FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How does coaching work?

Our aim is to help you create your own version of a fulfilling life. We’ll work with you to clarify your direction, to help you cultivate a positive mindset and to develop your sense of self-belief.

We start by offering a complimentary 15-minute telephone chat which will give you the opportunity to experience your preferred coach first-hand. From there, we recommend a 90-minute session, where you’ll get right to work addressing the issues that are most important to you. For some clients, this single session is enough. Some clients engage in a three-month coaching program and others, book a few single sessions. We keep our offerings flexible so you can work the way that suits you best.

Isn’t coaching all a bit ‘ra-ra’ and how are you different from other coaches?

All of our coaches have a low-key style and we tend to attract clients who wouldn’t usually be drawn to coaching. We are definitely not highly motivational, ‘high fiving’ coaches. Having said that, most people find that seeing a coach does motivate them to create change in their lives.

We’ll work with you to help you discover your strengths and values and help you to create a career, life or business plan (or a plan that includes a mix of those things). We’ll set some tangible goals and action steps that will help you to achieve your vision. For many people, change takes time and we respect that you’ll want to work at your own pace.

We may challenge you (gently) from time to time. We will listen and empathise, but also help you to understand what gets in your way. Our aim is to create a space where you feel completely supported and understood, and one where you can start to imagine (and begin to create) a life that is more fulfilling.

How will I know if you’re the right coaching organisation for me?

The single most important factor in a coaching relationship is for you and your coach to feel some sense of connection. The best way to find out if one of our coaches is right for you is to organise a complimentary 15-minute call. We’re committed to only working with clients we believe we can help, so we’ll let you know if we don’t think we’re right and refer you to someone else who can help.

How soon can I see you?

We keep our coaching practice small and specialised which means appointments are sometimes booked out in advance. We’ll do our best to accommodate you and we’ll add you to a wait-list if we can’t fit you in at your preferred time.

Is coaching expensive?

Coaching isn’t cheap but most people find that it’s a one-off investment in themselves.  When you consider the impact of staying in a career that you loathe or feeling that you’re not on the right life path, coaching might become a necessity, not a luxury.

One of our key points of difference is that we teach you how to ‘self-coach’ so that once a program is complete, you can confidently go it alone.

Do you work with men or only women?

We offer coaching and discovery sessions for both men and women but our workshops and retreats are women only. The men that we work with are typically interested to understand themselves more deeply and they may have found they don’t fit with the stereotype of ‘alpha male’.

I’d like my workplace to pay for my coaching. Can you provide a proposal?

Yes, absolutely. Please contact us to discuss your needs and we’ll put something in writing for your manager or your HR Department.

I’m not sure if I need career, business, leadership or personal coaching.

The truth is you don’t really need to choose but you can find out more about what we’d address in each of these programs by following these links: career coaching, business coaching, leadership coaching or life coaching. We take a holistic approach and believe that it’s important that we spend a bit of time looking at the whole of your life. Having said that, the coaching sessions are your time and we encourage you to direct the coaching. You’ll complete some questions when you make your booking to let us know what you’d like to achieve.

I think I want to leave my current role and start my own business. Can you help me with that?

Absolutely. This is an area we specialise in. Kate James has extensive experience helping people get small businesses off the ground and it’s something she’s passionate about. Before Kate started her coaching business, she worked as a business manager for several small creative businesses. These days she specialises in working with creative businesses and those in the wellbeing sector.

I’m not sure about Zoom coaching. Is it really as effective as face-to-face coaching?

We were sceptical at first too but we can guarantee that a Zoom session really is as effective as an in-person session. In some cases, it’s actually a better model for coaching. It’s time efficient – you don’t have to travel or find parking, it’s very personal and the conversations still cut to the core of the issue pretty quickly. If you’re still in doubt, give it a try. You might be surprised.

Can I continue with single sessions after I have completed a half-day discovery session or a three-month coaching program?

Definitely. Kate is our coach for half-day discovery sessions and she offers ongoing single sessions to clients who have participated in a half-day discovery session or a three-month coaching program.

What can I expect of the coaching process?

The coaching process is characterised by a few things. Coaching will provide you with a supportive and non-judgemental space for you to discuss whatever is important to you. Coaching is solution-focused which means we won’t spend lots of time trying to make sense of why things are the way that they are, we’ll be asking ‘what can we do about it?’

You won’t be advised to act in a specific way, the choices are yours, but you will be asked questions that encourage you to think differently and to open up new opportunities. We’re willing to brainstorm with you when you are stuck and we’ll help keep you accountable for doing the things that you say you are going to do.

Coaching is a positive, validating, supportive experience. You’ll leave feeling clearer about your direction, confident in your ability to achieve your objectives, and you’ll have a greater degree of self-awareness.

I’m feeling nervous about the process. Is this normal?

It is common for people to feel nervous about coaching (or seeking any kind of support). Some clients worry about whether their issues are normal, whether it’s ok to speak about certain things in the coaching session or if they’ll appear silly for raising minor worries. Please don’t be concerned at all. Sometimes the smallest things can be our greatest worries – we’ll help put your mind at rest. That’s something clients tell us we’re good at.

What are your ethical standards?

We operate within the ethical standards set out by the International Coach Federation. We are committed to providing a professional service with a guarantee of confidentiality. We provide you with a Coaching Agreement at the commencement of your coaching outlining our terms of business.

Can I get more information?

To arrange an appointment or to discuss your needs further, please contact us.