What Can You Help Me With?
Deciding to see a life coach is the first step in your journey to identifying that you need some help and support.
That in itself is a big step – congratulations, you’ve already made it this far.
But, it can feel like a big step, especially if you haven’t experienced coaching before.
I’ll help you discover techniques that will help you move forward.
So, what is a Life Coach & what happens during a session? Read on to find out…
FAQ’s
View answers to the most frequently asked questions by clicking on a box below:
What Are The Coaching Benefits?
Coaching offers:
- A supportive space and an impartial listener to think through issues and decisions that you may be struggling with
- Help to understand yourself and your behaviour better
- Tools to deal with your thoughts and feelings
- Coaching can help you to set yourself new goals and find ways to achieve them.
On the testimonials page, you can see other people talk about the ways working with me helped them.
What would you like coaching to achieve for you?
Can I Receive Coaching Online?
Yes, absolutely – before the pandemic, there was an assumption that coaching had to be face to face, but most of my coaching at the moment is done over zoom, and it works really well.
It also means we can see each other no matter where we are based.
If you decide that you really need to meet face to face, though, and you are fairly close to me (in Lancashire) there is always the option to meet in a park or public place for a walk and talk.
How Many Coaching Sessions Will I Need?
It’s impossible to say how many sessions a particular client will need.
As a rule of thumb, many people find that six sessions is enough to deal with a particular issue – but some people only need one or two sessions to discuss a very specific question, and others prefer to meet on an ongoing basis if they have a lot of changes or difficulties in their life.
I will never ask you to commit to more than six sessions at a time, though, and it is entirely up to you if you want to continue coaching after that block of sessions is finished.
What Can You Help Me With?
The main focus of my coaching is to help people to work out what’s important to them and how they want to show up in the world, and then help them to find ways to do that.
That may be because they have experienced life altering events such as bereavement, redundancy, illness or aging, and feel that the colour and joy has gone out of their lives and everything is grey. It might also be because of anxiety or loss of confidence, the loss of a voluntary role, or simply the stress of life in the modern world.
If you feel that you would like help to navigate the aftermath of significant events, or you have important decisions to make and want to talk them through with someone impartial, then please get in touch and we can have a conversation to see how we can work together.
What Happens During A Session?
Usually, we talk! Coaching is very much a conversation-based activity. Depending on what you want to get out of coaching, I may ask you to do some activities or exercises, either before or during the session, but you are always free to say no if you find them difficult or unhelpful (not everything works for everyone). We may finish a session by setting a goal for you to work on before we meet again.
I will often start a session with a short meditative exercise to help us to put whatever has been happening that day aside and focus our attention on the session. For clients who come to me because I am a Christian, I sometimes ask if they would like me to finish a session by praying for them, but that is totally your choice.
Do You Have Coaching Qualifications?
I have also completed a Mental Health First Aid course, and courses in Basic ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) and ACT for Grief and Loss with Russ Harris, the author of The Happiness Trap.
I am a member of the Christian Coaches and Mentors Network, but work with people of all faiths and none.
What Are Your Coaching Fees?
- 1 session up to one hour: £55
- Block of 6 sessions up to one hour each: £300
- 1 session up to 90 minutes: £80
- Block of 6 sessions up to 90 minutes: £450
- An initial discovery session of up to 1 hour over zoom or by telephone is free of charge
How Often Will Our Sessions Be?
How often would you like them to be?
Most people find that meeting once a week is a good pattern – it allows them enough time between sessions to try out new techniques and reflect on what we have discussed, without being so long that they forget what we discussed last time. It doesn’t have to be the same day or time every week, though, if that doesn’t work for you, and of course we can reschedule for holidays or other commitments given enough notice.
If you have an important decision to make quickly, I may be able to arrange for meetings to be closer together than once a week, depending on my diary. If weekly meetings are too frequent, we can meet once every two weeks.
Life Coaching v Counselling. What's The Difference?
There are some similarities between coaching and counselling – both aim to offer a safe space and an impartial listener to help you to think things through, and they may use some of the same techniques. But there are also significant differences:
- Coaching tends to focus on the present and the future, though the impact of the past may be discussed; counselling is often more focused on what has happened in the past
- Coaching often empowers clients to take action and to set and achieve specific goals; counselling tends to focus on understanding deeper issues, sometimes tapping into strong emotions
- Coaches see their clients as creative and resourceful – we help you to find your own solutions to problems. Counsellors often see clients as people who suffer from a problem or condition that needs fixing
- People don’t always come for coaching with a problem: they may want to improve something in their life that they already see as positive, or need help to make a particular decision
What Is Coaching?
It’s a way to talk through issues with someone outside the situation, who can help you to find your own solutions.
Personal Coaching
However you approach life, I will tailor your sessions to meet your needs.
You might wish to take things really slowly in small steps, or you might be seeking timely incentives and ‘quick wins’ to help you fulfill your personal goals.
Either way, I’m here for you, and together we’ll enhance your:
Personal life
Relationships
Performance
Your Coaching Sessions
Home visits are unavailable at present but coaching sessions are available:
Online over Zoom
By telephone
Walk & talk in a park or other public open space within 5 miles of Preston (or elsewhere within Lancashire if you are willing to pay my travel expenses)
Got an enquiry or want to find out more?