Since working with Emilie I have, for the first time in my entire working career (25 years) money left in my bank account from my wages. It’s the end of the month, (I get paid monthly) and I get paid in three days. I have enough left until then to meet my friend for lunch and go to the cinema.

Since working with Emilie I have started to lose the ‘all or nothing’ attitude that I have had to money. This too has spilled over into other areas of my life. My alcohol consumption has reduced as I feel a lot less inclined to finish the bottle once opened and I am better able to stick to my healthy eating plan, as there is a lot less whole cakes being eaten! It turns out, that for me one slice or even a half slice is enough!

As a result of having money left and learning to spend within my means, I am sleeping better, my levels of anxiety have reduced and I am learning to live in the present, no longer wishing away the time until the next paycheque. I am able to concentrate more at work, as I am not thinking about what I want to buy.  3 most significant outcomes or results I´ve experienced since starting the coaching sessions:

1. freedom from living in the future, I am beginning to live a lot more in the present.

2. I’m less selfish, because I have more headspace to think about what others want. I’m not thinking about the ‘must have’ new dress that I need to own and figuring out which credit card has enough money on it to pay for it.

3. I’m more content and better able to appreciate what I have got.

Thanks to Emilie’s coaching, I have realised that I do have the ability to budget and plan, that I can afford all the things that I want, but that I don’t have to buy them all in one day! This has meant that I am much more relaxed and calm and better tempered. I’m not stressed out all the time worrying about money. It’s a relief.

My relationship with my husband has improved. I have been able to pay for things that usually we would both expect him to pay for. He has been happier as a result and felt more valued. I have increased my feeling of self-worth and value myself more.

My relationship with money is becoming healthier and it no longer makes me feel bad. That bad’ feeling is no longer hanging about seeping in to other areas of my life and feeding my need to spend money in order to fill a whole. It was like a cycle that I couldn’t stop but now I am learning how to stop it and change it forever.

Working with Emile has been amazing. I have felt safe at all times knowing that Emile is there and is not judging me. She is very patient and gives me time to find my own answers, never putting her own ideas on to mine. Emilie is always the professional tool, never colluding with me.

For me Emilie can keep the mood light and humorous when I need it and allows me to explore my challenges in a safe space. She is very experienced and knows when to push ‘and what else’ and when to pull back.

Emilie is an amazing coach!

Name: Maddie Stark
Age: 44
Occupation: Development worker in the not-for-profit sector.
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland.