologist suggested that I’d do well to abort the baby as the scans showed a number of physical abnormalities and they predicted that he’d have mild to severe learning difficulty. I chose to keep him.
After his birth the doctors wanted us to have him on prophylactic antibiotics for the rest of his life and that he should have all the vaccinations available as he was immuno-suppressed. I did not agree with this and sough ways to support his immunity rather than suppress it. After visiting many complementary therapists I found that homeopathy was the most comprehensive system of health.
I joined the training with what was then Bristol Homeopathic Hospital.
Once I qualified, I continued to work as an OT alongside running a private practice doing homeopathy and later applied kinesiology and coaching. I eventually I gave up the safety of my well paid NHS job to focus on my private practice. I continue to integrate Occupational Therapy into my practice and am a member of its governing body: the Health Care Professionals Council. I have also continued to expand on my learning and outline this below.
My son is now 21 years old. He is healthy, intelligent and about to start a uni course. I am thankful that I listened to my heart.
My lust for adventure has changed from wanting to travel places, riding motorbikes to enjoying simplicity of everyday living, meaningful conversations with loved ones and strangers, dreaming, marvelling at the nature, cuddling with and taking my cats for a walk in the woods, picking flower, herbs, gardening, qi gong and of course doing the work that I love - helping others live a fulfilled and joyous life.
My Qualifications:
BSc Occupational Therapy Cardiff University 2000
Bristol Mind Advocacy training. 1999
5 year training with the Faculty of Homeopathy
Diploma in Homeopathy from the School of Homeopathy 2015
Postgraduate course with the Welsh School of Homeopathy 2016
CEASE Homeopathic Detox training 2016
Reiki level 1 and 2 and Reiki Master
Homeobotanical practitioner training 2017
Systematic Kinesiology 2017
Biochemical Kinesiology with the Institute of kinesiology 2021
Integrated Healing (Kinesiology) 2022
Qi Gong Teacher Training 2024