The Times Newspaper UK

 Article by Travel Writer and Conde Nast Editor Tania Cagnoni. 

      

Angst, Buddhas And A Personal Change Plan.

Mortgage, what mortgage?

I’m sitting at the edge of a lake surrounded by mountains, pine trees , talking to my change therapist in Chiang Mai, Thailand. As therapy and coaching goes, the last week had consisted of the best sort of counselling a jaded, property-burnt, travel writer could have had.

Having dabbled in enough treatments to know my Cognitive Behavioural Therapy from my Jungian, I was keen to put my mind in the hands of some other people. The Life Change People combine holidays in carefully chosen boutique hotels in Thailand with individual Change Therapy by a small team of qualified professionals.

I knew that I had hit the life-coaching and counselling jackpot. I received a tailor made itinerary to suit all my likes (temples, architecture, markets, gastronomy,spa and wellness and elephants) and dislikes (bungy jumping, mountain biking). Chrissy and Alex, the directors and founding practitioners of the company explained their philosophy:

“It’s important that we make our guests feel special before we’ve started working with them. We give complete attention and professional advice.”

A full week here works out to about 4 -6 months of weekly therapy in London.

Like many others I’m about to be caught in a mortgage that I can ill afford, or made bankrupt if I rescind on the contract. Oh and I’d quite like to be in a long term relationship….I needed a miracle worker….enter Chrissy.

We discussed the week’s work ahead after which we started my favourite form of therapy:retail. It is satisfyingly cheap in Thailand; silk bags and cushions: £2; glorious hand made wooden puppets for £8 and on stalls and in temple courtyards, and array of delicious street food, from pork balls to fried quails eggs, banana spring rolls and mango with sticky rice.

We worked through my personality profile the next day and was rewarded by a visit to some nearby temples via a trip around Wattana food market where we devoured warm coconut dumplings.

I was almost ready to square up to those relationship problems….but first the matters of debt and property….

The trip was just as much about new experiences as it was changing my old life and habits. We drove through banana plantations, paddy fields, and beautiful countryside to visit the Elephant Nature Park. Returning to the hotel late we sat under colonial fans surrounded by palms and drew up a chart to explore the balance (or imbalance) of my life. I’ve spent so much time over the past 15 years developing my career that I realised I have completely neglected myself. Chrissy and I took my list of 42 negatives and began restructuring them. On our last day we drew up my Change Plan and Chrissy helped me practice being true to myself and honest with others.

I soon encountered my first test. All flights back home were cancelled and delayed. I felt stressed for the first time in a week. I tried Chrissys exercise…. and passed with flying colours.

On arrival back at the airport my emails confirmed my worst nightmares – I’d lost my mortgage offer.

Four weeks on, I find myself facing financial ruin with an unexpected philosophical calm…Against all the odds this year bodes well. I’m working on that personal change plan and Chiang Mai beckons again.