Frequently Asked Questions

What is coaching?

Coaching is a form of personal development. A forward-focused, action-oriented collaborative process between a coach and a client.

There is no one standardised and agreed definition of Coaching. The definition that most closely reflects what I do and how I want to support others is:

“…dialogue between a facilitator (coach) and a participant (client), where the majority of interventions used by the facilitator are open questions [that] are aimed at stimulating the self-awareness and personal responsibility of the client” – Passmore & Fillery-Travis, 2011

This definition reflects my approach in two key aspects, being that questions are open-ended and with a focus on improving self-awareness of the client.

You may be facing a recurring challenge that you now want to resolve. You may be a team leader who needs some confidential support without the emotional attachment that colleagues hold. You may be an aspiring manager seeking confidence to move into a new role. Or, you may simply feel stuck. A new approach is needed. A new way of thinking. Coaching can surface questions you may not have considered before. And questions you may have thought about, but never really wanted to answer!

Coaching is defined by the International Coaching Federation (ICF) as “partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential.” My view on this definition is that maximising personal and professional potential may be an aim for some client, but not everyone will be continually striving to maximise their potential. And that’s fine. Seeking small improvements or a fresh perspective on life is a perfectly valid benefit you can get from coaching.

What are the benefits of coaching?

People choose to invest in coaching for a wide range of reasons. Coaches can work with individuals on career development, relationships, finance, parenting, reducing anxiety and any other topic where the challenges are unique to the individual client. There’s no manual that can be consulted and applied directly because the challenges are unique to your personal circumstances. Here are a list of topics I can support with.

If you are autistic, AuDHD or think that you may have any neurodivergent condition, then we can arrange an introductory call to find out how I can best support you right now. I have lived-experience of being autistic in workplaces, and relate to many of the challenges that neurodivergent employees can experience. I provide a neuro-affirming, strengths-based coaching focused on gaining greater self-awareness, with the intention of helping you to overcome challenges and make the most of your natural talents.

Is coaching for me?

Anyone has the potential to benefit from coaching. So, yes, it could be beneficial for you. But it isn’t a quick-fix solution. Coaching is a two-way conversation, you will need to be prepared to invest your time beyond the coaching conversations. Transformation and changing habits and mindset takes time. You coach will help you, but will not tell you everything you need to do. And will not be checking up on you every day to find out if you did the things you said you where going to do!

Coaches can support a range of topics, including: business, career, relationships, finance and parenting. I specialise in neurodiversity and autism coaching, drawing upon my lived experience of having autism in corporate workplaces. I provide support to help overcome the challenges that being neurodivergent in a neurotypical workplace can bring. This includes managing stress, effective time management, reducing anxiety, navigating social communication at work and much more.

How much does coaching cost?

In the UK, you can usually expect to pay anything from £50 to £500 per hour for personal one-to-one coaching, with some coaches charging significantly more. You may find coaches who will offer their services at a reduced rate for people working in the not-for-profit sector or if you are currently not in paid work, or perhaps for some other reasons. It’s always worth asking. Here’s my coaching pricing.

Coaching is an investment in yourself. Only you can decide what the right level of investment is for you in your current situation. An ethical coach will never put any pressure on you to make a quick decision or invest more than you are comfortable with. If you are not sure, then don’t rush. Most coaches will offer a free discovery/introductory call to help you with the decision. Take your time to find the right coach that is the best fit to help you.

What does a coach do?

First and foremost, a coach will listen. You bring the topic, and the coach will respond to the subject matter that you want to discuss. A coach will ask you questions to dig deeper into the topic. And the coach will also give you time to think. When was the last time you wanted to figure something out and you just stopped and thought about it. You didn’t Google, or ask your favourite AI or friend – you just did some thinking? The intention of the questions that are asked is often to prompt a different way of thinking. Some of the questions you may not have previously considered asking yourself. And some questions you may have thought about, but have wanted to avoid answering! A coach may also use proven psychology tools and frameworks to help you towards a goal or change that you are seeking in your life.

My coaching often begins with a session to help clients gain greater self-awareness. This can include determining personal values and identifying your unique strengths. Your personal values and strengths can be a useful guide to help with decision-making when you are unsure what to do. The outcome of this session can then be used as a foundation for future sessions, and can be used by you for positive impact throughout your life, beyond the one-to-one conversations we have.

Successful coaching can be transformational. We can all get a ‘stuck-in-a-rut’ sometimes. And not really be sure what needs to change. A coach can support you in finding what ‘what’, and then the ‘why’ this is important to you. And then progress to the ‘how’ to move forward.

How do I choose a coach?

Research. Ask trusted friends, family and colleagues whether they know someone they can personally recommend. If not, consider the subjects you want to discuss and do some searching on verified coach directories, on LinkedIn and some keyword searches to draw up a short list of suitable coaches. Check whether the coach holds certification and qualifications, read reviews and testimonials from previous clients. And when you are ready, make contact with a few coaches and ask questions. Most coaches will offer you a free discovery call for you both to find out more before agreeing to begin any coaching sessions.

Can I try some coaching out before committing to a long programme?

Many coaches offer packages of a minimum 6 x coaching sessions. I recognise that this represents a financial and time investment, and you may currently be unsure about the benefits you’ll get out of it. I do currently offer pay-as-you-go coaching sessions.

What is the difference between coaching and therapy?

“Talking therapies are psychological treatments for mental and emotional problems like stress, anxiety and depression.” (Source: NHS)

Talking Therapy can take many forms, but all involve working with a qualified therapist. One such form of talking therapy is counselling.

“Counselling is a talking therapy that involves a trained therapist listening to you and helping you find ways to deal with emotional issues.” (Source: NHS)

Other types of talking therapy include CBT, behavioural action and Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT).

What is the different between coaching and mentoring?

“Mentoring is a learning relationship, involving the sharing of skills, knowledge, and expertise between a mentor and mentee through developmental conversations, experience sharing, and role modelling. The relationship may cover a wide variety of contexts and is an inclusive two-way partnership for mutual learning that values differences.” (Source: EMCC)

I am very happy to include an element of mentoring in my coaching. I have lived-experiences and my own strategies that I am happy to share during coaching sessions. This is a topic to be discussed during the discovery call, and if you would like some mentoring during sessions, I will always ask permission before sharing with you. Whilst there can be comfort and reassurance in knowing that you’re not alone, it’s also important to recognise that it is how we react to events that is critical. How I process events and then react to them will not necessarily be the same as you.

Consultancy is similar, but more typically used when referring to providing specialist advice in the workplace.

What can I talk about in coaching sessions?

The coaching sessions are your time. You bring any topic of your choosing to discuss and work through to each sessions. This topic can be a longer-term goal of defining career aspirations and gaining confidence to secure a promotion, or it can be a short-term challenge of how to prepare effectively for an upcoming board presentation, or perhaps you are generally feeling unhappy or ‘stuck’ in life and you want to figure out why and then implement practical steps you can take to improve your wellbeing. Here are some more topics you can bring to coaching.

If you’re not sure whether coaching can help in your situation, then message a few coaches and/or book in some free discover calls. An ethical coach will always tell you whether they can help and share how they might approach your challenge. And if between yourself and the coach you think they are not the best fit, then they may know another coach who has relevant experience.