Please welcome first-time contributor Sophie, a woman who was born in Belgium on Woodstock day in 1969. Sophie is mom to a wonderful boy who has been diagnosed as being on the Autism spectrum. After graduating with a Master’s of Science in Mass Communication from Boston University in 1994, she worked for 18 years with major global leaders in the soft drink industry. She was in charge of the packaging development as Operations Director for over 50 countries. In 1999, she gave birth to her son who was diagnosed as being on the Autism spectrum at the age of three. Since then, it has been a battle to find solutions, help, and schooling systems for him. She decided to go back to school to studied neuropsychology, Transactional Analysis, and finally Phototherapy. For the past two years she has recorded her life with her son through photography. Several of her works have been shown in Belgium over the past years. In August 2015, Sophie created Happy People House to help people take better care of their bodies and minds. She uses phototherapy to help professional and amateur photographers to uncover the unconscious part of the creative process, and aid with life transitions.

About these photo: “These are my first shots symbolizing the emotional difficulties I face on a daily basis. This February the weather conditions on the French West Coast were tormented and I felt terribly sad watching the coast losing its battle towards the ocean. Coming home I discovered the pictures I took and realized this is how I feel, alone. Inch by inch the Autism Spectrum is eating my energy. This is not a side I show easily but this ‘end of the world’ feeling I had looking at the photographs made me feel good. I am at last allowed to feel sad for myself. Not to be Supermom every single second. These are healing pictures. Both of us are ALONE with Autism in a way. Noah and I have traveled the world extensively and we do enjoy life. We are happy people but it made me forget that side of myself. I forgot to let that side have its own place in my life.”

Find more from Sophie on her website.

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