Kate James (Executive, Business, Career & Personal Coaching)

Kate James is the Director of Total Balance Group. She is based in Melbourne but works with clients in all parts of Australia. We have associate coaches in Sydney & Brisbane and a preferred psychologist we work with in Melbourne.

Kate is uniquely qualified to help people with important life issues like building confidence, developing creativity and clarifying personal strengths, values and needs.

She gained her understanding of what makes people tick during earlier careers managing creative businesses in highly competitive environments. During this time, she developed a calm, clear approach, strengthened by over twenty years experience in meditation.

Having experienced half a dozen career changes herself, she understands the dissatisfaction in people unsure of their personal or business paths.

As a sought after work-life balance and meditation media expert, Kate is regularly quoted in the press, on radio and television.

She facilitates meditation classes and retreats and continues her own studies into Positive Psychology, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and mindfulness.

She is a regular speaker in the area of work life balance and stress management. She teaches a mainstream form of meditation to both personal and corporate groups. Her down-to-earth approach and her commitment to involve participants make Kate a popular and engaging trainer.

At www.totalbalance.com.au clients have access to Kate’s inspiring blog, articles and meditation MP3s.

Her clients now range from lawyers to artists, entrepreneurs to corporate leaders. Most are creative in some way or want to learn how to be. All are down to earth, sensitive and insightful people who have an interest in living their own version of a successful life.

Kate was one of the first Australian coaches to achieve PCC accreditation with International Coach Federation (ICF) in 2005. She has first-hand experience of the work life balance challenge, having spent the past 22 years juggling marriage, motherhood and
a successful career.

When she's not teaching meditation or working with clients, you'll find her cooking for friends and family, walking along the beach, taking photos or visiting a gallery.

Total Balance Group works with a diverse range of clients in a multitude of sectors including legal, property, advertising, banking, media, public relations, FMCG, government, small business and not-for-profit.


What Kate's clients say

'I loved my sessions with Kate and miss them now we’re done! In a very friendly and professional manner, Kate helped me pinpoint exactly what l was looking for in my career. We identified my passions, my strengths, ultimate job criteria and a whole lot more including balancing career and family life. As a result of our sessions, l am about to launch my own business – something Kate helped me realise l’d been wanting to do for years and that if l didn’t give it a go, l’d likely have regrets. Her supportive and no nonsense approach, including a wealth of experience and professional network, were invaluable in assisting me take the first very exciting steps.' Sarah Fisher, denu, Berwick

"Kate has helped me a lot to firstly see my goals more clearly and secondly achieve them by breaking them down into manageable chunks.  She is very talented at 'listening' between the lines and gives easy to follow advice on how to move forward in life.  Her positive feedback and constructive criticism have helped me stay on track when I was lacking motivation.  Thank you, Kate, for helping me to see areas of my life in a different perspective and showing me how to work on my goals in order to feel more in control of my life." WK, Melbourne

"I had decided to see Kate for coaching during a stage when I was unhappy with the way my life was progressing. I was stuck in a job I no longer cared for and had lost direction with what I wanted and in fact liked about myself and my career. I had become anxious and full of self doubt. By slowly breaking down what I wanted to achieve in long and short term goals I was able to tackle (and continue to) each point. After two months of coaching I have found a job in an area that has more careers prospects and I am now tackling larger issues of friendships and relationships. My anxiety dissipated and my self esteem improved. Kate doesn't provide the answers for you, just the skills to help you build the blocks to taking control of your life." KM, Melbourne

" Kate James is an inspiration! She has the natural talent of being able to read a person like a book. During my time as a client of Kate's I found myself in a situation of blaming someone else for my problems and Kate was able to read both the situation and myself perfectly by gently prodding me to address the situation in a way that achieved the desired result for both parties. I want to thank her for her compassionate nature and her gift of understanding what was required by backing her intuition and her judgement. Kate truly knows people." Mark Durkin, National Account Manager, Bolle Australia