What is coaching?

Thank you for considering working with me as your coach.

Coaching is a series of conversations between a coach and a client. A good coach will provide a safe, confidential space where the client can think clearly and be heard.

The client decides what to discuss - and can bring anything related to work or home life that feels 'stuck' or problematic.

By listening carefully and asking the right questions, the coach directs the conversation in a way that helps the client to understand the issues they are working through. Coaching provides a space where you are deeply listened to and heard, where your thoughts can be clarified and you will be able to access the answers that you may not have realised you already knew. As a coach, I provide support but also challenge, to help you remove any barriers that may have been getting in the way of your thinking, or in the way of turning ideas and strategies into actions.

In this way, the client decides what they need to do to change their thinking or behaviour, in order to develop and grow. The coach doesn't advise the client on what to do or provide training. Nor does the coach provide therapy. Rather, this is a relationship built on trust, between equals. The skill of the coach is in helping the client to define the goal and decide how to meet it.

Coaches offer strategies and explanations to help their client understand their thinking, and to remove unhelpful or limiting self beliefs or assumptions.

You already have the power to make the changes you need to live the life you choose, at work or at home.

Everything that is discussed in coaching sessions is confidential. I may take some notes in order to keep us on track and for reflection and preparation of subsequent sessions. These notes will also be confidential.

Before coaching begins, it is important that we agree on the logistics of the sessions, as well as ensuring that you know what to expect, what coaching is aiming to provide, and what it does not aim to achieve. If you decide to go ahead and work with me as your coach, I will work through a short form with you that helps us to decide where and how often you would like to meet and how we will work together. This can be done before our first session, or on the day. It will form our ‘contract’ - a framework of how we agree to work together.

Coaching is successful when people have an idea of what they want to improve, and are motivated to make lasting changes to reach their goals. It is my job to help you define what your goals may be, and work with you to decide which strategies to use to clarify and solve problems.

I will work hard to provide the best coaching in the style that suits your needs, so I will ask you for your honest feedback in order to make sure we can maximise the benefits you get from the work we do. In addition, it is important to recognise that the relationship between a coach and a client is key to the process. If at any point you decide that I'm not the best fit for you, we can end the process at any time with absolutely no hard feelings. If that happened I would work to try and find ongoing help for you with a different coach.

  • "A highly skilled and competent coach"

    "Sarah is a highly skilled and competent coach who immediately puts you at ease with her caring nature and compassion. Sarah is an empathetic listener who is fully engaged and has a genuine interest in helping you. Sarah uses a considered questioning approach which leads you to set clear actions and enable you to reach your own goals and remain motivated throughout the process. I could not recommend Sarah enough.

  • "She genuinely cares about helping me "

    I felt so much better about my situation following today's session with Sarah. She genuinely cares about helping me improve how I feel about a really sensitive issue that is very emotional to me. I am able to talk openly and honestly with her and feel safe to say whatever is in my mind. She always listens and gives me attention. I have never experienced this before at work. She has a great way of allowing me to see other options that I wouldn't have considered without her and I have gone away feeling really happy with a few actions that I am going to take. I will continue to work with her and I know that I will achieve even more than I believed was possible prior to this. I can't wait to see what I can achieve. If you are considering working with Sarah I encourage you to stop considering, and go for it.

  • "I had never thought about a life coach until a friend recommended Sarah"

    I had never thought about a life coach until a friend recommended Sarah and i'm so glad they did. I was stuck in what felt like an endless cycle of work, work, kids, work which left me exhausted and feeling like I wasn't 'doing' either very well. I had my head down and seemed to no longer be in control of how my week, month or year went, just constantly reacting to demands. I spent time with Sarah who skilfully and patiently encouraged me to take a step back and start to explore what is important to me. In the initial weeks, sessions with Sarah led to me, reconnecting with friends and starting to incorporate some fun back into my week. We then went on to look at my confidence at work and how I was interacting with others and why I may not be communicating clearly. Reflecting on challenging work situations we began to make small practical changes to put me back in control of my work and focus my time and energy on the parts of my job which are in my control. Talking through situations with Sarah, I started to think differently and understand why colleagues were acting the way they were. This gave me the confidence to take a different approach. Our sessions are relaxed yet challenging and Sarah uses her vast experience in medicine and medical leadership to skilfully help you navigate the challenges and opportunities of working within the NHS.

  • "Her approach is professional, kind and reassuring"

    Coaching with Sarah has been hugely helpful. With her support I have developed a greater understanding of self and how to balance work and home as I took on a more senior management position in my organisation. Her approach is professional, kind and reassuring. I would recommend Sarah to anyone looking for coaching. Having not experienced coaching before, I now tell everyone they should go for it!

  • "I would love others to experience the benefits"

    I have had 1:1 coaching with Sarah for 1 month, which of itself seems bonkers given the vast amount of rich, transformative learning I have gained in such a relatively small amount of time .
I very quickly built an open and relaxed rapport with Sarah, given her gentle and friendly approach, I knew I could trust her immediately and felt able to be completely honest which has enabled me to get the most out of coaching. Sarah has sensitively and constructively helped me to hold a mirror to myself by asking questions which had an unlocking effect and this has enabled me to see myself, others and the world around me in a much broader and balanced way. The way she uses her expert listening skills indicates that I am instantly understood and she does this seamlessly, meaning that the conversation flows naturally. The things that used to be a threat to me are far less so, and I am increasingly aware of the many opportunities around me which make my world feel optimistic and exciting. My world view has changed and I am open to learning from others and pushing myself outside my comfort zone. Coaching has helped me to take responsibility for my own learning and opportunities, helping me to become the human I believe I am meant to be, it has been a completely empowering and enjoyable experience and I believe it has not only transformed me, but the ripples of this have touched and transformed the lives of those around my friends, family, colleagues, strangers alike. I can see the power of coaching and having become an advocate, seeing its value, particularly in the workplace, I would love others to experience the benefits also and will do my best to raise its profile.
 Thank you!

  • "You have helped me so much both personally and professionally"

    You have helped me so much both personally and professionally. When I met you for the first time I felt weighed down, and definitely had a case of imposter syndrome. You have helped me to change my mindset and recognise what is really important to me. I would recommend everyone to take up coaching, really useful for slowing down and re-evaluating! Thank you Sarah

  • "These changes are priceless in terms of my mental health and energy levels"

    Coaching with Sarah has helped me see that I am prone to thinking the worst about what colleagues think about me, and seeking their validation for what I bring. This is unhelpful and through coaching I am learning to spot these negative thought patterns and nip them in the bud before they gain hold. This leaves me freer to own who I am unashamedly and be confident in what I bring, even if it is different to others. These changes are priceless in terms of my mental health and energy levels.

Ready to start your journey?

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