You can’t buy life experience
Emma Roache - GMBPsS, MSc Psych Conv, BSc (Hons), MCC
Master Certified Coach with the ICF - Heart led coaching, based in science, delivered with love! Helping people who dare to be different to find clarity, happiness and live life with purpose, on purpose.
This feels like quite a brave post for LinkedIn, but I believe in walking the walk, as well as talking the talk and when I made a similar post on my private social media on Friday, I received an overwhelming response and realised just how many people it resonated with.
I love to work with leaders who have experienced trauma and help them be happier, it's what I do. However, for that to happen, they need to know I have experienced my fair share of trauma too and, as well as being a professional certified coach, this is what makes them feel safe, comfortable and understood. It means they can fully open up about the things that have been playing on their mind, which only a very few can understand. So here goes, a slightly modified version of my original post.
'Cheers to me! And before you read on, this is not a woe is me post, that’s not what I’m about, it’s more of a wow is me and I hope it inspires others too!
Today marked 25yrs since my life changed forever, since the person who gave birth to me, who never treated me very nicely, decided to kick me out of home and never speak to me again…
I’ve no idea why and I’ve accepted I never will. The decision she made that day has shaped my life. There have been many other traumatic experiences which many of you will know about, challenges some people never will never face, ones I’ve often had to face alone. It’s taught me to be strong and resilient, as well as having a gentleness and empathy which can never be taught…
Most people will have no idea how it feels, and for that I am grateful, I wouldn’t wish it on anyone, however not being understood, is also very challenging at times, but I understand that too. My experiences led me to my degree, studying, society, behaviours and childhood trauma, looking to find some deeper level of understanding…
My experiences have also led me to my career, alongside my training, and make me very good at what I do, in both my private practice and my social enterprise, it means I can support others in a way they’ve never been supported before and for that I am grateful. I’d not have chosen this to happen to me, but I make it my mission to turn it into a positive, for me, for those I support in my work and for those I can reach by raising awareness.
This kind of trauma never goes away, but it is something we can learn to live with, to find ways to over come, even this week I discovered something where she still tries to hurt me, to twist the knife one more time, I have no idea what motivates her, but I sure know what motivates me and that is to be the best person I can be, to be the happiest I can be and to support others to do the same!
So again I’ll say cheers to me! And for those going through tough stuff right now, things do get better, things do improve and you do deserve to be happy, and that seems unachievable right now, then do reach out for support in whatever way works for you.’
If this resonated with you the way it resonated with people when I first posted it and you are wondering if coaching could help, please do leave a comment or drop me a message, I work with many people who have experienced childhood trauma and helped them to find happiness again.
Until next time,
Emma
Energy consultant identifying and delivering real Energy savings through energy auditing and improved energy performance
4yAbsolutely, you can't replace time in the field
Storytelling Expert | Strategic Communications, Leadership Development
4yHere's to you and the brave work you do. Here's to walking the walk! Nicely done.
Bids and Tender Writer at The Benjamin Foundation
4yA very hearty Cheers to You, Emma Roache. I know a goodly number of folks who do what they do in the hope that it means someone else doesn't have to go through what they did, or can be helped to see a new path and brighter future if they already have. I've seen coaching serve as a real compass for people to guide business and personal decisions through what can sometimes be a thick psychological fog originating in the hidden valleys of their past experiences. And now you raise it, I realise there is much to be said for engaging a trauma informed coach for those who need that. Are you aware of anyone providing coaching training with a trauma informed component? It's been a while since I did my ILM Level 7, and it was not a major topic then, though much was covered on the relational nature of coaching work, and the need for good coaching supervision - all positive stuff. There is much more attention on working trauma informed these days on lots of fronts, especially children and families work, and that is a good thing. Safety in coaching, for client and coach, also very important of course, and it feels like trauma awareness would be something worth building into coach training and practice development, or otherwise accessing, so thought I would ask you. I know a couple of people who would find that of interest in their coaching practice development.