Introducing Emily Walker: Resilience and Wellbeing Coach, Trainer, and Coach Supervisor
In this edition of Journeys in Coaching, we sit down with Emily Walker, a resilience and wellbeing coach, coach supervisor, and long-time trainer with Animas. Emily’s work is rooted in a deep commitment to wellbeing and self-discovery, spanning over 3,000 hours of one-to-one coaching and 2,000 hours of facilitation across workshops, courses, and retreats. As a trainer for Animas since 2015, Emily has supported many coaches through a multitude of courses over the past decade.
Originally trained as a Montessori teacher, Emily brings an ethos of discovery and independence to her coaching practice. This foundation has shaped her holistic approach to wellbeing, drawing on techniques from mindfulness, meditation, and Reiki to empower clients in navigating life’s challenges. “At the heart of my work, I aim to bring space and peace into people’s lives,” Emily explains, “so that they can see what truly serves them and let go of what doesn’t”.
Early Beginnings: From Montessori Education to Wellbeing Coaching
Emily’s journey into coaching began in education, where she started as a Montessori teacher, inspired by the student-centred ethos of fostering independence. “The Montessori approach is all about creating a space for children to explore and develop at their own pace,” Emily shares. This principle became the cornerstone of her approach to coaching, where creating space for self-reflection and personal growth remains central.
Emily transitioned into wellbeing coaching as her career progressed, taking on roles as a meditation programme coordinator, wellbeing coach, and acupressure therapist. This diverse background allowed her to explore various ways of supporting wellbeing, particularly for individuals facing stress, anxiety, or a lack of direction. “So much of my early work was about helping people reconnect with themselves, understanding what they needed to feel balanced and empowered,” she reflects.
Coaching for Resilience and Wellbeing
Today, Emily’s work as a resilience and wellbeing coach focuses on helping clients manage stress, anxiety, and life’s inevitable transitions. Her approach combines mindfulness, bodywork, and reflective practices. “The people I work with are often carrying a high level of stress, which shows up in their behaviour, language, and even physical health,” Emily explains. She highlights how critical it is to address stress and wellbeing before clients can begin to move forward.
“Resilience became a big theme for me, especially after experiencing my own challenges,” Emily shares, reflecting on her own personal journey through life’s ups and downs, including the profound experience of losing her son. “Resilience is about more than just coping—it’s about building the strength to thrive even when faced with difficulties.” Emily often introduces mindfulness and gratitude practices to help clients cultivate resilience, focusing on what brings meaning and joy, even in difficult times.
Evolving as a Coach: From Tools to Intuition
Over the years, Emily’s approach to coaching has evolved significantly. When she began, her focus was largely on techniques and tools. However, her experience has led her to take a more intuitive approach. “It’s about being fully present with your clients and tuning into their needs in the moment,” she explains.
Emily describes the shift as moving from a technical mindset to one rooted in presence and intuition. “Coaching is about more than tools and techniques; it’s about noticing subtle cues, being open to what emerges, and using that intuition to guide the conversation,” she says. This focus on presence allows her to create a safe and reflective space for her clients to explore their own self-awareness and growth.
Learning and Growing with Animas
Emily’s coaching journey was significantly shaped by her training with Animas, where she not only developed foundational skills but also found a supportive community. “Animas introduced me to a coaching approach that values presence and authenticity,” she reflects. Joining Animas in 2015, Emily co-created the Certificate in Mindfulness Coaching programme, which soon became a cornerstone of her work.
Emily describes Animas as a place that fosters both personal and professional growth, with a diverse community of coaches sharing insights from all backgrounds. “What I value most is the relational aspect,” she shares. “Animas isn’t just a training organisation; it’s a space where coaches continue to support and learn from each other long after they qualify.”
Emily believes that her work with Animas also deepened her understanding of the importance of self-compassion and presence in coaching. “It was through Animas that I discovered how to show up fully for my clients, holding space in a way that feels both supportive and empowering,” she explains. This experience has enriched her coaching style, enabling her to create a safe and reflective space for her clients to explore and grow.
The Power of the Enneagram: Self-Awareness and Growth
One of the tools that Emily incorporates into her work is the Enneagram, a personality framework that highlights patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving. She finds it invaluable for increasing self-awareness, helping clients understand not just who they are, but also how they respond to life’s highs and lows. “The Enneagram isn’t about boxing people in—it’s about giving them insight into how they show up on good days and bad, and how they can grow,” she explains.
Unlike other personality tests, Emily finds the Enneagram fosters self-reflection and personal development, rather than just labelling. “It can almost ‘fast-track’ the sessions by bringing that self-awareness front and centre,” she says. Once clients understand their personality type, they can begin exploring ways to integrate different qualities, moving towards a fuller version of themselves. “It’s a profound tool for development, and for those who resonate with it, the Enneagram can open doors to significant transformation,” she adds.
Practising What She Preaches: Emily’s Journey with Wellbeing and Resilience
Emily’s approach to coaching is deeply informed by her own experiences of loss and transformation. Reflecting on her journey, she shares how her commitment to practices like gratitude and self-compassion has supported her through life’s most challenging moments. “We practise gratitude every single day as a way of shifting the neural pathways to focus on what is good and what we can feel thankful for,” she explains. Emily and her husband began a gratitude practice before her son’s passing, which proved invaluable in navigating the grief that followed.
“Grief taught me that life is short, and it’s here to be valued and lived joyfully,” she shares. This perspective has become the foundation of her work in resilience coaching, where she encourages clients to find purpose and presence in everyday life. Emily also speaks openly about self-compassion, recognising that for many, it requires a conscious shift away from the harsh inner critic. “We need to be our own best friend,” she says, “treating ourselves with kindness because we’re with ourselves our whole lives.” Her approach emphasises the power of self-compassion in creating lasting resilience.
Coaching Leaders in Self-Compassion and Empathy
Alongside her one-to-one work, Emily also coaches leaders, helping them cultivate empathy and self-compassion—qualities she believes are essential for effective leadership. “Empathy is fundamental. Leaders who connect with their teams through empathy create trust and respect,” she says. Emily encourages leaders to start by building self-awareness and examining their relationship with themselves, as this forms the basis for compassionate leadership.
“Leadership begins with self-leadership,” Emily explains. Through tools like transactional analysis, she helps clients understand their own communication styles and inner narratives. For Emily, self-compassion isn’t just a concept; it’s a practice that allows leaders to connect authentically with their teams and create a supportive work environment.
A New Chapter: Life on the Farm and Future Retreats
Recently, Emily’s life took a new direction with her move to a farm in West Dorset, where she plans to offer retreats and wellbeing workshops. Describing the move as both intuitive and transformative, she shares how the land itself has become part of her work. “It’s a healing space,” she says. “There’s a unique magic here that everyone who visits seems to feel.”
Emily’s vision is to create a space where people can disconnect from daily pressures and reconnect with themselves. She plans to run retreats that combine mindfulness, coaching, and therapeutic practices, supported by the natural beauty of the surroundings. “This space will offer people a chance to step away, reflect, and heal,” she explains. With her husband, a sound therapist and woodcarver, Emily envisions a retreat centre where people can immerse themselves in wellbeing practices and rediscover their inner peace.
Advice for Aspiring Coaches: Following Your Passion
Emily encourages new coaches who are looking to expand their skill sets to follow their instincts and pursue practices that resonate with them personally. “Choose what you’re passionate about,” she advises. She shares how practices like mindfulness, the Enneagram, and Reiki became part of her journey only after she spent time exploring what truly interested her. “If you’re drawn to something, let it sit, explore it, and if it sticks, go for it,” she says.
Emily also emphasises clarity when combining modalities, advising coaches to be transparent with clients about what they are offering. “It’s important to have a clear offer for your clients, in order to create a safe and empowering environment for growth” she notes.
Final Thoughts
Emily’s coaching practice is a testament to the power of resilience, presence, and self-compassion. Her work, from one-to-one sessions to group facilitation and retreats, reflects her belief in creating space for self-awareness and growth. As she embarks on this new chapter on her Dorset farm, Emily continues to inspire others to find peace and purpose in their lives.
For those interested in learning more or attending a retreat, Emily can be reached via her website, emilywellbeing.co.uk, or through her campsite website, oldbidlakefarm.co.uk, in West Dorset.
