Working With Me
Coaching
What is coaching?
Coaching is a collaborative and thought-provoking conversation where we aim to clarify and achieve what you want in life and work. My coaching creates a non-judgmental, insightful and compassionate space for you to think. I listen carefully, ask searching questions and challenge you where it’s helpful.
My coaching approach
I work with the whole person, so we are likely to spend some time exploring your feelings, desires and fears in order to help you to move forward. I work with you to map out different possibilities and options, enabling you to take action based on what matters most to you. We may work on noticing patterns of thinking and behaviour that are holding you back and learn techniques to change those behaviours. I blend a range of different psychological approaches and am particularly influenced by Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), person-centred and embodied methodologies as well as learning from leadership theory.
Who I work with
I work with individuals, small groups and teams. I tend to work with professionals and leaders in the public and not-for-profit sectors: the worlds I know best. But I’m happy to work with anyone who wants to make changes in their life and/or work. I love working with people who’ve had very different life experiences to me and believe this often brings a special energy to the coaching conversation, helping you to gain new perspective.
Practicalities
Coaching sessions are usually 60 minutes. Most of my clients start by committing to 6 sessions. These are usually two to four weeks apart, but I am flexible according to your need. Sessions are usually online over Zoom or in person in Bristol.
What happens in coaching sessions
In the first session we’ll talk about what’s going on for you and what you’d like to focus on in our work together. You’ll think about what’s important to you and the changes you’d like to make. In subsequent sessions, you determine what we work on, or I can guide you and provide a structure if you prefer (e.g. I offer a six-session Career Boost Package). As we work together, we will refer back to goals and actions from previous sessions but if these change, as often happens, we will work together to re-focus and address any issues that might be keeping you stuck.
“Coaching has enabled me to make a huge change for the better and get a new job, something I have been wanting to do for some time, but not had the courage. It gave me the confidence to plan for my future, discover what I ultimately want in my career, and not just survive in a work environment that was not healthy for me. The coaching was a mix of empathetic support and coaching, with a great understanding of the impact that mental health can have on making changes for someone with PTSD like myself. Coaching with Joanna has helped me to learn new coping strategies; the crossover with coaching and therapy made a massive impact in terms of outcomes.”
“Joanna is an excellent coach who I highly recommend. She has supported me for over 6 months through a challenging time as Director of a small organisation. She used a range of techniques, responding to my priorities and energy levels at each session. Particular highlights included supporting me in dealing with a difficult line management situation, finding ways to strengthen board operation and making a series of significant personal and organisational decisions. Joanna struck a good balance between holding me to account for taking action on work we did in the sessions and a friendly, personable approach.”
“I would absolutely recommend coaching with Joanna! It supported me to make contact with my values, enabling me to make a difficult decision about which professional training pathway to take. I benefitted from the relational nature of Joanna’s coaching and the level of curiosity, fascination and genuine pleasure she seemed to take in doing the work with me. This is for me the most important point – having someone be so genuinely interested and enjoying the time spent together meant I was really encouraged to open up and explore things. It was also helpful that while doing this, she didn’t lose focus on ensuring our sessions were outcome focused and that they added value for me.”
“The sessions were a great mix of self reflection, and working towards my longer term goals and some shorter term actions - which Joanna supported me to gain clarity on. Joanna carefully balanced considering well-being and values, with more focussed ‘work’, and supported me to be accountable and proactive, with kindness. I felt very heard and empowered in all of our sessions. I am very grateful for the time I had with Joanna to focus on my self, and what I wanted from my work life. I will remember many of the useful strategies, suggestions and helpful metaphors we came up with together for years to come. Thank you so much Joanna!”