Client Stories - Caroline Layton

Caroline Layton is a GIS (Geographic Information System) consultant, a modern-day cartographer creating maps on a computer. Based in Southampton, she also coaches at her local archery club. 

She said of her Mid Life Thriving Fundamentals experience: “To choose a word that sums up my experience on Mid Life Thriving Fundamentals, I’m going to open up here and go with life-saving, and the reason I’m going to go with that is that I’ve made some significant suicide attempts in the past. I’ve been through so much CBT and anti-depressants and none of it worked. I’d got to the point where most of my friends had fallen away, my family didn’t know what to do with me and I reached out to Erica and said ‘I’ve got to have some kind of help’.” 

“I used to have really severe panic attacks and I don’t do that at all anymore; don't even come close. So, in my opinion, this programme should be marketed as life skills for everyone because the things you learn on this course have been transformative for me and I could see how they would benefit absolutely anyone.” 

At 34, upon joining the 13-week online course, Caroline was the youngest individual on the first ever iteration of Mid Life Thriving Fundamentals. She went on: “I relied heavily on the bank of mum and dad, I am going to have to admit, but it has paid off, and I actually credit one of my fellow group members, Alex who does job coaching, as one of the people that’s helped me get a new job with a significant pay rise. Working in a group with so many people from all walks of life has been really incredible.”

“Working remotely in Mid Life Thriving (MLT) was also kind of nice. It is really interesting because in our group we worked quite closely together in our sessions and yet we have never actually physically met." 

“It’s certainly also led me to a greater appreciation, and I’m sure other members of my group would agree, of what we have in life. That probably encompasses everything. You know, I got my new job; I’ve gone and done things that I wouldn’t have been able to do. I’ve been using the app you get access to as part of Mid Life Thriving Fundamentals for 11 months now and I still really like using it.” 

Over a year later Caroline is still putting in the work and practices the techniques she’s learned daily. “I’m still on the app using it to log my progress, I am a millennial after all and don't you dare take my phone from me. I am still learning what works for me and how I do things best but that’s no longer a massive mountain to climb. Without Erica that would have been impossible but now it’s something I can do on my tea break. I am so much stronger that I was 2 years ago and I can't see myself ever going back to how I was.”