Emma McAuliffe's journey to becoming a life coach in the Riverina

Emma McAuliffe decided to become a life coach after conquering her battles with physical and mental health.

"Four years ago I was suffering from a debilitating medical condition where I was a cripple," she said.

"That was the label I was given, and I was on lots of painkillers and medications to that.

"Prior to that, I had a very troubled young adulthood with struggles with mental health and suicide ideation as well."

Ms McAuliffe decided that she needed to make changes, and she needed to make them fast but could not find the help that suited the issues she was struggling with,

"The help that I was getting was not cutting the mustard. There were services there, but they were not treating me in a holistic sense," she said.

"There was nobody I knew who would look at the whole lot such as mental health, my lifestyle and emotions.

"I could not find anyone that I connected with, so I decided to study it."

Ms McAuliffe had been told that she would end up in a wheelchair, and she decided that even if that happened, she would still be able to help people.

Throughout her studies, Ms McAuliffe learnt about life coaching and fell in love with the "solution-based" aspect of it.

"I am obviously not in a wheelchair now, and it took a lot of work on myself, I had to look inward," she said.

"When you are in that place, it is hard to look outside the dark tunnel as I think a lot of people would understand.

"I also had to look at some alternative options, and I was very sceptical at first, but then I thought 'what is the worst thing that can happen'. Through that, I was able to connect with some people that had experience with my condition."

Ms McAuliffe said the mores she learnt about the mind-body connection, the more she realised how to help herself.

To overcome her symptoms, she completed rehabilitation, changed eating habits, went to see a kinesiologist regularly and did some counselling.

Now Ms McAuliffe has started her own business to help give people something she never had access to.

"The business I have created is Health Retreat home, and I create that retreat environment in people's homes," she said.

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"I would have loved to have ducked away to a retreat and get the help I needed, but I could not afford it as I was on Centrelink.

"It is also not always feasible and affordable to go away for six weeks, and home can be the trigger for many, so affordable, accessible and effective options are my mission."

Ms McAuliffe will also be hosting two free sessions to help give back to the community.

"They will cover stress management, understanding emotions, goal setting, making and breaking habits as well as information on natural pain management methods," she said.

For more information on the Wagga, session click here, for more details on the Junee session, click here.