Who Am I?
Tina von Reese Løkkbakk
Who am I? ​I am a divorced mother of two daughters--now young women-- who made a promise to become the best version of myself and to live fully aligned with my deepest values for the time remaining on this planet. The woman you see today--Determined, Adventurous, Magical and Empowered--is not the woman I once was. It took losing my eldest daughter to estrangement to begin a long journey back to myself.
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In 2010 I made a decision that changed my life. I accepted my parents' invitation to travel to Norway with my two daughters to reconnect with our Norwegian family and better understand my Norwegian heritage. Although my husband was invited, he chose not to come.
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What followed my return was devastating: a high-conflict divorce, the estrangement of my teenage daughter, the passing of my parents, the loss of financial security and even the loss of my reputation. The roles and identities that had once anchored my life for decades disappeared. The grief and stress were so consuming that there were moments I didn't know how to keep going.
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Until I began to write.
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Through words on paper, I found my truth. I stopped casting blame. I began to accept what had happened--and to take responsibility for who I chose to become next.
Today I am genuinely grateful for the estrangement experience. Because of it, I am content, peaceful and internally strong. I still cry. I still have hard days. But I no longer live in a state of grief. And if you are wondering whether this kind of transformation is possible for you too...it is! I know, because I've lived it.
What Are My Qualifications?
For nearly 30 years I have worked as both a public school teacher and a private teaching business owner. Throughout my career, my greatest strength has always been building community.
I create emotionally warm, supportive spaces where learning can unfold naturally--where mistakes are welcomed as part of the process, curiosity is encouraged, and each person's unique strengths are recognized and invited into the experience. I believe learning is most powerful when people feel safe, seen and engaged.
Over the years, I have worked with adults, teens, and children from diverse backgrounds and with every imaginable personality type. This taught me how to listen deeply, adapt thoughtfully and create environments where people feel they belong and can grow together.
But my qualifications extend beyond professional experience.
I have lived through high-conflict divorce and the profound pain of family estrangement. Through deep inner work, writing, reflection and support, I found my way back to myself. My memoir, After the Burn, documents this process honestly--moving from agonizing pain, resistance and blame to acceptance, rediscovery and the conscious creation of a new life aligned with my truest values.​
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Why I Chose This Work?
Although I had an excellent therapist and caring support from my CoDA (Co-dependents Anonymous) community, there was still something missing.
I longed to be with others who carried the same heavy, invisible backpack of estrangement. I searched for spaces where hope and inspiration were embodied. What I found instead were support groups that unintentionally reinforced the despair. Eventually I stopped attending and chose to walk the path alone.
Through my estrangement experience, I came to understand something deeply important: estrangement is not like a traditional loss. It is what I call a living death. The door is never fully closed leaving a sliver of hope--just enough-- to keep you waiting. Waiting to begin living. Waiting for the child or family member to return. Waiting to feel whole again. Waiting for the searing pain to stop.
But the waiting can quietly steal years.
I don't want you to have to walk this path alone nor do I want you to keep waiting to begin living. A rich, meaningful and beautiful life can begin as soon as you commit to yourself and it will change in ways you never could have imagined.
Today I serve as a guide for women who are done waiting. Women who are ready to reclaim their courage, reconnect with their inner wisdom and begin rebuilding their lives!
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If this resonates with you, I invite you to reach out at:
greatdamespathways@gmail.com | text (530) 220-8598.
