What kind of work do you do?
Sophie: I am multi-skilled and have found that all my jobs, life experience and skills have led me to creating my new found passion – of empowering women to want better when in an unhealthy relationship, especially where children are at the centre of the struggle. I work as a hairdresser from home, I have some rental properties, I am an author and am growing my online business of coaching women who need help. I am also a very involved mum of sporty twin boys aged 12 that I adore and love to be there for them as much as I can.
Kelly: I work with individuals and couples struggling with inner conflict/pain/sadness. I am passionate about assisting people to heal themselves or their relationship. I have been a therapist for over 10 years now and find it to be very rewarding and wonderful work. I am also recently a Certified Imago therapist. Imago Relationship Therapy is a form of relationship and couples therapy that focuses on relational counseling to transform any conflict between couples into opportunities for healing and growth. I am very passionate about this therapy and have seen its amazing effect and rewards for couples!
You are a published author, tell us all about your book!
Our book is so much wrapped up in to one, it is a story to relate with about unhealthy love, to connect and feel like you are heard and matter, it is a resource with powerful information, it is a guide to measure your worth in your relationship and it challenges and strengthens what you already know. It helps turn the lightbulb on in your brain which may have been dimmed or even off for a while. It will help with trusting your gut with your partner or future relationships.
What inspired you to write it?
A year after my marriage ending I was still trying to understand everything and began journaling, I would show my sister (the University degree person and professional counsellor) and she would tweak, encourage or challenge me on what I had wrote. It developed from there.
I knew there would be many other women struggling with the pain, shame and conflict of a toxic relationship, and I wanted to help and empower them.
What did you enjoy most about the writing process?
Seeing it develop and become a book to really help someone. Watching it progress from my journaling, to a resource that I am very proud of. The amazing people I have met along the way who have encouraged and inspired us!
What was the most exciting moment after it was published?
Seeing people’s desire to want to read it when they hold the physical book in their hands or even read the cover name – “Is love enough?” Our cover design is an actual painting from a local artist in New Zealand and the painting is in Kelly’s lounge at home. It is of a couple holding a big heart shaped balloon, can they hold on to it, or do they need to let go?
What do you hope readers will takeaway?
A sense of sharing an experience with other women who totally understand how they feel and the choices they have made. The knowledge of understanding healthy and toxic love. But most importantly the change to empowerment, self worth and self love and knowing what you will accept for yourself. That you can change your world (and your children’s) by choosing to be around kind, respectful loving people that value you and your inner beauty.
