Cottonwood Counseling & Coaching

For years, I gained knowledge and enjoyed life coaching podcasts. Whenever I heard a helpful principle or concept while running or doing tasks, I felt enlightened. However, I remained stuck in the same cycles. Frustrated with a particular situation, I thought speaking with a coach individually could provide further insight. After my first session with Emily, I realized the power of expressing my story, thoughts, and perspectives aloud. It was a relief to release my thoughts and beliefs, which were no longer confined to my mind. The experience was both exhilarating and calming. Breaking down my patterns into concepts, with Emily's guidance, was enlightening and refreshing. Emily helped me pinpoint a specific idea or task to focus on after each session, which made the changes less overwhelming. Even when I was unsure of what to discuss, Emily had a way of guiding me through our sessions. Taking care of yourself is the best way to live life fully, without feeling stuck in the mundane motions of everyday life.

Expressing the extent to which Emily Tycksen has improved my life is a challenge. Instead, it would be more impactful if you could witness the transformation. Despite having a support system, I had reservations about working with a life coach, believing it wouldn't be effective. While I had read Tony Robinson's books and listened to his tapes, I didn't think anyone could help me improve. Nevertheless, Emily has exceeded my expectations, doing more than I believed was imaginable. My life took a drastic turn for the worse a year ago when my depression and anxiety hit their peak, making it difficult to leave my bed. Occasionally emerging for a quick meal or exercise, I'd spend the rest of the day holed up in my room. Although I had a few aspirations, I didn't think I could ever achieve them. However, that changed when I met Emily, who made me feel comfortable with my situation and granted me permission to embrace my pain. Her empathy and perceptive insights became the catalysts for my healing. Despite meeting with Emily for just nine months, my life has undergone significant changes. She has enabled me to articulate my aspirations and identify ways to achieve them. But most importantly, she has motivated me to act on my dreams. Since I started working with Emily, I've achieved goals that I had wanted to accomplish for years. For instance, I've gone back to school and have been performing remarkably well, I've embarked on oil painting, and I've accomplished a long-standing goal of running an 18-mile trail run. Emily deserves credit for where I am today- she has helped me live my life truthfully and reach my full potential.

Emily has assisted me in numerous ways to acquire the skills of loving and trusting oneself. She has provided exceptional support and gone out of her way to ensure her clients have access to all the necessary resources. I am grateful for her unwavering faith in my development and her guidance towards making vital modifications in my life. I will always be thankful for her unwavering support.

Collaborating with Emily proved to be the catalyst I required to progress towards recuperation from the agonizing aspects I was trapped in. She demonstrated exceptional listening skills, offered significant perspectives, and assisted me in processing through some arduous and challenging situations by equipping me with practical techniques to thrive. Emily's unwavering understanding of my struggles with my husband's addiction to pornography gave me solace in acknowledging that she comprehends my ordeal like none other. Her compassion, guidance, and encouragement generated an emotionally secure space essential for me to encounter a transformational breakthrough, enabling me to transition towards a more salubrious mindset and eagerly anticipate the future instead of dwelling on past distressing events.

Towards the end of 2020, I began seeking guidance from Emily as a life coach. Alongside the pandemic, I was also dealing with the loss of a loved one and the end of a marriage, which triggered a lot of old thought patterns and emotions associated with body image, projecting masculinity, not feeling adequate, and feeling like there was something wrong with me. As a trans man, I had always felt hypercritical and uncomfortable in my own body. Even though external transition had helped me become more compassionate and self-loving, 2020 pushed me back into my old ways of thinking. Emily approached my situation with compassion and empathy, taking her time to understand how I was feeling. This allowed me to explore my feelings more deeply and address the root of my problems. What I appreciate most about Emily's coaching is that she offers counter thoughts and ideas, giving me a different perspective to consider. She also provided me with actionable tasks for the week, which helped me stay present and mindful. Through coaching with Emily, I have seen a significant improvement in my confidence, self-image, ability to set boundaries, and overall perspective. I am very grateful for her support as my coach during the tumultuous time that I went through, and I still value her guidance today.