This will be a chance for us to discuss what you would like to gain from coaching. You can ask me any questions you like about what coaching is and my approach. I will probably ask you some questions about why you are interested in coaching and if there are specific issues you would like to address. It is an opportunity for us to decide if we will work well together. You can also take some time to think about it – there’s no pressure to let me know right away. If we agree to work together, we can also decide on an initial number of sessions, the cost, location and timing.

I work face-to-face and online and we will decide together how frequent the coaching sessions will be. Typically, I suggest once a week or once a fortnight, but this is flexible and depends on the issues we are working on, and what steps you agree to take in-between sessions. The coaching session itself is a conversation. I may ask you to do role-plays or visualisations as well as use other practical tools to map ways of thinking and to open up new perspectives. In general, I will expect you to do some reflection or practical tasks in-between sessions, where appropriate.

There are many coaches out there all with different approaches and different levels of experience. I would always recommend you try to talk freely and openly during the initial conversation so can you gauge how you may work together. You should choose a coach who you feel comfortable with and who you feel broadly understands where you are coming from and will be supportive and challenging. What they say and do as a coach needs to resonate with you and you need to feel able to be honest and open. If you feel after a few sessions that this feels impossible then you should probably terminate the relationship as it is unlikely to be working. This is not necessarily a failing of either you or the coach, but simply that you were mis-matched.

Coaching is for you if you want something to change and you are committed to making that change but you need some support. If you are prepared to try and bring your whole self to the work and take risks, then coaching can provide you with the support this needs. Coaching will not be able to address long-standing past traumas. If you are currently experiencing a mental health crisis, or your main need is for support around your mental health issues then probably coaching is not for you at this point. Counselling or therapy may be more what you need (see below).

Yes, at any time. Please raise any concerns with me at any time. It may be something we can work on or change. But I will not pressure you in any way.

No. Counsellors or therapists typically work with you to heal deeper issues or traumas over a longer period of time. Short-term counselling or CBT work on specific, long-standing problems, for example anxiety or addiction. I do not have a counselling or therapeutic background. Coaching is more focused on helping you move in new directions in the present and is not the space to fully explore past experiences and how they impact on your life now. If this is what you feel you need, I would recommend counselling or therapy instead of coaching. Coaching is not a substitute for counselling or therapy. This is something we can discuss and clarify further in relation to your specific needs during the initial free conversation.

Yes. All conversations during the coaching sessions are confidential and I do not keep notes from which you can be identified. If you tell me that you want to harm someone else or commit suicide then I reserve the right to break confidentiality.

Bolder Lives will collect information required to manage payments and coaching sessions. I will not keep notes of sessions from which you can be identified. The information held will be kept securely and only for the purposes of providing this coaching service and will not be shared with any third party, except when required by law, or if I suspect you may harm someone else or commit suicide. Please note that communication technology – email, Skype, text, phone etc. – cannot be guaranteed to be secure and when you agree to begin coaching you will accept risks to confidentiality.

See the website privacy policy.

I charge between £10 and £50 per session depending on your income and what you think you can afford.

I will invoice you for a bank transfer, or you can pay in cash and I will give you a receipt.

Please contact me and I will do my best to answer them.