I received this testimonial some time ago from a client. It’s lovely to be told what people are really thinking. Such honesty. Here’s the story. Enjoy.

'About two years ago, I first contacted Ann after reading an article in the Irish Times about her coaching business. I availed of the free session she offered, and thought about going ahead with coaching. I had just been through a traumatic event, was feeling very vulnerable and decided against going ahead. However, I continued to receive her e-mails, and every time I'd read them, I'd threaten to unsubscribe, they were so annoying. All positive thinking, all happy, happy stuff, all up there as far as I was concerned. But I didn't unsubscribe, for some reason. I chose to keep the link with her by allowing these e-mails into my life - much and all as I hated them. I have to admit that I also thought to myself, bloody hell, 3 sessions for €400, and regularly calculated in my head how much annual income this would generate on a 40-hour week annual basis.

All along I knew I wanted to change things in my life. I tried doing it on my own, and I succeeded in achieving huge change. But it was a long lonely journey, snatching support from friends and family, when they had the time. Then one day, a few weeks ago, I decided to risk €400. What the hell, it wasn't going to break the bank, and I would see for myself what it was all about. I might learn how to earn €400 for 120 minutes work, and sure that would be great!

I arranged my complimentary session, and went on then to commit to one month, or maybe two at a push. It was when I received the welcome pack that I realised the power that could be released. The questions forced me to think about my life, about what I really, really wanted from it. This was no 40 minutes on the 'phone. The energy of Ann's coaching stayed with me for the rest of the week.

I was all over the place. There was a very long, long list of what I wanted. I was asked to choose the most important. Bloody hell, I could no longer get away with wishful thinking - this had to be actionable!

Over the next few sessions, The Sheep - previously scattered all over the field, began to converge near the pen I wanted to put them in. Opportunities that were probably always there became clearer. And most surprising of all to me, the world began to work with me.

I wanted to re-organise all the admin work that bogs me down; through talking it through, I found solutions. A new PC was acquired to replace the clapped out, virus ridden ten year old yoke I'd been plodding along with. The suppliers threw in a free mouse!

A new bank was needed, the changeover of all the DD's and SO's loomed large, but the kindly new bank manager agreed to sort all that out. My invoicing and payment system was simplified; everything slowly but surely is coming together, making me feel more in control and ready for the next phase of the plan.

I was under-charging for my services, and believe it or not, my client offered to pay me more. Next time I'll simply ask for more. I have wanted to write a book, and been working on it for the past 15 years; yesterday, I was asked by someone to write the book and they will pay me for writing it. Its like a domino set, all falling into place.

And the negative thoughts were allowed too. It's not all happy, happy stuff at all. How I was feeling mattered to Ann. One day I cried my way through a session over a broken relationship. It was the end of a long road for me, and I was still carrying a lot of grief. Ann allowed and encouraged the painful stuff and airing it really helped me.

After the good cry, I opened my e-mail. Would you believe, the person I ended with had e-mailed me, offering to meet to sort things out? I realised for the first time that I no longer needed this. It didn't hurt hearing from them. It was well and truly over, and I can now get on with my life.

I don't think the rest will be easy. But it's great crack in a way, watching how it can all happen for me with the right support. It's not the 40 minutes, its what I can do with that in the rest of the week that counts. Its not her time she sells, its her energy, her skill, her enthusiasm. And it’s a great laugh too! ' TG - Donegal