Episode Two - Neuro-spicy & Trauma-aware
"When I got the diagnosis, it was like, all of a sudden so many things made so much sense. I’d always given myself a really hard time.
My choice was to start medication, and that’s been really helpful for me. It almost opened up a whole world of possibilities. I kind of went from feeling like I had to be running all the time, to feeling like I could actually stand still and make some choice’’
Emma Thorp
Rooted in the unique heath and woodland of Ashdown Forest in East Sussex Emma Thorp joins us from her lovingly crafted coaching retreat space; previously owned by the legendary historic figure Tinker Wright. Autumnal shades of gold and orange tinge the air with a kind of shedding before winter.
We trace her roots and conscious explorations to heal her past trauma from a chaotic collective of early childhood experiences with parental conflict, divorce, endless nannies and being bullied at school. Through a corporate career that left her exhausted and ADHD diagnosis that offered a glimmer to understand her habitual thoughts and behaviours. From ancestral trauma, living estranged from her family and autoimmune condition Emma gives us a candid lowdown on how her life and relationship with the natural world has shaped her identity as a human being and coach.
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Listen here.
About
Emma Thorp is an executive coach, retreat host, and founder of Thorp Coaching a practice dedicated to helping leaders think clearly, lead sustainably, and reconnect with what really matters.
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Before retraining as a coach at Henley Business School, Emma spent decades in senior leadership roles, including founding and exiting her own consultancy and serving as Chief Commercial Officer and Board Member at a global life sciences firm. She brings that lived experience into her coaching blending commercial pragmatism with deep, human insight.
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As the only professional coach licensed to work on the Ashdown Forest, Emma runs her Forest Revival Retreats from a purpose-built space nestled within this ancient landscape. Through her coaching and her volunteer work, she helps fund and protect the Forest weaving its natural wisdom into leadership development for individuals and teams.
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An ICF ACC accredited coach and EMCC Senior Practitioner, Emma’s work is described as grounded, intuitive, and refreshingly real. She’s passionate about sustainable leadership, neurodiversity, and the role of embodied and nature-based practice in coaching.
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Website: www.thorpcoaching.com
Insights
Bewitched by the novel...Running with Scissors - Augusten Burroughs (My van is named after him). Because it’s mad and, although my early years weren’t quite this bonkers, it was the first description of a family home I could weirdly relate to.
Inspired by the quote... “We work on ourselves in order to work with others; we work with others in order to work on ourselves” by Pema Chödrön. It reminds me what a privilege it is to be a coach.
Self-described relationship with nature... Nature is my safe space..
Favourite pastimes... Walking in the Forest, taking too many mushroom photos, loving my dog Boggins, walking and rehabilitating rescue dogs, and being weird with friends.
Behind the scenes image... These dogs represent a huge part of who I am. My own dog as well as the dogs I have met and loved volunteering and fostering. Being with dogs is the most grounding and humbling part of my life. Each of these dogs has taught me something about trust, patience, and love.
