LONDON – A mental health coach from the Philippines received the LGBTQI+ Leadership Award during the Women Changing the World Global Awards held here in the United Kingdom.
Paulie Dürig (formerly Paul Rich Romano from barangay Batinguel in Dumaguete), now based in Switzerland, is the founder and CEO of Sacred Space Suisse, a mental health service offering innovative and personalized coaching programs for individuals and organizations.
Drawing from methods like Clinical Hypnotherapy and Rapid Transformational Therapy, Dürig is making her mark in the field of mental health and wellness in Europe, after getting her Biology degree at Silliman University.
Dürig established her company Sacred Space at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when mental health services were desperately needed. She offered pro-bono group therapy programs to help individuals cope with the stresses of the pandemic, and made mental health services accessible to more people.
“Healing is not just a personal journey—it’s a collective awakening,” said Dürig, a transwoman. “As we learn to hold space for ourselves, we also create room for others to rise.”
She said the award is a “reminder that when we honor our truth, we give others permission to do the same”.
“May it inspire us all to keep shining our light because in doing so, we help others find their way,” Dürig said.
Together with partners and collaborators from the LGBTQI+ community, as well as some members of the Filipino community in Europe, Dürig leads other initiatives such as podcasts to continue raising awareness on the importance of mental health and well-being,
Earlier this year, Dürig was also recognized as one of 12 global finalists for the Young Woman of the Year award—chosen from over 750 nominations representing more than 50 countries.
This Women Changing the World Awards celebrate “trailblazing women” across business, education, leadership, innovation, and health, with ambassadors such as the Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson and author Dr. Tererai Trent, TV host and producer Oprah Winfrey’s all-time favorite guest.
Dürig’s achievement demonstrates the Filipino’s global impact of excellence, as her voice continues to uplift the LGBTQI+ community in the international stage. (PR)
