February 13, 2025 • 31 mins
Vicki is a Psychotherapist and Best-Selling Author whose journey to glamour began as a young woman moving from Scotland to the bright lights and bustling city of London, into the world of Glamour Modeling.
Tune in, as Vicki gives us a candid glimpse into her struggles with heartbreak, trauma, and a secret drug addiction. Vicki explains how despite her efforts to immerse herself in glamour and luxury, her deep-seated pain and addiction remained undeniably present and unhealed.
Vicki goes on to share her spiritual experience, marking a pivotal point in her transformation. We also talk about the great work she’s doing today as a Psychotherapist, and her memoir, Naked Truth: Diary of a Glamour Model.
To connect with Vicki, you can follow her on Facebook (facebook.com/vicki.rebecca) or Instagram (@vickirebecca_). Click the following link to pick up a copy of Vicki’s Memoir: https://a.co/d/fDImXcG
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Hey there everyone, this is Entertainer and Educator Jen Ables.
(00:05):
Go ahead and put that cruise control on as you venture down the road to rediscovery with your incredible host Aubrey.
You are not going to want to miss this episode.
(00:36):
Hello everyone and welcome to another episode of The Road to Rediscovery. I'm your host Aubrey Johnson.
The Road to Rediscovery is about reflecting on life lessons to learn and grow from them and of course pay it forward and uplift others who are struggling.
My special guest is a psychotherapist and bestselling author who has endured a tumultuous journey from being a glamour model to heartbreak, trauma and secret drug addiction.
(01:05):
She now specializes in neuro-linguistic programming and hypnotherapy. She has also written a memoir about her life called Naked Truth, Diary of a Glamour Model, which became an Amazon international bestseller when it launched.
Let's welcome Vicki Rebecca to the show. Vicki, welcome to the show. It's so great to have you here.
(01:27):
Hi Aubrey, thank you so much for having me. I'm really excited to be here with you.
Oh, thank you. Likewise, we are equally excited. And Vicki, if you can just share with us if you can, how you got started in glamour modeling.
Was it an early fascination or how did it all begin for you?
(01:52):
Well, I guess the very first fascination, if I can go right back to being about 12 years old, if you imagine 1960s Scotland.
And I don't know if you can, I'm sure you've seen photographs if you haven't seen it. The Beehive Hairy Do. Do you remember that, the Beehive?
(02:15):
I do. I do, yes.
So my cousin, who was babysitting, made my hair like that, put full makeup on me when I was about 12 or so.
And I remember looking in the mirror and thinking, oh, I want to be a star. I want to be a movie star and be glamorous like this.
(02:42):
I see. That was an early fascination for sure.
Yeah. Yeah, but you know, that was that. It didn't, you know, it didn't come to anything at that time.
The actual catalyst came about in a different way.
(03:03):
I was subject to, well, I was gang raped, when I was 14.
And it was a very traumatic experience. I didn't know who to turn to.
Right.
(03:24):
So I became a runaway. I started running away from home and eventually attracted by the bright lights of London, found my way into what was at that time quite a sleazy photographic studio.
(03:46):
And that was where my career began. But through there, I met other people and got into better and better work.
I, in the end, I was a Bond girl and I did some fantastic work as a model.
Who a Bond girl?
I was a moon raker.
(04:09):
Moon raker. Absolutely fascinating. I am a tremendous 007 James Bond fan.
All of them. I love them all, although I grew up in the Roger Moore era.
But but yeah, moon raker. That's the Sean Connery era and fascinating, absolutely fascinating.
(04:31):
So as you advanced through modeling and in the different space within the bright lights of London, you, you networked and got acquainted with more and more people that that put you in more of a, let's say, more of a classification of better work.
(04:57):
Yeah.
And that sort of thing. Would it be fair to say, did glamour modeling open some doors that wouldn't open otherwise, let's say if you were waiting tables?
Oh, absolutely. Definitely. My life was glamorous. It was a really fun thing to do.
(05:22):
I met the people I met, the places I traveled to. It was, it was living the dream in many ways, at least on the surface.
I understand. I understand. And now, and you bring up a good point when you say at least on the surface, Vicki, I'd love if you could share for the listeners because, you know, a lot of us don't know what it's like to be a glamour model.
(05:50):
And, you know, there's a lot of attention on you when it comes to applying makeup, when it comes to trying on outfits, when it comes to having your hair done and having cameras at you and so forth.
So you are, it seems to be, you know, front and center in a lot of different activities in the glamour modeling space.
(06:17):
So with that said, while it seems quite appealing and I'm sure it is, what are some of the struggles that would come with glamour modeling that say a lot of us outside of that space don't know?
Okay. I think for me anyway, the struggles came from the inside, as opposed to the glamour modeling business.
(06:49):
But probably what I found in my experience was that there were many of us who were wounded and therefore attracted to that business.
Because I think as humans we imagine if we have a successful veneer, a glamorous surface that somehow is going to mask the heart inside.
(07:21):
I understand. I understand what happens. I think the glamour actually intensifies the wounding.
Because of course we all know within ourselves when we're not being absolutely authentic.
(07:42):
Right. Yeah.
Yeah. And so is there a sense of, I don't want to say shame, I don't want to say guilt, but is there a wall?
Yeah. It's a sense of shame.
Okay.
A sense of shame or imposter syndrome.
(08:05):
That's what I was looking for imposter syndrome because thinking that you are of this type of lifestyle being in the space, but at the same time knowing that there's wounds and hurt deep, deep down, layer below layer, below layer within yourself that still needs healing.
(08:28):
Yeah.
And that's how it emerges. And the more successful, for me anyway, there was an absolute split in my life as to how I presented to the outside world.
And my inner world was in a downward spiral.
(08:54):
Wow.
Okay. So, so speaking of that, Vicki, can you share with us the role or the, I guess the role that compartmentalizing played in, in that part of your life.
Sounds like there was a tremendous amount of compartmentalizing to just, just to survive and get through the day.
(09:22):
Yes.
I think when I very first was in London, I was very much a young Scottish girl with my Scottish friends just arrived in the big city.
Yeah.
And I would have said there was still a fair degree of authenticity. You know, it was all new, it was all exciting. It was all very unexpected.
(09:49):
And then after, it went like that for maybe three years.
And then in my personal life, I had a heart take, a deep heart.
And I just after that, I met someone who introduced me to heroin.
(10:15):
And that was, that was someone not from the modeling scene, not from London, but someone that I had known from home here in Scotland.
And there the split happened.
So I had my professional life with my new friends.
I, I almost rested or hid in this other life that reminded me of home. I told myself it was home.
(10:46):
It was where I felt that I could be myself.
That's what I told myself.
That wasn't really me. That was the heart to me.
Yes.
In the safety zone.
I felt it was a safety zone at the time.
I see. So outside of the introduction to heroin, there's there's still some deep rooted hurt and wounds from what happened when you were 14.
(11:21):
Yes. Yes. And as, as you know, when we're wounded in that way, we carry that stain, if you like, on our energy field.
And we will attract more of the same until we can fully heal and release that wound.
(11:42):
Yes. No, that makes that makes a lot of sense. Yeah.
It'll stay with us until we can release it.
And we have to be in a state of mental state of physical state, a spiritual state to have the ability to release it.
Yeah.
So can you share with us just briefly, you know, when and how did you hit rock bottom and then then start to talk with us about the spiritual experience where things start to change for you.
(12:22):
Absolutely. Because that is the most pivotal moment of my whole life.
Yes.
So first of all, like most addicts that there's a lot of denial, it took some time before I even accepted that I wasn't addict.
And then I paid lip service to trying to get off a few times, if you failed attempts.
(12:50):
And is a crazy thing was that paradox that was active in my life, you know, it was almost like I was becoming more successful in one hand, and, you know, falling down this dark spiral and the other simultaneously.
So it became very hard to, you know, let go of the glamour side, which was, you know, earning me money and, you know, giving me all the success to really face up to the addiction side.
(13:23):
So eventually rock bottom came after several of those attempts.
And I made up my mind to cold turkey.
Because nothing else had worked. And I put myself in a position where I couldn't access drugs anymore.
(13:44):
Right.
And it was really a, it was a terrible experience. I have no idea. I remember thinking in the moment, why have I done this? What am I doing?
It was so awful. I wanted indeed attempted to take my own life and failed. Luckily.
(14:09):
Yeah.
And at that point, I'm so I'm in a foreign country, you know, I was just in a mess. So I went out walking.
And I was just walking and walking. I didn't know what to do with myself, where to go, where to seek help.
Nothing. I was just in a terrible state. And I remember the moment very clearly.
(14:37):
I was walking over a wasteland. You know, it was going to become a building site. I'm sure it was just an absolute wasteland.
And I remember the sun coming up in the background. And then just hearing this voice.
And I'm going to say in my head, but I don't even know if that's the right location of it. I heard this voice simply saying, you can be reborn.
(15:09):
But it was a voice with such a thunder, such a, you know, every cell in my body, vibrated and changed. And I knew there was another quality to that voice.
It was something I'd never experienced before. But I knew it was something special. Yes.
(15:32):
And that was the point where my life turned on its heel.
That's absolutely amazing, Vicki. And, and that that voice that thunderous voice telling you, you know, that you can change there is hope.
And it's, I mean, not only did you see it, you felt it right. And it's almost like a, like a trajectory or push.
(16:03):
Yeah, it was a massive direction.
But the call back to life.
That you're safe moving in that direction. Yeah. Yes, back to life, your call back to life. 100%. 100%.
So we were, it must have been the mid 80s. And the belief is, if you were a heroin addict, you were going to die.
(16:29):
That was the belief at that time, you know, you were finished. And to hear that voice was that call back of life. It was just that seed of hope.
Yes. Yes. Vicki, I'm so glad you mentioned that you added that right because that really draws the picture for the listeners of, you know, how deep in rock bottom, you truly were.
(16:58):
And at the time when you were going through it, what was considered from a societal expectation of a heroin addict that they were done.
Yeah. And for you to hear this, this, this thunderous voice at that time with the societal expectations.
(17:20):
I mean, that really, really, that really offers some context and perspective in the significance of what you heard.
That's right. Yeah, this is absolutely amazing. So Vicki, what was, what was your next move?
(17:41):
I mean, many retrograde moves after that. It took me maybe another two, three years to actually, you know, get into recovery.
And I think it just got messier in that interim period. But yet I knew, I knew I was headed somewhere.
(18:05):
I didn't know exactly what that was going to look like. I was very resistant to let go this wonderful life in London.
I knew I would eventually accept it. I would have to do that. But I made several attempts to keep it both going or get clean while still modeling.
(18:28):
And yes, yes. Yeah. Yeah, eventually I realized I have to leave. I have to leave. And I came home here.
I see, I see. And as the old adage goes, right? A lot of times things get worse before they get better. And, and that is in a lot of cases part of the process, right?
(19:02):
Yeah.
This is wonderful. So Vicki, in your memoirs, wanted to know, you know, how has writing your memoirs helped you in the processing and the reflection of all you experienced in your journey, leading up to where you are now?
(19:27):
Yeah. Well, I think writing and sharing my story has been the biggest healing of all, actually.
First of all, writing, I started remembering parts of my life that I thought I'd forgotten. There were pieces that weren't quite fitting together or gaps that I then further explored and managed to join up those dots.
(20:07):
So suddenly, I began to understand my own life and understand myself better than I ever had before.
And of course, with some of the things, you know, I was a nude model and some of the things that I'd done while in London, I was terrified to, you know, expose that to the public.
(20:39):
But the most amazing thing about that is how people receive truth.
I really expected to be trolled and put down and none of that happened. People were inspired. And they could hear the truth.
(21:02):
Absolutely.
It was beautiful. So that was such a healing in itself.
So writing a book was very...
That makes a lot of sense, Vicky.
Yeah.
Oh, man, that's wonderful.
And...
Yeah, no, go ahead. Please go ahead.
(21:26):
Oh, I was just going to say, as you were saying, your story is incredibly inspirational, right?
And you really got to know and understand and rediscover who you are and what you went through at a very intimate level.
(21:47):
And I'm sure you inspired so many other people. Vicky, I must commend you for your bravery in realizing the possibility of being trolled or chastised or maybe in some cases condemned.
But you remained brave and you forged on to write this.
(22:14):
And it was just the opposite that happened. You were... It was very well received.
Yes. And that was the most beautiful thing. And the people writing and saying how it inspired them and how similar things had happened to them.
(22:39):
And they'd never really been able to face it. But when they read my story, then they could face it.
And even people as adults getting out of difficult situations, having read the book, that was just beautiful feedback to receive.
Wow. And for someone to share that type of feedback where they're opening themselves up to you, it's truly heartfelt feedback.
(23:08):
And you really touched them in sharing who you are and what you went through and giving them hope.
That is absolutely remarkable, Vicky.
Now, if you don't mind, I'd love for us to chat about how you are helping others.
(23:30):
What are some of the conditions or diagnoses of your clients that you've helped using NLP and hypnotherapy?
So many things really. Initially, as an NLP practitioner and hypnotherapist, I dealt with a lot of phobias,
(23:58):
dealing with habits like smoking, helping with weight loss, then emotional problems and struggles.
But I think the thing that haunts me as a therapist, if you like, to the niche that I'm in today is clients,
(24:24):
before I ever published the book or even shared, at least professionally, about my past,
I was attracting the kind of client who had gone through simpler things.
And they were saying things to me like, there's something about you that I feel I can tell you this.
(24:48):
Yes, yes.
And I was laughing because they didn't know at that time and the way that inspired me.
So quite often, I get clients now who have gone through something similar, not identical, but a similar path.
(25:09):
Don't know how to get out of the rut that they now find themselves in.
Quite often, they have a spiritual something that they're not quite sure what to do about and would like some guidance with.
And that's very interesting clients to work with, with all those things going on and to help guide them into a path that will help them rediscover themselves.
(25:42):
Right. Yeah. And who better to help guide them than yourself because you've had a spiritual experience.
And, you know, for someone else to have a spiritual experience and not quite sure what to do with it or analyze it or figure out what it means or what direction to move in after experiencing it.
(26:05):
They come and share what they've gone through with you and you can at first hand knowledge can help guide them.
It's absolutely tremendous, Vicki.
Yeah, it's really quite beautiful.
It's funny on the lead up to speaking to you.
I was thinking I never really spoke about my childhood in my book.
(26:29):
I started more or less in my teen years when the trouble started.
I remember my very early childhood and perhaps most of us have these memories of being in a euphoric world.
You could call the trans state.
And I believe that children do begin life in the fetus state, that state of deep relaxation.
(27:00):
And it's almost like you kind of spend your whole lives getting back there.
Yes.
Able to access that wonderful healing zone, as I think of it.
Yes.
The healing zone. That's a great way of putting it.
(27:22):
And as you were saying that I was I visualized what you were saying and I was trying to think, okay, what would this be called?
It is a healing zone.
It truly is.
And you are doing some tremendous work in helping people just improve the quality of their lives with everything from what may some people may think is smaller trivial,
(27:50):
losing weight, quitting smoking.
Those are huge, huge obstacles and they're huge accomplishments.
You know, yeah, absolutely remarkable.
Now, Vicki, how can the listeners connect with you, follow you and and learn more about your great work?
(28:14):
Thank you.
Well, my name is Vicki and it's V-I-C-K-I and my second name is Rebecca, R-E-B-E-C-A.
So my website's VickiRebecca.com and I'm on social media under that name too.
(28:36):
So it's all pretty straightforward.
Just make a search for Vicki Rebecca.
It doesn't get much easier than that.
Yeah, so VickiRebecca.com.
Yes, and you know what?
We will put that in the episode show notes so people can know where to reach out to you, where to learn more about the great work you're doing and following you on social media while listening to this lovely, lovely conversation.
(29:09):
Vicki, I want to thank you so much for coming on the show, chatting with me.
I want to thank you for your flexibility in us getting this conversation going, the video part.
Well, you know, I guess that's just par for the course when it comes to technology.
Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, but we have had a lovely conversation.
(29:32):
I hope you would agree and I hope we could stay in touch and maybe bring you on the show sometime in the near future with video working this time.
That would be absolutely.
I've so enjoyed chatting to you.
It's a never ending subject for me.
So be very happy to chat again.
It's been really a delight.
(29:54):
Well, thank you and I'm going to take you up on that Vicki because there are some, there are some additional questions that I that I that I have.
And therefore, I think therefore a continued conversation.
I think that's the prologue of your book and and and and you know, you're very, very quite descriptive in just just painting the picture of and the dialogue right so.
(30:25):
But yeah, just just some some more some more conversation.
I would truly enjoy in the near future if you're willing.
Brilliant.
Absolutely love that.
Fantastic.
Thanks again for coming on Vicki and I want to thank all of you for tuning in and listening.
And look, you may feel like this at times, but in our daily struggles and adversities, we're never alone.
(30:53):
Hope is always around the corner.
I humbly ask that you please share this show with someone you know someone you love who needs motivation and support.
And when it comes down to it, we're all just roadies on this journey of life.
But it sure feels good having you on the road with me.
Thanks again for listening.
(31:14):
We'll chat again soon.
Hey there everyone, this is Entertainer and Educator Jen Ables.
(00:05):
Go ahead and put that cruise control on as you venture down the road to rediscovery with your incredible host Aubrey.
You are not going to want to miss this episode.
(00:36):
Hello everyone and welcome to another episode of The Road to Rediscovery. I'm your host Aubrey Johnson.
The Road to Rediscovery is about reflecting on life lessons to learn and grow from them and of course pay it forward and uplift others who are struggling.
My special guest is a psychotherapist and bestselling author who has endured a tumultuous journey from being a glamour model to heartbreak, trauma and secret drug addiction.
(01:05):
She now specializes in neuro-linguistic programming and hypnotherapy. She has also written a memoir about her life called Naked Truth, Diary of a Glamour Model, which became an Amazon international bestseller when it launched.
Let's welcome Vicki Rebecca to the show. Vicki, welcome to the show. It's so great to have you here.
(01:27):
Hi Aubrey, thank you so much for having me. I'm really excited to be here with you.
Oh, thank you. Likewise, we are equally excited. And Vicki, if you can just share with us if you can, how you got started in glamour modeling.
Was it an early fascination or how did it all begin for you?
(01:52):
Well, I guess the very first fascination, if I can go right back to being about 12 years old, if you imagine 1960s Scotland.
And I don't know if you can, I'm sure you've seen photographs if you haven't seen it. The Beehive Hairy Do. Do you remember that, the Beehive?
(02:15):
I do. I do, yes.
So my cousin, who was babysitting, made my hair like that, put full makeup on me when I was about 12 or so.
And I remember looking in the mirror and thinking, oh, I want to be a star. I want to be a movie star and be glamorous like this.
(02:42):
I see. That was an early fascination for sure.
Yeah. Yeah, but you know, that was that. It didn't, you know, it didn't come to anything at that time.
The actual catalyst came about in a different way.
(03:03):
I was subject to, well, I was gang raped, when I was 14.
And it was a very traumatic experience. I didn't know who to turn to.
Right.
(03:24):
So I became a runaway. I started running away from home and eventually attracted by the bright lights of London, found my way into what was at that time quite a sleazy photographic studio.
(03:46):
And that was where my career began. But through there, I met other people and got into better and better work.
I, in the end, I was a Bond girl and I did some fantastic work as a model.
Who a Bond girl?
I was a moon raker.
(04:09):
Moon raker. Absolutely fascinating. I am a tremendous 007 James Bond fan.
All of them. I love them all, although I grew up in the Roger Moore era.
But but yeah, moon raker. That's the Sean Connery era and fascinating, absolutely fascinating.
(04:31):
So as you advanced through modeling and in the different space within the bright lights of London, you, you networked and got acquainted with more and more people that that put you in more of a, let's say, more of a classification of better work.
(04:57):
Yeah.
And that sort of thing. Would it be fair to say, did glamour modeling open some doors that wouldn't open otherwise, let's say if you were waiting tables?
Oh, absolutely. Definitely. My life was glamorous. It was a really fun thing to do.
(05:22):
I met the people I met, the places I traveled to. It was, it was living the dream in many ways, at least on the surface.
I understand. I understand. And now, and you bring up a good point when you say at least on the surface, Vicki, I'd love if you could share for the listeners because, you know, a lot of us don't know what it's like to be a glamour model.
(05:50):
And, you know, there's a lot of attention on you when it comes to applying makeup, when it comes to trying on outfits, when it comes to having your hair done and having cameras at you and so forth.
So you are, it seems to be, you know, front and center in a lot of different activities in the glamour modeling space.
(06:17):
So with that said, while it seems quite appealing and I'm sure it is, what are some of the struggles that would come with glamour modeling that say a lot of us outside of that space don't know?
Okay. I think for me anyway, the struggles came from the inside, as opposed to the glamour modeling business.
(06:49):
But probably what I found in my experience was that there were many of us who were wounded and therefore attracted to that business.
Because I think as humans we imagine if we have a successful veneer, a glamorous surface that somehow is going to mask the heart inside.
(07:21):
I understand. I understand what happens. I think the glamour actually intensifies the wounding.
Because of course we all know within ourselves when we're not being absolutely authentic.
(07:42):
Right. Yeah.
Yeah. And so is there a sense of, I don't want to say shame, I don't want to say guilt, but is there a wall?
Yeah. It's a sense of shame.
Okay.
A sense of shame or imposter syndrome.
(08:05):
That's what I was looking for imposter syndrome because thinking that you are of this type of lifestyle being in the space, but at the same time knowing that there's wounds and hurt deep, deep down, layer below layer, below layer within yourself that still needs healing.
(08:28):
Yeah.
And that's how it emerges. And the more successful, for me anyway, there was an absolute split in my life as to how I presented to the outside world.
And my inner world was in a downward spiral.
(08:54):
Wow.
Okay. So, so speaking of that, Vicki, can you share with us the role or the, I guess the role that compartmentalizing played in, in that part of your life.
Sounds like there was a tremendous amount of compartmentalizing to just, just to survive and get through the day.
(09:22):
Yes.
I think when I very first was in London, I was very much a young Scottish girl with my Scottish friends just arrived in the big city.
Yeah.
And I would have said there was still a fair degree of authenticity. You know, it was all new, it was all exciting. It was all very unexpected.
(09:49):
And then after, it went like that for maybe three years.
And then in my personal life, I had a heart take, a deep heart.
And I just after that, I met someone who introduced me to heroin.
(10:15):
And that was, that was someone not from the modeling scene, not from London, but someone that I had known from home here in Scotland.
And there the split happened.
So I had my professional life with my new friends.
I, I almost rested or hid in this other life that reminded me of home. I told myself it was home.
(10:46):
It was where I felt that I could be myself.
That's what I told myself.
That wasn't really me. That was the heart to me.
Yes.
In the safety zone.
I felt it was a safety zone at the time.
I see. So outside of the introduction to heroin, there's there's still some deep rooted hurt and wounds from what happened when you were 14.
(11:21):
Yes. Yes. And as, as you know, when we're wounded in that way, we carry that stain, if you like, on our energy field.
And we will attract more of the same until we can fully heal and release that wound.
(11:42):
Yes. No, that makes that makes a lot of sense. Yeah.
It'll stay with us until we can release it.
And we have to be in a state of mental state of physical state, a spiritual state to have the ability to release it.
Yeah.
So can you share with us just briefly, you know, when and how did you hit rock bottom and then then start to talk with us about the spiritual experience where things start to change for you.
(12:22):
Absolutely. Because that is the most pivotal moment of my whole life.
Yes.
So first of all, like most addicts that there's a lot of denial, it took some time before I even accepted that I wasn't addict.
And then I paid lip service to trying to get off a few times, if you failed attempts.
(12:50):
And is a crazy thing was that paradox that was active in my life, you know, it was almost like I was becoming more successful in one hand, and, you know, falling down this dark spiral and the other simultaneously.
So it became very hard to, you know, let go of the glamour side, which was, you know, earning me money and, you know, giving me all the success to really face up to the addiction side.
(13:23):
So eventually rock bottom came after several of those attempts.
And I made up my mind to cold turkey.
Because nothing else had worked. And I put myself in a position where I couldn't access drugs anymore.
(13:44):
Right.
And it was really a, it was a terrible experience. I have no idea. I remember thinking in the moment, why have I done this? What am I doing?
It was so awful. I wanted indeed attempted to take my own life and failed. Luckily.
(14:09):
Yeah.
And at that point, I'm so I'm in a foreign country, you know, I was just in a mess. So I went out walking.
And I was just walking and walking. I didn't know what to do with myself, where to go, where to seek help.
Nothing. I was just in a terrible state. And I remember the moment very clearly.
(14:37):
I was walking over a wasteland. You know, it was going to become a building site. I'm sure it was just an absolute wasteland.
And I remember the sun coming up in the background. And then just hearing this voice.
And I'm going to say in my head, but I don't even know if that's the right location of it. I heard this voice simply saying, you can be reborn.
(15:09):
But it was a voice with such a thunder, such a, you know, every cell in my body, vibrated and changed. And I knew there was another quality to that voice.
It was something I'd never experienced before. But I knew it was something special. Yes.
(15:32):
And that was the point where my life turned on its heel.
That's absolutely amazing, Vicki. And, and that that voice that thunderous voice telling you, you know, that you can change there is hope.
And it's, I mean, not only did you see it, you felt it right. And it's almost like a, like a trajectory or push.
(16:03):
Yeah, it was a massive direction.
But the call back to life.
That you're safe moving in that direction. Yeah. Yes, back to life, your call back to life. 100%. 100%.
So we were, it must have been the mid 80s. And the belief is, if you were a heroin addict, you were going to die.
(16:29):
That was the belief at that time, you know, you were finished. And to hear that voice was that call back of life. It was just that seed of hope.
Yes. Yes. Vicki, I'm so glad you mentioned that you added that right because that really draws the picture for the listeners of, you know, how deep in rock bottom, you truly were.
(16:58):
And at the time when you were going through it, what was considered from a societal expectation of a heroin addict that they were done.
Yeah. And for you to hear this, this, this thunderous voice at that time with the societal expectations.
(17:20):
I mean, that really, really, that really offers some context and perspective in the significance of what you heard.
That's right. Yeah, this is absolutely amazing. So Vicki, what was, what was your next move?
(17:41):
I mean, many retrograde moves after that. It took me maybe another two, three years to actually, you know, get into recovery.
And I think it just got messier in that interim period. But yet I knew, I knew I was headed somewhere.
(18:05):
I didn't know exactly what that was going to look like. I was very resistant to let go this wonderful life in London.
I knew I would eventually accept it. I would have to do that. But I made several attempts to keep it both going or get clean while still modeling.
(18:28):
And yes, yes. Yeah. Yeah, eventually I realized I have to leave. I have to leave. And I came home here.
I see, I see. And as the old adage goes, right? A lot of times things get worse before they get better. And, and that is in a lot of cases part of the process, right?
(19:02):
Yeah.
This is wonderful. So Vicki, in your memoirs, wanted to know, you know, how has writing your memoirs helped you in the processing and the reflection of all you experienced in your journey, leading up to where you are now?
(19:27):
Yeah. Well, I think writing and sharing my story has been the biggest healing of all, actually.
First of all, writing, I started remembering parts of my life that I thought I'd forgotten. There were pieces that weren't quite fitting together or gaps that I then further explored and managed to join up those dots.
(20:07):
So suddenly, I began to understand my own life and understand myself better than I ever had before.
And of course, with some of the things, you know, I was a nude model and some of the things that I'd done while in London, I was terrified to, you know, expose that to the public.
(20:39):
But the most amazing thing about that is how people receive truth.
I really expected to be trolled and put down and none of that happened. People were inspired. And they could hear the truth.
(21:02):
Absolutely.
It was beautiful. So that was such a healing in itself.
So writing a book was very...
That makes a lot of sense, Vicky.
Yeah.
Oh, man, that's wonderful.
And...
Yeah, no, go ahead. Please go ahead.
(21:26):
Oh, I was just going to say, as you were saying, your story is incredibly inspirational, right?
And you really got to know and understand and rediscover who you are and what you went through at a very intimate level.
(21:47):
And I'm sure you inspired so many other people. Vicky, I must commend you for your bravery in realizing the possibility of being trolled or chastised or maybe in some cases condemned.
But you remained brave and you forged on to write this.
(22:14):
And it was just the opposite that happened. You were... It was very well received.
Yes. And that was the most beautiful thing. And the people writing and saying how it inspired them and how similar things had happened to them.
(22:39):
And they'd never really been able to face it. But when they read my story, then they could face it.
And even people as adults getting out of difficult situations, having read the book, that was just beautiful feedback to receive.
Wow. And for someone to share that type of feedback where they're opening themselves up to you, it's truly heartfelt feedback.
(23:08):
And you really touched them in sharing who you are and what you went through and giving them hope.
That is absolutely remarkable, Vicky.
Now, if you don't mind, I'd love for us to chat about how you are helping others.
(23:30):
What are some of the conditions or diagnoses of your clients that you've helped using NLP and hypnotherapy?
So many things really. Initially, as an NLP practitioner and hypnotherapist, I dealt with a lot of phobias,
(23:58):
dealing with habits like smoking, helping with weight loss, then emotional problems and struggles.
But I think the thing that haunts me as a therapist, if you like, to the niche that I'm in today is clients,
(24:24):
before I ever published the book or even shared, at least professionally, about my past,
I was attracting the kind of client who had gone through simpler things.
And they were saying things to me like, there's something about you that I feel I can tell you this.
(24:48):
Yes, yes.
And I was laughing because they didn't know at that time and the way that inspired me.
So quite often, I get clients now who have gone through something similar, not identical, but a similar path.
(25:09):
Don't know how to get out of the rut that they now find themselves in.
Quite often, they have a spiritual something that they're not quite sure what to do about and would like some guidance with.
And that's very interesting clients to work with, with all those things going on and to help guide them into a path that will help them rediscover themselves.
(25:42):
Right. Yeah. And who better to help guide them than yourself because you've had a spiritual experience.
And, you know, for someone else to have a spiritual experience and not quite sure what to do with it or analyze it or figure out what it means or what direction to move in after experiencing it.
(26:05):
They come and share what they've gone through with you and you can at first hand knowledge can help guide them.
It's absolutely tremendous, Vicki.
Yeah, it's really quite beautiful.
It's funny on the lead up to speaking to you.
I was thinking I never really spoke about my childhood in my book.
(26:29):
I started more or less in my teen years when the trouble started.
I remember my very early childhood and perhaps most of us have these memories of being in a euphoric world.
You could call the trans state.
And I believe that children do begin life in the fetus state, that state of deep relaxation.
(27:00):
And it's almost like you kind of spend your whole lives getting back there.
Yes.
Able to access that wonderful healing zone, as I think of it.
Yes.
The healing zone. That's a great way of putting it.
(27:22):
And as you were saying that I was I visualized what you were saying and I was trying to think, okay, what would this be called?
It is a healing zone.
It truly is.
And you are doing some tremendous work in helping people just improve the quality of their lives with everything from what may some people may think is smaller trivial,
(27:50):
losing weight, quitting smoking.
Those are huge, huge obstacles and they're huge accomplishments.
You know, yeah, absolutely remarkable.
Now, Vicki, how can the listeners connect with you, follow you and and learn more about your great work?
(28:14):
Thank you.
Well, my name is Vicki and it's V-I-C-K-I and my second name is Rebecca, R-E-B-E-C-A.
So my website's VickiRebecca.com and I'm on social media under that name too.
(28:36):
So it's all pretty straightforward.
Just make a search for Vicki Rebecca.
It doesn't get much easier than that.
Yeah, so VickiRebecca.com.
Yes, and you know what?
We will put that in the episode show notes so people can know where to reach out to you, where to learn more about the great work you're doing and following you on social media while listening to this lovely, lovely conversation.
(29:09):
Vicki, I want to thank you so much for coming on the show, chatting with me.
I want to thank you for your flexibility in us getting this conversation going, the video part.
Well, you know, I guess that's just par for the course when it comes to technology.
Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, but we have had a lovely conversation.
(29:32):
I hope you would agree and I hope we could stay in touch and maybe bring you on the show sometime in the near future with video working this time.
That would be absolutely.
I've so enjoyed chatting to you.
It's a never ending subject for me.
So be very happy to chat again.
It's been really a delight.
(29:54):
Well, thank you and I'm going to take you up on that Vicki because there are some, there are some additional questions that I that I that I have.
And therefore, I think therefore a continued conversation.
I think that's the prologue of your book and and and and you know, you're very, very quite descriptive in just just painting the picture of and the dialogue right so.
(30:25):
But yeah, just just some some more some more conversation.
I would truly enjoy in the near future if you're willing.
Brilliant.
Absolutely love that.
Fantastic.
Thanks again for coming on Vicki and I want to thank all of you for tuning in and listening.
And look, you may feel like this at times, but in our daily struggles and adversities, we're never alone.
(30:53):
Hope is always around the corner.
I humbly ask that you please share this show with someone you know someone you love who needs motivation and support.
And when it comes down to it, we're all just roadies on this journey of life.
But it sure feels good having you on the road with me.
Thanks again for listening.
(31:14):
We'll chat again soon.
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