Frequently asked questions
- What can you do for me as my coach ?
- What happens in one of your coaching sessions?
- Who hires you as their coach?
- How do I know if coaching is right for me?
- Why can't I just read a book about coaching?
- How does coaching differ from therapy or counselling?
- Are there things coaching is not appropriate for?
- Is it confidential?
What can you do for me as my coach?
- Work to really understand you and the issues you are struggling with
- Help you break free of those self-limiting voices
- Help you regain confidence and self-belief
- Encourage you to acknowledge your strengths and what you are good at
- Listen to the very best in you even when you can't hear it yourself
- Examine your goals and ambitions and the choices you have made
- Explore any real and perceived stumbling blocks which prevent you making progress
- Help you achieve a sense of purpose
- Help you live a fulfilled life
What happens in one of your coaching sessions?
A coaching session is a conversation between us of around 60 minutes. During the session we explore the background to your issue to uncover any obstacles or fears that are preventing you moving forward. We then work on eliminating these obstacles and fears, and generate new insights and options for you to build on and take forward.
A session might begin with our agreeing a target outcome to be reached by the end of the conversation and the sessions usually end with giving you something to complete before the next session, based around options that you have chosen to move you forward.
You can expect coaching sessions that are completely focused on you and on what you want to get out of them. You can expect a challenging yet supportive coach who will listen, be curious, question, be objective and not judge or direct.
We will look at your issue or subject from a variety of angles. We will explore what you want to achieve and where you currently are in relation to that. We will look at what it will mean to you to have what you want and understand what is stopping you having it now. We will draw out all the possible options and opportunities available to you. You will surprise yourself with how many you come up with! You will choose what actions you will take and what strategies you will put in place to achieve what you want.
At the end of each session you will know what your next steps are, what you are going to do and how you are going to go about it.
You will then take action! Whether it is doing more of something, less of something, something better, or doing something completely new. The emphasis is on doing something, reaching somewhere. Somewhere that makes you happy and makes a difference for you. Somewhere that gives you what you're looking for.
Who hires you as their coach?
People like you... because anybody can benefit from working with a coach.
Someone who isn't entirely happy about an area of their life or career and wants to make changes but is stuck not knowing what to do. Someone who has a burning ambition or goal that they want to achieve. Someone who doesn't know what they want, but knows they want more and is bursting to find out what 'more' might be! Someone who wants to be better at what they do or someone who wants to do something completely different.
How do I know if your coaching is right for me?
Coaching is right for you if you want to invest in yourself and your future to achieve goals, make changes, increase your performance or improve areas of your life or career.
It is right for you if you feel that you need focus, motivation, support and encouragement as you challenge yourself to make your life and career how you want it to be.
The free initial exploratory session is your opportunity to explore the coaching process and see whether it is right for you without any obligation.
Why can't I just read a book about coaching?
You can, and you should! However a book can never do what a coach can do. A coach is there when the untidy business of theory meeting practice happens. I will get to know you and understand why you fail and how you can succeed. I will develop a relationship with you from which you can draw confidence, energy, and motivation. Our regular appointments will motivate you to do your "homework" - this is where the real life-changing happens. It doesn't happen between the pages of a book - you have to go out into the world and experiment!
How does coaching differ from therapy or counselling?
Coaching is not about deep self-analysis or regressing to childhood events. It is forward-looking, focused in the present and the future. It is practical and down-to-earth, looking at concrete ways to make real progress in the world in the areas you want.
Are there things coaching is not appropriate for?
Coaching is not appropriate for the following: serious medical conditions, drug addiction, or mental illness. A coach will not be an expert in finance, business management, law, or relationship counselling. A coach can help you in these areas, not by giving professional advice in them, but by helping you to find the professional help you need.
Is it confidential?
All of my coaching is completely confidential and complies with Data Protection Act 1998.
