My life has been like a roller coaster; one which has been scary, confusing, frustrating and admittedly very lonely at times. There I was, living in my perfect little bubble with my two beautiful kids, in our beautiful home, happily married to my childhood sweetheart; then as if in a puff of smoke it was gone. I think I’d been wearing rose tinted glasses for so long that I was blind to the fact that my marriage had run its course. Those times in my mind now resemble a dark, heavy fog, weighing down on me. I couldn’t see clearly, I couldn’t think clearly, and even though I knew it was happening to me it almost felt like I was having an outer body experience - watching myself from afar but not being able to reach out and help. For the first time in my life I felt completely lost and I seriously can’t put into words how scared I felt. I had my two adorable kids depending on me to be brave but inside I was falling apart.

Even now I can’t find the words to describe my divorce. I remember feeling so incredibly sad, but also bizarrely relieved at the same time. Unfortunately during this time I was also dealing with unwelcome attention from a stalker, he followed my every move… I spent months hiding behind closed doors until eventually he was arrested.

For a long while I was on auto pilot mode, existing but not living. I didn’t realise at the time but somehow, somewhere along the way, I’d lost who I was and I didn’t have a clue how to find myself.  It took time, a lot of courage and many sleepless nights, but slowly I began to venture back out into the world to try new things.

Then came an episode in my life which completely broke me - and in all honestly that’s most definitely an understatement. It was during this time that I decided that if I could take the worst pain that I’ve ever experienced and turn it into a positive by helping others, then my broken state would not have been in vain.

With that in mind I set myself on a new path. I immersed myself into training with a prestigious academy based in Harley St, London, and gained accreditation and certification in Life Coaching. I worked hard and went on to gain diplomas in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) for Depression, Anxiety and Phobias, Addiction Therapy and Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT). I also have a vast background in education, in both primary and adult.

There isn’t any book offering instructions on how to cope with a broken relationship, a broken heart, a broken you… No book available on rebuilding your life, coping with loneliness or being stuck and clueless as to how to move forward… at least no book written specifically for you and your own individual needs.

For each and every one of my clients I go above and beyond. I strive to be the Life Coach I would have wanted in my hour of need.

Karen Withers, Life Coach

A MONTH FROM NOW