Frequently Asked Questions

What is coaching?

Coaching can be different things to different people. You may be seeking to define goals and actions you need to take. You may be seeking to improve your general happiness, and would like to put a plan in place to move forward. Or you may find some aspects of your work challenging, and you want to explore this with someone detached from work. Coaching works on the basis that we already have the answers with us. The difficulty is asking ourselves those challenging questions that help us make progress. Read more about what coaching is (and isn’t).

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 it 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 therapy involves working with a qualified psychotherapist. One form of talking therapy is counselling. Psychotherapists help people to overcome stress, emotional and relationship problems or troublesome habits. Coaching conversations tend to have a greater focus on setting and achieving goals.

What is the different between coaching and mentoring?

Mentoring and consulting are usually where the mentor or consultant has been hired specifically to use their previous experience to make recommendations to the client.

This differs to coaching because a coach may have similar lived-experiences, but a coach will work on the basis that you, the client, already have the answers within you. You know your situation and what is best for you more than anyone else. A good coach will draw upon their knowledge to ask you questions, and to use relevant coaching tools and frameworks to help you find the right way forward.

If your coach has shared some of the same experiences as you, then they may be comfortable sharing those experiences with you, but only if you agree and would like them to share. I have lived-experience of 25+ years’ working in corporate workplaces, leading teams and being autistic. I welcome the opportunity to provide mentoring if any of these experiences align with your situation.

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.