About Me
Hi, I’m Emily. I’m an American living in the Netherlands, an introvert who is fascinated by people, and a holistic money coach.
I found my way to this work through two longtime passions: personal finance and personal development. It took me years to realize they were deeply connected.
It Started with Money
My own relationship with money began as a joyous one. As a child, I loved collecting and counting the cash I received for weekly allowance and special occasions, and deciding for myself how to spend it (mostly on candy bars, pizza and the occasional cassette tape).
The joy continued when I opened my first credit card in college. No more sitting in my dorm room between paydays while my friends were out having fun. Suddenly I had money on demand!
My relationship with money turned sour when my minimum monthly credit card payment grew to exceed my entire bank balance when I was in my mid-20s. Panicked, I binged on money management books and made a plan. Although I paid off my debt within a few years, my anxiety remained. I kept reading, kept researching, kept trying to know enough…all in the hope that I would finally feel secure.
“I tried to understand my money behaviors by reading books and doing exercises. But working with Emily, I learned 20x more about myself than I did when I worked on my own. ”
Personal Finance Meets Personal Development
After working in fundraising research and grant writing for over ten years, my incessant drive to know more about money led me to consider a career as a financial planner. I was nearing the end of a master’s degree in personal financial planning when something struck me. I had all the financial knowledge I needed to make solid, wise decisions with money. I was also confident that I could advise future clients. Yet my own relationship with money remained stubbornly insecure.
I was this close to becoming a financial planner, when I realized that this knowledge could never help me — and others like me — resolve issues that go far deeper than a spreadsheet. In our classes, we discussed investment strategies to grow wealth, but never discussed why for some people, no amount of money could ever make them feel secure. We calculated ideal savings rates but never explored why some people can’t save despite genuinely trying.
The emotional and psychological side of money was entirely absent. And I knew that missing piece was crucial to financial wellbeing.
So as I finished my degree, I dove deep into my own relationship with money. I trained as a Certified Money Coach (CMC)®, where I learned how money intersects with every area of our lives. I also received coaching myself. For the first time, I could see and feel the connections between my money patterns and my early life experiences. This unlocked understanding and healing that continues to unfold years later.
Deepening My Knowledge of Healing
My approach has evolved since I starting coaching in 2019. The people I work with continue teach me so much about the depth of our relationship with money. How it reaches far back into early childhood and branches out to our core needs. I have also become deeply curious about the how healing and change occur. Why do some insights lead to change while others do not? These ponderings led me to study and incorporate techniques from trauma-informed coaching, IFS parts work, Memory Reconsolidation and Interpersonal Neurobiology. This has resulted in deeper healing and permanent change for many clients, as well as for myself.
My aim is helping you develop a more peaceful relationship with money and with yourself.
Trainings and Certifications
• Master’s Degree in Family Financial Planning, Iowa State University
• Certified Money Coach (CMC)®
• Trauma-Informed Certified Coach, Coach Training World
• IFS-Informed Practitioner, IFSCA
• STAIR Method (brain-based integrated method of experiential therapy), Levels I and II
Think we may be a good fit to work together?
“Finally, a money coach that doesn’t focus on the numbers! I have tried everything – financial planners, financial coaches, 12-step groups, workshops, books and more. Working with Emily, I have made more progress on the inside than with anything else. Highly recommend her for deep work around finances for permanent changes. ”