This is simply about helping you reflect fully and creatively on any aspect of you and your life, and identify options for any changes you want to make. For example, you may have decisions you want to clarify and/or finalise, some choices or commitments you want to prioritise, certain types of behaviour you wish to change, or relationships you may want to re-negotiate. You may have a very positive life change you are about to make and will find reflective listening can give you greater clarity and confidence about all its possibilities. Or you may not necessarily be clear about what it is you want to process, but you sense something is not quite as flowing or as flourishing as you would like about the way things are for you right now and would benefit from safe space and exploration of what might benefit from change. You will be surprised by how easily things become clear with an objective listening ear and gentle, expert reflection back to you of your own thoughts and feelings.

“I found this so brilliant as I began to understand the importance of being quiet and able to listen to myself…”

… at the heart of coaching is … active and reflective listening ….

Psychological research shows that the process of self-reflection, identifying goals and moving towards them is deeply foundational to feeling well and flourishing, so the reflective coaching space is ultimately all about well-being! It is therefore particularly helpful for anyone facing difficulties managing life’s transitions, the points at which we often do not reflect clearly enough about the changes happening to and in us, nor re-focus specifically on new goals, directions and/or personal resources necessitated by the changes. It can also really help those struggling with mild anxiety, depression, or with a lack of confidence, as the coach’s positive attitude towards you will facilitate you to set achievable goals, and identify practical and positive steps to reach them, which will, in turn, stimulate the emotional feedback and sense of self-regulation which grounds confidence and well-being.

“I would recommend coaching as … getting to find one’s way through any given life situation, to understand and to come to terms with it; to be able to recognise and comprehend one’s own part in it, and the process involved.”

… at the heart of coaching is … clarifying reachable goals … tackling hindrances to reaching them … discovering … exploring all of your options …

The workplace today, or the home where so much is demanded of us, the roles we are asked to play, the relationships, the systems and power dynamics we experience, all place a huge toll on our ability to set good boundaries, act and react from our own sense of value and meaning, or to negotiate necessary compromises and their impact. Who is ‘my true self’ and how might he/she show up and function under these pressures? What about my life/work balance? How can I discover enough emotional energy for family and personal development as well? Performance coaching is particularly targeted at how to be an authentic, meaningful and confident person in often difficult and demanding roles, jobs or tasks in which you are involved; it offers the opportunity for broad and creative reflection about how best it can be achieved, both for you, and those engaged with you in the many demands you face.

“I think coaching helps in finding yourself, definitely, and reminding you of the person you are”.

At the heart of coaching is … unconditional respect … appropriate challenge to think differently … safe space and time to process ….

Cognitive Behaviour therapy is a specific and popular psychological therapy which helps people regulate unhelpful behaviour and or emotional reactions by identifying the particular beliefs (or unconscious thinking) that undergird them. To do so, it begins with the dysfunctional behaviour or emotion. A coaching approach is a solution focussed approach, so looks at primarily identifying the emotional and practical behaviours you would prefer to demonstrate and how they might be achieved. Within this more positive frame, it may also expose the dysfunctional beliefs in play and draw on CBT practice where necessary, but deliberately emphasises the different and chosen future behaviour to aim towards.

“Sue’s insights, understanding of the patterns of behaviours and her guidance and intelligence and overall comprehension of my situation was most helpful.”

At the heart of coaching is … discovering … exploring all of your options …. Tackling hindrances to achieving your goals … appropriate challenge to think differently

SFC is a somewhat unusual, but quite fun and empirically proven approach to changing unwanted behaviour! It consists of identifying and only talking about what happens in you, around you, and what others experience when a person, however rarely, and however falteringly, does not demonstrate the dysfunction! It is at the extreme end of the positive approach which coaching embraces, but can achieve amazing results. It is sometimes quite a stretch to spend an hour identifying and enjoying only the occasions and effect of functional behaviour, but is refreshingly relaxed, hopeful, often quite hilarious, and sometimes radically effective!

“After our first session I felt excited about the possibility of embarking on a path that might bring opportunities for creativity and happiness.”

At the heart of coaching is … hope, humour and support … exploring all of your options …