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  • About
  • Coaching
    • Life Coaching
    • Business coaching
    • Career Coaching
    • Leadership Coaching
    • Mindfulness coaching
  • Workshops
    • Compassionate Conversations
    • The Confidence Course
    • Free Monday Talk & Meditation
    • Build Self-Belief Audio Course
  • Retreat
  • Freebies
  • Books
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • 0 items

Mindfulness Coaching

Kate is passionate about sharing how mindfulness skills can transform your life. Drawing on teachings draw from science and the psychology of mindfulness, her aim is to make the philosophies and practices engaging and helpful, even for those who don’t meditate.

You don’t need a daily meditation practice to discover the gifts of mindfulness – even small changes in the way you interact with yourself, your relationships and your life can have a significant impact on your mental and emotional wellbeing.

What outcomes will we achieve?

  • Discover a deeper sense of self-awareness
  • Overcome patterns of negative thinking
  • Become more mindful in your relationships
  • Make conscious choices about habits
  • Learn practical ways to appreciate the present moment
  • Create a more compassionate relationship with yourself
  • Feel a greater sense of inner peace

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Join Kate live every Monday

Join around 200 others from around the globe each Monday morning at 9.30am (AEST) when Kate shares a free talk and meditation on Insight Timer. With over 120,000 followers, Kate’s popular guided meditations will help you find clarity, calm and confidence.

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individual mindfulness

Mindfulness coaching for individuals with Kate

Kate James is a mindfulness coach who works with introverts, creatives, leaders and business owners who want to live more present, purposeful and meaningful lives.

Coaching sessions

Sometimes a single session mindfulness coaching session will be enough but many clients find it helpful to engage in a program where we meet fortnightly for a couple of months. I’ll work with you in a way that suits your budget and personal needs.

Individual coaching fees

60-minute session: $275

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What people say

RF, Melbourne

‘I have been working with Kate for approximately six months and I cannot put into words what an inspiration and impact Kate has had on my life, decisions and outlook in general. Kate is very encouraging life and confidence coach. She has reinforced my confidence in the choices I’ve made and enabled me to trust my intuition. Kate has a very positive, unique and gentle approach and her outlook is very refreshing. Above all, the coaching was motivating, enabling me to focus on my future goals and put in place actions to achieve these goals and continually monitor my progress.’

TJ, Sydney

‘My work with Kate has brought home the importance of knowing what I value in life, and of working out how I can live accordingly, at work and at home. Kate’s keen perception meant that I felt understood. In addition, her experience with other clients helped me to realise that many people feel like me and that I am part of a valuable sector of society. This realisation has given me more confidence in myself, and a sense of optimism about the future that I was lacking before. Thanks for your professionalism and humanity, Kate.’

Caroline Cull, Melbourne

It has been a privilege and joy to have had Kate James as my personal coach. It has helped me to articulate a vision for my life that is truly meaningful to me and has given me the tools and guidance to move towards it. Kate is calm, kind and compassionate and her advice has helped me turn a difficult corner in life that I could not see my own way around. Thank you Kate.’

Louise, Brisbane

The Holistic Ingredient

I have held mixed feelings around personal coaching in general, as I am a gentle person who does not identify with the ‘ra-ra’ hype associated with some forms of coaching, but I knew I was keen to explore some ideas with depth and felt Kate’s approach and insight would be the right fit for me. I would highly recommend Kate to anyone interested in gaining perspective at a deeper level, but also needing the practical tips to follow through on goals and ideas.’

Mindfulness at work

In her engaging and interactive corporate mindfulness workshops and keynotes, Kate shares the latest research about mindfulness and how to integrate the science of mindfulness and positive psychology into work and life in practical ways to improve self-awareness, enhance performance and promote a greater sense of self-belief.

She is described as an authentic, warm and down-to-earth speaker and audiences comment that she’s someone who appears to embody her message.

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Listen to Kate’s meditations free on Insight Timer

Kate’s mindfulness coaching background

Kate’s journey with meditation and mindfulness began in the early 1990’s and she began teaching a mainstream form of meditation to beginners in the summer of 2003. Not long after, she was invited to present to banking executives, lawyers and other corporate groups. She began sharing how the principles of mindfulness can be used in every day life to reduce stress, improve focus, increase resilience and to improve our relationships.

Kate has been hosting mindfulness retreats in Bali and Byron Bay for over fifteen years and she is the author of six best-selling personal development books including Be Mindful and Simplify Your Life and Create Calm. She has trained in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Mindful Self-Compassion (Kristin Neff & Christopher Germer) and Internal Family Systems.

MORE ABOUT KATE
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Book a call

Get in touch to ask a question or discuss what you’re hoping to get out of coaching.

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Frequently asked questions

What is mindfulness?

Mindfulness is the practice of being fully present and aware in the moment, without judgement. It involves paying attention to thoughts, feelings, and sensations with openness and curiosity. By cultivating mindfulness, you can develop greater clarity, reduce stress, and enhance overall well-being. It is often practised through meditation but can also be integrated into daily activities such as eating, walking, or listening.

Is mindfulness the same as meditation?

They’re not exactly the same. Mindfulness is a state of awareness – being fully present in the moment and noticing your experience without judgement. Meditation is a practice that helps cultivate mindfulness, but mindfulness can also be integrated into daily life through experiences such as eating, walking, or interacting with others with undivided attention. Meditation is one way to develop mindfulness, but mindfulness can exist without formal meditation.

I'm not good at meditating because I have a busy mind. Can this help me?

Contrary to popular belief, meditation isn’t about silencing your mind or completely getting rid of thoughts. Both mindfulness and meditation are primarily about helping you to be more aware of your experience and aiming to interact with that experience with greater equanimity. It sounds more complicated than it is but that’s what I’m here to teach you.

What are the benefits of mindfulness?

Mindfulness offers a range of benefits for both mental and physical well-being. It can help reduce stress, improve focus, and enhance emotional resilience. Regular practice has been shown to support better sleep, lower anxiety, and increase self-awareness. Mindfulness also fosters a greater sense of calm, helping individuals respond to challenges with clarity and balance.

Can you teach me to meditate?

Yes, absolutely. I have taught meditation for over 20 years and my aim is to make it accessible to everyone, include those with busy minds and complete beginners.

What is your cancellation policy?

I ask for 48 hours notice to change or cancel an appointment to give me time to find someone else to fill your place.

“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”

Mary Oliver

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Uncertainty has been a consistent theme in my life at the moment. With clients, friends, family and even for me at a personal level.I feel hugely grateful for mindfulness practices during times like these and I’ve also found the following five steps to be helpful.1. Find pockets of certainty, wherever you canTidy the house, sort your finances, clean out your wardrobe, organise your paperwork, plan your meals for a week. Making the small things around you feel ordered and beautiful will help you to feel a little more at peace.2. Appreciate the things that make your life beautifulOne of the things I became aware of while we were on holiday in Tassie was how much natural beauty was around us every day. Try engaging your sense of gratitude with every meal you eat, every friendly encounter, every interaction with nature and every opportunity you have to experience or engage in creativity.3. Make time for practices that are genuinely soothingIf meditation isn’t your thing (and it isn’t for many people), try a different form of mindful relaxation. On a recent Insight Timer Live we explored this topic together and came up with dancing, singing, reading, walking, yoga, pilates, gardening, playing, sketching, painting, skiing, paddle boarding, surfing. The most important thing is that you make time for whatever it is that brings you some calm. 4. Acknowledge your feelings and offer yourself compassionMake room for all of the emotions – the fear, anxiety, worry, sadness, anger, frustration and powerlessness. Notice where you feel those emotions in your body and offer yourself genuine compassion.5. Make peace with uncertainty, as best you canWe won’t feel uncertainty every day but it’s likely that we’ll experience it often in our lives and we’ll probably always find it difficult. Remind yourself that nothing will stay the same forever and you’re strong enough to handle this. ✨
“May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears.” Nelson Mandela ✨
“And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.” John Muir ✨
A follow on from last week’s post about aspiring to simplicity. I’m on holiday in Tasmania where I was lucky enough to live for ten years. Yesterday, as we drove through the countryside, I was struck by a lovely memory. At around the age of 12, I spotted many abandoned little cottages, very much like this one. I knew at the time that the simple beauty was all that I would ever want and need in my lifetime. A humble home surrounded by plenty of nature. I had a picture of myself planting a garden, reading by the fire, writing at a little wooden desk and baking in an old fashioned kitchen. Maybe one day having my own children and sharing my love of nature with them. Almost 50 years later, it’s still all of these things that fill me with joy and give my life meaning. I think most of us knew ourselves well at that age yet often, we lost trust in what we believed in and started shaping ourselves to please other people. Can you remember what it was you dreamed of? ✨
An invitation to go a little more gently this week. To let go of some of your striving. To notice the things that you already have. And to make sure that you really do treasure them. ✨💛
Since writing last week's post, I've had my value of 'inner harmony' front of mind, because it's something I don't always find easy.I've been a worrier all my life, so even after years of meditation practice, I sometimes find it hard to create a quiet mind – unless I'm immersed in nature. When Chris encouraged me to try paddle boarding a few years ago, I had no idea if I'd be able to do it. I'm not naturally sporty so things like this don't come easily. But something magical happened when I first stood on that board and looked into the beautiful clear water.I felt (and still feel) transported to a place that removes me from all of my worries. I become immersed in the wonder beneath me. The forests of seaweed, the schools of fish, the way the sunlight creates patterns on the seabed and once, we paddled with dolphins. All of it is truly magical (and quite miraculous that I can keep my balance). I didn't mention last week that one of my other values is courage, which is the one I embraced when I first went out onto the water.The irony is that some of the moments that bring the most peace are made possible when I do something that scares me. ✨
One of the things I do with almost every new client I work with is a values exercise. It's such a powerful tool to help you identify what really matters in your life. Once you've chosen your personal values, you begin to understand why certain choices, places or relationships, feel so right. And why others really don’t. Your values will help you make meaningful choices that shape how you live every day. And as soon as you start living in alignment with your values, your life immediately becomes more meaningful.Do you know your top three values? I’d love you to share them if you do. Mine are inner harmony, kindness and connection. As well as connection with others and myself, this includes a deep sense of connection with nature which is why we live where we do. 🌿 If you’re interested to discover your values, I’ve included a link in my bio to an easy exercise that will help you gain clarity on yours. It really can be life-changing. ✨
This morning on @insighttimer Live, I spoke about the practice of gratitude and how research has found it to be an antidote to many physical and psychological challenges.It can improve sleep, reduce fatigue, and lower levels of cellular inflammation. One study found that those who practice on a regular basis experience less depression and are more resilient following traumatic events.Another called it “the mother of all virtues”, in that it encourages other virtues such as patience, humility, and wisdom.In my own life, it has been a daily practice for a few decades now. At the end of each day, an app on my phone called Grateful sounds a reminder and allows me to add a few words and photos.The best thing is that I now have a collection of my favourite memories that I can scroll through at any time. I took this pic just over a week ago at our local beach. At the end of an afternoon of swimming and paddling with Meg and me, Oscar said, “Grandma, that was the best day ever.” I love that he’s already grateful for the simple pleasures. ☀️
Five ways to be more true to yourself this year.I spent so much of my time in my twenties and thirties doing things to please other people instead of trusting myself and listening to my heart. It wasn't until I found the courage to accept that I might be criticised no matter what I chose that I found the courage to be true to myself. And I can honestly tell you, it's life changing. I hope the following quick tips help. 1. Let go of the idea that you need to do what’s expected of you. In Bronnie Ware's book, The Top Five Regrets of the Dying, number one on the list is, "I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me."2. Believe that you’re strong enough to handle some criticism. It might still be hurtful but after a short amount of time, that hurt will pass. The more you're being real, the less critical you'll be of yourself, and that's energising.3. Trust that you already know what fulfills you. Often when I meet a new client they tell me they don't know what they want. Once we get talking, it turns out that they do, but like all of us, it can be confronting to be really honest with themselves. 4. Give up one thing that hasn’t been serving you. This can be literally anything. Whatever it is that you choose, do it from a place of self-love not from a place of self-criticism.5. Take one courageous step towards the life of your dreams. It doesn't need to be huge but when you want something to change, there has to be some action taken. Make the phone call, update your profile, send (or accept) an invitation, join a class...it doesn't matter what you choose, just do something. ✨
© Kate James 2025

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We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the lands we live and work on, the Boonwurrung people of the Kulin Nation and pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging.

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