What is coaching?

Coaching is a confidential, supportive and forward-focused conversation that helps you explore where you are now, where you want to be and what might be getting in the way.

Rather than telling you what to do, coaching helps you find your own answers, build confidence and identify practical steps towards the changes you want to make.

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What can coaching help me with?

Coaching can help with many different areas of your personal and professional life, including:

• Career change or career progression

• Finding clarity and direction

• Building confidence

• Managing feelings of self-doubt or imposter feelings

• Setting and achieving goals

• Making important decisions

• Returning to work or changing direction

• Preparing for a new role or promotion

• Navigating periods of transition

• Improving work-life balance

• Identifying your strengths and values

• Turning ideas into action

• Understanding what you really want from your career and life

You don't need to have everything figured out before you start. Sometimes knowing that something needs to change is enough.

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How do I know if coaching is right for me?

Coaching can be particularly useful if you feel stuck, uncertain, overwhelmed by choices or simply know that you want something to change.

You might have a clear goal but not know how to achieve it, or you might not yet know what your goal is. Coaching can help you explore both.

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Do I need to know exactly what I want to achieve before starting?

No. In fact, you don't need to have a specific goal when you begin.

Sometimes the starting point is simply, "I'm not sure what I want anymore," or "I know I need a change, but I don't know what that change looks like."

We can use the coaching process to explore what's important to you and identify a direction that feels right.

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What's the difference between coaching and counselling?

Coaching is generally focused on the present and future, helping you explore goals, choices, opportunities and actions.

Counselling is usually more focused on your emotional wellbeing and helping you work through psychological or emotional difficulties.

Coaching isn't a replacement for counselling or other forms of professional support. If something falls outside the scope of coaching, I'll always encourage you to seek the appropriate support.

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Will you tell me what career I should choose?

No. My role isn't to tell you what you should do.

Instead, I'll help you explore your skills, experience, values, interests, motivations and aspirations so that you can make informed decisions about your future.

The aim is for you to feel ownership of your decisions rather than being given someone else's answer.

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Can coaching help me if I want to change career?

Absolutely. Career change is one of the areas where coaching can be particularly valuable.

We can explore what's driving your desire for change, what you want from your next chapter, your transferable skills, possible options and the practical steps involved in moving forward.

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Can coaching help if I feel stuck in my career?

Yes. Feeling stuck doesn't necessarily mean you need to leave your job or change career.

Coaching can help you understand what's behind that feeling, explore your options and decide whether you want to change your circumstances, your mindset, your approach or your direction.

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What happens during a coaching session?

Sessions are led by you and what you want to achieve.

We might explore what's happening for you currently, identify what's important, challenge assumptions, consider different perspectives and agree on practical actions for you to take between sessions.

There isn't a fixed script. Every session is shaped around your individual circumstances and needs.

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How often will we meet?

This depends on what works best for you and what you're hoping to achieve.

Some people benefit from fortnightly  or monthly sessions, while others prefer more space between conversations.

We'll agree an approach that feels appropriate for you.

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How long does a coaching session last?

Sessions typically last around [60 minutes], although this can vary depending on the coaching package or programme you choose.

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How many coaching sessions will I need?

There isn't a set number.

Some people find that a small number of focused sessions gives them the clarity and confidence they need. Others prefer longer-term support while they work through a significant career or personal transition.

We'll discuss what's right for you rather than committing you to more coaching than you need.

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Is coaching confidential?

Yes. Confidentiality is an important part of creating a safe and open coaching relationship.

What you share during our sessions will be treated confidentially, subject to the normal professional and safeguarding boundaries that we'll discuss at the start of our work together.

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What if I don't know what to talk about?

That's absolutely fine.

You don't need to prepare a presentation or arrive with the perfect question. Sometimes simply talking through what's on your mind is enough to uncover what's really going on.

I'll help you explore the conversation and identify what would be most useful to focus on.

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Will you give me homework between sessions?

You may choose to take some actions or reflections away from a session, but coaching isn't about giving you a list of homework.

Any actions we agree will be relevant to your goals and, importantly, something you have chosen to do.
 

What if I don't achieve the actions we agreed?

That's okay.

Coaching isn't about judging whether you've been "good" or "bad" at completing your actions.

If something hasn't happened, we'll explore why. It may tell us something important about your priorities, circumstances, motivation or what needs to change.

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Is coaching only for people who are struggling?

Not at all.

You don't have to be struggling to benefit from coaching. Many people use coaching because they want to make the most of an opportunity, develop themselves, prepare for their next career move or simply invest in themselves.

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Can coaching help with confidence?

Yes. Confidence can be explored from a number of different perspectives.

We might look at what's affecting your confidence, identify patterns of self-doubt, recognise your strengths and achievements, challenge limiting beliefs and help you take action despite uncertainty.

The aim isn't to pretend that self-doubt doesn't exist, but to help you develop a more confident relationship with it.

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Can coaching help me prepare for an interview or promotion?

Yes.

We can work on areas such as confidence, communicating your strengths, preparing your examples, identifying your achievements and developing your approach to challenging questions.

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Do you work with people who are going through major life or career transitions?

Yes. Transitions can include changing career, leaving a long-term role, returning to work, starting something new, moving into leadership or simply reaching a point where you want to rethink what's next.

Coaching can help you create some clarity during what can otherwise feel like an uncertain period.

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Is coaching suitable if I'm considering starting my own business?

Yes.

Coaching can help you explore your motivation, confidence, ideas, goals and priorities as you consider becoming self-employed or developing a business alongside your career.

The focus is on you and your development rather than providing specialist business, financial or legal advice.

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Do you offer online coaching?

Yes. Sessions can be delivered online, making coaching accessible wherever you are.

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Do you offer face-to-face coaching?

Yes I offer face-to-face coaching, either in a neutral venue or on a walk.

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What happens during the first session?

The first session is an opportunity for us to get to know each other and understand what has brought you to coaching.

We'll discuss what you'd like to achieve, how coaching works, what you can expect from me and what I can expect from you.

It's also an opportunity for you to decide whether I feel like the right coach for you.
 

What if I decide coaching isn't for me?

That's completely fine.

The coaching relationship needs to work for both of us. An initial conversation gives us an opportunity to see whether coaching and my approach are right for what you need.

There is no obligation to continue.

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How do I get started?

The first step is simply to get in touch.

We can arrange an initial conversation to discuss what you're looking for, answer any questions you have and explore whether coaching could help you.

You don't need to have all the answers before you contact me. Sometimes the first step is simply starting the conversation.