ExPhysEm | Postural Tachycardia Syndrome | Dysautonomia | Hypermobility | Ehlers Danlos Syndrome | Fatigue | Autism | ADHD

As a parent of an 18 year old newly diagnosed with ME/CFS and POTS, meeting Emily was like finding an "educated angel" in the whirlwind of unknowns and misinformation. My daughter was meant to be going to University and instead we found ourselves navigating the most complex illness I've ever encountered. Attending appointments with Drs and specialists who knew very little about what was happening was often distressing, so finding Emily was truly life saving. We found a safe, informed, knowledgeable and compassionate practitioner.. with lived experience!

Emily included me in every session so I also had access to the information to support my daughter. I have so much gratitude for this inclusion as it helped me feel supported and informed .. when so many days I spent alone caring for an illness I knew very little about .. and wondering if I knew everything I needed to know! Emily's grounded knowledge and reassurance eased this worry greatly. In those months and years of being isolated at home .. Emily's sessions became something my daughter and I really looked forward to!

Emily's lived experience is priceless. Her generosity in sharing this with us gave us hope and she normalised many of the challenges of losing friends, dreams, pre ME goals and the life my daughter (and I) had planned. Hearing Emily's story gave us both hope .. and the information needed.. for better days and new goals.

I can't express my gratitude for finding Emily. For her dedication to this illness, her level of education around the complexities of living with a chronic illness like ME/CFS and POTS and her level of compassion ... and her ability to answer my 100 questions !

Thank you so much Emily I highly recommend you to any parent and child/young person living this illness. You truly are an angel.

Michelle, NSW Australia

I had absolutely zero idea what Em did when I came to her. I was extremely ill, desperate and scared with how close I was edging to giving up completely. But my marvelous POTS specialist had recommended her and that alone was good enough for me. I had little hope if I am honest though - I was suffering with autoimmune Hashimotos, POTS, ME/CFS and various other chronic health conditions that had gradually robbed me of everything that made me, me. I was very lost.

What I found was an incredible professional who has changed my world and has done so with endless kindness, compassion, and deep understanding, and so it is impossible for me to write about Em without a degree of gush.

First and foremost - Em GETS it. As a chronic illness sufferer herself she has already walked the path that she is guiding us on. There is no having to waste precious energy and spoons explaining everything to her.

Additionally, everything is presented in such a way that even on my brain foggiest and "away-with-the-fairies'" days I could get it. And everything we covered gets sent after the session so that even if I missed something I could go over it again when I was less fatigued or unwell and then refer back to it as and when I needed to refresh the concept or ask questions. The diagrams and pictures also make digestion of the information so much easier.

Em's calmness and gentleness while explaining the "whys" and "how's" also gave me an extra chance of not getting overloaded. And, perhaps just as importantly, Em's sunny character and sense of humor allowed me to find smiles and laughter in the sessions during some of my darkest times.

With Em's gentle guidance and deep knowledge, I have arrived at a place of awareness and acceptance that has given me a sense of confident self-empowerment. Thanks to Em I feel I have a well-equipped toolbox to move forward and live the best life I can. I feel I can navigate the pitfalls and have strategies in place for when I have set-backs and harder times.

The levels of gratitude I have for who Em is as a human being and what she does as a highly talented professional are enormous.

Deneice, England

Meeting Emily when was at my most unwell (PoTS & ME) was life-changing for me. Em not only teaches you about your illness/disability but teaches you how to use this information for yourself uniquely. When I first began working with Em, I was physically and mentally exhausted and ready to give up and give in - but she understood this with compassion and paced me through learning fundamental knowledge to help me help myself. Em has also found ways to share important but complicated medical information in ways that I could understand and process when I was tired, unwell and it was difficult to focus.

Em knows how important all of this is because she lives with illness herself. She understands what we are experiencing at our most difficult times and how to begin to move out of this place with honesty and with care.

Em has helped me to find my own unique way to live with symptoms daily, on the good and the not-so-good days, and to advocate for myself. She has supported my journey toward pursuing my Ph.D. - a journey which I am now a year and a half into. This was something I thought was not going to be possible for me - but I understand my illness so much more now after meeting and working with Em that I feel I can try things and live more sustainably with my illness. This change in perspective and toward living is a gift.

Thank you so much Em xo

Ali, VIC Australia

I am so glad I made the decision to work with Em. I understand the physiology of my condition so much more and this has helped me live with more confidence and more self compassion. I know what to do to be as well as possible and she has given me the understanding and tools to do this. When life throws me curve balls, which it inevitably does, I find I can them navigate them with confidence. I feel steadier in my energy and this steadiness has created more energy. I know how to interpret and respond to my body's messages and self correct if I go off track. I feel confident that I know what to do and am increasing my exercise, strength and stamina in sustainable steps.

Emily's calm assurance, her glowing energy and enthusiasm have been inspirational. I like that she truly 'gets it'. I like how she structured each call with some learning, with useful handouts and graphics, and time for me to ask questions too. Before I worked with her I was pretty sure I understood my condition, having done everything on offer on the NHS and much more besides, but I have learned so much more and all of it useful.

I think the overall lesson she has taught me is that living with a chronic illness can be more about the living than the chronic illness. I'm now able to focus on life and it feels full of possibilities again. ❤️

Kate, England

Emily's empathetic, inclusive nature is an asset to her work as an Exercise Physiologist.
Throughout undertaking LGBTQIA+ Inclusion Training Emily displayed an intuitive understanding of the experience for our Rainbow Community, that I have no doubt would transpire into inclusive practices whilst consulting with them. An inclusive approach such as this, is key to ensuring our community feels safe, accepted and included. Emily comes highly recommended by us at 'With Pride' for any future clients, particularly those in our LGBTQIA+ Community.

Shae, With Pride, VIC Australia

I was diagnosed with POTS in January 2021. At the time of diagnosis I was given very brief advice about electrolytes, avoiding prolonged standing and then left to my own devices, I could find little or no support on how to manage POTs from the Irish health care system. I had tried to muddle through using my own research to manage my condition with limited success.

After contracting COVID in August 2021 my symptoms got so much worse. I then started working with Emily and her knowledge of management strategies for POTS and related conditions has been so beneficial. Very quickly I had improved sleep and now have good tools to better manage my condition. Emily is understanding of my condition and has worked empathetically with me through the ups and downs that come with POTS and CFS.

I wish I had found Emily sooner after my POTS diagnosis as there are a lot of strategies that I could have employed earlier and could have managed setbacks like COVID much better.

Lisa, Southern Ireland

Em supported me to make sustainable movement changes in my daily life that felt achievable and were relevant to my goals and interests. Sessions with Em improved my quality of life not just through physical therapy but also by giving me something to look forward to. I felt like I had control over the direction that our sessions went in. I felt comfortable to tell Em when I was having a hard day - she'd adapt the session to my abilities on the day and I'd always leave feeling better.

Beck, VIC Australia

As a Chartered Physiotherapist working with similar clients, I was thrilled to be introduced to Emily. The unique combination of her qualifications and personal lived experience mean that she is ideally placed to work with those seeking to gain a full understanding of their exercise/fatigue management.

It can be really difficult to make sense of all of the advice and information circulating on these subjects, especially now in the post COVID era, so I have no hesitation in recommending Emily as an expert in her field, if you are seeking the best guidance for your recovery.

Chartered Physiotherapist, Southern Ireland

Emily's sessions have been extremely useful and reassuring. I feel chilled out during the appointments, and I know it`s Em's job as my Doctor and Specialist, but I appreciate the calming presence.

I find it very inspiring how well Em is doing and how much she's achieved while living with these conditions herself, it takes guts and strength so it really gives me a load of confidence and motivation that things can always improve and this gives me hope. I have the upmost respect and awe for Em and all she's done and still doing despite everything, and the way she gives me and the others such great insights. It really changes lives round completely.

I feel like my life is back on track again, I feel independent again, I am back on the right path and I know my worth.

Andy, England