I remember it well.  Teetering on the edge of burnout, run down and unable to every really switch off, I knew something had to give.  I was juggling work, family and all the other stuff of life, desperately trying to keep all the balls in the air but feeling increasingly overwhelmed and exhausted. A handful of situations and relationships were depleting all of my energy and I was starting to run dry. I'd started my career in teaching, followed by a move into the charity sector and there was always something else I felt needed doing, at work as well as at home.  I was great at looking after everyone else.  Just not so great at taking care of me.  And I'd gradually been running out of steam for years.   I knew my background in psychology and trauma-informed approaches to mental, emotional and relational health could help me, but now I needed to dig even deeper and really start applying this stuff to myself.

And so began my journey towards finding balance, clarity and fulfilment.  I studied nervous system regulation, holistic approaches to wellbeing and stress management.  I learnt about burnout and how to set boundaries.  I used all my background and training to take a good look at my own thoughts and behaviour patterns.  And I turned things around.  Little by little I shifted my mindset and made small but sustainable changes, each one moving me closer to the balance, calm and peace I was longing for.  Gradually, everyday things stopped feeling so exhausting and I began to flourish.

It was hard work, but having the right tools and perspectives made all the difference.  And it was so worth it!  I couldn’t have kept going for much longer as things were and looking back now, I wouldn't go back to that way of being if you paid me.  My mental health improved, my emotions felt more manageable and I was able to navigate even challenging relationships and situations without feeling constantly drained by them. These days, my life feels balanced and fulfilling.  I have the sense of calm and peace that I’d been yearning for my whole life and have more energy now than I think I've ever had.

What I Do Now...

I couldn't have done it without the right strategies and knowledge.  They were a game-changer. And I honestly believe that if more people had access to these, their mental, emotional and relational health would be way better.

That's why I trained as a coach.  I wanted to make this stuff available to other people.  The coaching I provide is transformative because it brings together everything I've learnt personally, the studying and research I've done, the training I've completed and my many years of professional experience (after all, you don't work as a teacher, spend eight years helping people to recover from addiction and then support staff wellbeing in an international charity without learning a thing or two about stress, trauma, relationships and wellbeing along the way!)

I'm passionate about this stuff because I know that with effective tools, others can find the same balance.  I've seen how, with the right support, you can find clarity and calm and even flourish amongst the stresses and challenges of life.  It's important to me to do it right, to respect the differences between coaching and therapy (see my FAQs page for more on that), to work ethically and professionally and to deliver transformative results for my clients.  To that end, I'm accredited by the ICF and the EMCC, am committed to ongoing professional development, take part in regular ongoing training as well as professional supervision and am committed to abiding by the International Coaching Federation Code of Ethics.   

In addition to a Psychology degree, an Accredited Diploma in Transformative Coaching and an Advanced Diploma in Mental Health & Wellbeing Coaching, I have extensive training and experience in holistic approaches to mental, emotional and relational wellbeing, including stress management, nervous system regulation, grief and loss, burnout and trauma-informed practice.  This means I can navigate a broad range of coaching topics, integrating approaches from various backgrounds including cognitive-behavioural coaching, transactional analysis, positive psychology and NLP with embodied practices such as breathwork and movement.  I always centre my work around my clients as individuals (no cookie-cutter programmes here) so each session will be tailored to suit you and the outcomes that you are striving for.  (For a full list of my qualifications, please click here.)

Additionally, I am a qualified teacher with extensive experience of providing training workshops and speaking engagements in areas related to mental, emotional and relational wellbeing, resilience, living loss and trauma-informed practice. If you feel that could be helpful for your workplace, team or wider audience, please see the Training  and Speaking pages for further details.

Are You Ready for Healthier, Happier Future?...

Are you ready to improve your mental, emotional and relational health?  To manage stress, improve relationships, reduce overwhelm and prevent burnout? Let's pull up a chair, grab a cuppa and chat. I offer a free online 40-minute discovery call where we can talk about what you'd like to gain from coaching, how I work as a coach and to answer any questions you have. It's a no-obligation way for you to see if we could work well together. No pressure, no gimmicks, no sales-talk; just a chat with someone who can understand where you're coming from and has the specialism to help you.  Book a call now!

And Outside of Coaching...

It wouldn't make sense to talk about balance and flourishing without talking about some of the things that balance out my work life and bring me joy. Outside of coaching and training, I love to be out in wide open spaces, preferably at the coast or in the hills – anywhere where the horizon is a long way away!  I enjoy doing yoga most days and other mindful practices that help me to find some peace and calm amongst the busy-ness of life.  When I'm not spending time with family and friends, I’ll be surrounded by a stack of books from fiction and poetry to psychology and spirituality, watching a movie, cooking a curry or some Mexican food or crocheting a blanket.  I love hot cups of chai, the smell of cut grass, a beautiful sunset (who doesn't?) and the sound of rain on a tent when I'm tucked up inside.  And lastly, I do love a pet on a Zoom call - so please never apologise if your cat wanders across the keyboard or your dog jumps up for a nosey when we're talking online! I'll be happy to see them.