Coaching focusses on you, and whatever it is that you’re looking to do. When you’re looking for a coach it’s important to find someone you feel you would work well with. With that in mind, here’s a little about me, why I do what I do and why I might be the right fit for you. I always find that a conversation is helpful and I’d be very happy to speak to you if you want to get in touch.
We’re all unique and have our own stories about what brought us to where we are today. So I wanted to introduce myself and tell you a little about what brought me to coaching and why I love what I do.
I come from a military family and we moved around a lot during my childhood. I had some great experiences but also had my education interrupted a little with all of the moves. I always felt that I struggled with my confidence and saw myself as very shy so when my long term relationship ended and the opportunity to retrain came up when I was excited but daunted by the prospect too.
I was in my early forties and a single parent to my (now adult) children who were then 12 and 17. Oh, and we had a sick puppy at the time too! I was trying to figure out what was next for me and decided to explore the idea of becoming self employed. I needed to be able to juggle my responsibilities at home and build a career- and I wanted to create a business that I would enjoy and that would support me in my personal wellbeing too. That’s something which we can find we’re neglecting as we tend to our responsibilities and take care of everyone and everything else.
I trained as a Clinical Hypnotherapist and mindfulness teacher, which then led me to a Level 7 Certificate in Executive Coaching and Mentoring. I have gone on to do various courses and continue to learn every day. It opens up new opportunities for me and has gained me new friends and work colleagues and brings me so much joy. I want to use the things I’ve learnt and continue to learn and study to help others. I work predominately with women, coaching them in any area of their personal or professional life that they choose to focus on. It’s a privilege to be invited to walk alongside someone as they think about what they want and need, and to help them to take small, manageable steps to whatever that might look like for them. To offer support and a safe space to step outside every day life to look at how making some changes could make all the difference-to your health, sense of joy in the everyday and in your abilities in the various roles you play in your life ie. maybe as a mother, partner, daughter, business owner, leader, friend, member of your community.
I now live in the beautiful county of Herefordshire in England, surrounded by countryside and close to The Malvern Hills. Nature inspires me and I have learnt for myself the benefits that nature has to offer-in terms of supporting both my mental and physical health. I am also a keen photographer and now offer photography in part of my business too. My style is all about making people feel at ease and capturing those lovely natural moments (mostly outdoors in natural light) in an informal setting. Photographs that can be for personal or work use.
As I continue to develop my skills, I’ve recognised the importance of working with people in a way which allows me to live my life in accordance with my values and enables me to help others. Here are some of the qualifications that have led me to the work I do today:
I’ve always been curious about the world around me and relish the opportunity to try new things and to learn more the things I’m interested in. I enjoy reading and listening to podcasts that I can learn something from. I’m interested in science and learning about the natural world and about health and wellbeing. I enjoy what I do and am always looking to improve my knowledge and skills-both for my own benefit and for that of my clients.
A little about my hobbies and the things that help to keep me balanced (as if any of us get that completed right-hard as we might try!). I love music. I recently I started learning how to play the piano after having owned one for over 30 years and never being able to play it so I’m loving that. My dog has even stopped leaving the room when I start to practice so I hope that means I’ve improved a little! I’ve started to go back to learning French and German after having a little knowledge of them in my younger years, and I love word games (and Rummikub). I’m partial to a good thriller on TV, a trip to the theatre and walking with friends-or alone with my dog or my camera.
I feel really strongly about looking after myself more nowadays, and in my work I encourage my clients to do the same. It’s not about becoming an athlete (unless you want to of course!), or changing everything you do, it’s about making small changes and taking small steps (pun intended). I recently started doing yoga and pilates but my real passions in terms of exercise are tennis and walking. I play tennis for fun and, again, took that up later in life. I liked some sport at school but I never thought of myself as being particularly fit or talented at any of them. But that’s just one of those things that I’d always told myself. Now that I know that I don’t have to listen to those old, unhelpful messages I used to tell myself, I just enjoy it. If I fail, I learn. And then I try again. Life isn’t just about reaching the next goal-it really is about enjoying the journey towards the goal too. I really do believe that and hope to inspire others to believe in themselves more, and to find the joy in their lives too.
Photography is an increasingly important part of my life-and my work. When I head out with my camera I’m never lonely or bored. There is always something to see, and it’s helped me to notice the small things-the everyday which I was missing before. I now appreciate things much more and notice more.
I’m a member of a local camera club and am currently taking a professional diploma in photography. I have been a keen amateur photographer for around 15 years but have only found the time to commit to it and improve on my skills in the past few years so I’m excited to now offer it as part of my business. I like trying new techniques and being creative around the taking of and editing of images.
I combine my photography skills with my coaching and mindfulness ones in helping people to see things from a different perspective, through a new lens and from a different angle. I work a lot with reframing things and helping people to focus and gain clarity. I much prefer to take photos in a natural setting and in natural light. Nature is my preferred backdrop, as it is with many of my clients. It lends itself to making people feel more relaxed, energised, inspired, creative, productive and well.
There is much evidence now to prove that being in nature (we are part of it after all so it is our natural environment to be in) offers endless benefits, both mentally and physically. . There are sections in many (if not all) bodies aiming to help people to become and stay well advocate time being spent outside. This is why I also offer outdoor coaching. Even on days when I don’t feel like going outside, when I do get out there I wonder why I ever contemplated not doing it. I believe that coaching, nature and photography are a great combination-both in helping me in terms of self development but also in how I can help others to enjoy every day a little more and to do the things they want and need to do.
I genuinely love to see people make changes that enhance their life. In my experience coaching is a valuable opportunity to do something which we often don’t get the chance to do-to pause and to consider where we are now and where we would ideally like to be. How we would like to feel. And how we can feel that way more often.
We’re all individual and our needs are different. I coach myself now on a daily basis and it helps me to think things through more carefully, lessen my stress levels, feel more in control and gives me a new appreciation of things. Life can sometimes be overwhelming and I like to look for the humour in it where I can. I like to spend time with friends and family, meeting new people, or just enjoying time alone.
We really are all individual, and this is the beauty of coaching. It recognises that and is an approach which allows us to be who we are, to explore and celebrate our unique, innate selves and to help ourselves to thrive.
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