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Matilda Ellis - testimonial by her mother, Mary

"We went to see Mhairi because Matilda (10 years old) was very unhappy at school. She had always adored school and found it easy to make friends. She still loved her work and learning but was finding friendships overwhelming and distressing (girls being unkind to each other, being cool and grown-up)."

"Added to this was general unruly behaviour in the classroom. She dreaded Sunday evenings and there was one day when I brought her to school and then straight home again as she was so upset."

"Mhairi changed all this: she explained to Matilda that she was very sensitive and was feeling everyone's emotions, including her own teachers emotions and that her energy was being unwittingly drained. She gave her the Greenhouse exercise to build up her energy and some beautiful exercises to do to help with her friendships. Matilda found it all made great sense and had no difficulty in doing them."

"Mhairi also gave her an exercise to help her very young teacher manage the rather disturbed and insecure class :- she pictured her in a sleigh with the class all as Huskies pulling the sleigh over difficult ground and finally onto smooth ground."

Mhairi helped Matilda to understand who she is, to be proud of her individuality and to accept her friends differences and be philosophical about them and to have the confidence be herself.

As a result, Matilda wrote the following poem on the first day of school. The first verse is her feelings before visiting Mhairi and the second verse reflects her feelings after.

Stare at the ceiling, lie wide awake.
Think of the day that is going to break.
Old people, new people, teachers, best friends,
Monstrous nightmares, running round bends.
Now it's the morning, pull on your clothes,
Nervously thinking, emitting small groans.

Meeting new people, seeing old places.
Meeting new teachers, seeing old faces.
New sharpened pencils, begging you to write.
Classrooms of laughter. Hellos and bright light.
I see now there was nothing to worry about.
This wonderful day has ended all of my doubt.