Work With Me
Coaching
When I was unwell I would have benefited from working with someone one-to-one who could help me stay accountable to my goals and give me feedback, encouragement and reassurance that I was on the right track. At the time, it was hard to find this type of support, and particularly challenging to find someone who was knowledgable about a mind body approach, who had also experienced fatigue.
I have worked as an Assistant Psychologist and Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner in the National Health Service in the UK, helping people facing various challenges in life. Through this work I have gained skills helping people to gain a better understanding of themselves, the cycles that were keeping them stuck and different tools that could help them move forwards.
The coaching approach I use is a Mind Body approach, based on the work of Dr. Howard Schubiner, Alan Gordon and Dr. John Sarno. This involves reflecting on emotions, beliefs and behaviours that could be keeping you stuck, and learning how to trust that symptoms and activity are not dangerous. This approach has helped many people reduce their chronic health symptoms.
One way to reflect on emotions and develop self compassion is to better understand different parts of ourselves, for example the people pleaser, achiever and perfectionist parts. This idea comes from the Internal Family Systems model. I think this approach fits really nicely with mind body conditions because it seems that many people have these personality traits which can make it challenging to become healthy again.
The first step towards working with me is booking an initial consultation. This call will help us both figure out if working together would be a good fit. I believe that everyone is different and should be treated as an individual. So no two people will have exactly the same path to recovery.
Coaching is a form of support to help you reflect on what might be keeping you stuck and to find a path towards having a healthier and more fulfilled life, it is not a replacement for therapy, medical or mental health care. Coaching is collaborative, so you will have a role in deciding what you would like to focus on in sessions.
I understand what it is like to feel fearful, helpless and concerned about losing more time to being unwell. For many people having Long Covid, CFS or a similar unexplained health condition is the biggest challenge they have experienced in life and having support can provide confidence and clarity moving forwards.
F.A.Q.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, whilst I am aware of many people who have found this approach really helpful in regaining their health, I know that Long Covid, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia are complex conditions. The results you achieve through coaching might be different to someone else’s outcomes, as everyone’s ability to understand, believe and commit to a mind body approach is different.
A mind body approach involves becoming more aware of the link between our mind, emotions, the body and physical symptoms. There is a lot of research showing strong links between beliefs and health outcomes. According to Dr. John Sarno, emotions that we are unaware of can manifest as physical symptoms. I help people understand those links better.
The purpose of coaching is to work together to help you with challenges you are facing as a result of your health condition. This involves collaboration, so we would discuss together what might be a good next step forward, you will never be asked to do something you don’t think will be helpful. Coaching can also help you stay accountable for changes you are making.
The number of sessions people want to do is a personal choice. It can take time to see changes in your health and everyone is different. This is not a quick fix by any means. It can take patience and commitment to new habits to see changes.
To get the most out of coaching, it helps if you have some belief that your health or wellbeing can change for the better. Coming to the sessions with a commitment to try your best and to stay curious and open minded will help you a lot on this journey. I commit to giving you my best energy to help you get results, however, it is important that you realise that you will also have to fully engage in this process in order to see change.
Not every illness is a mind body condition. According to Dr. Howard Schubiner, with a diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia, other causes have already been ruled out by your physician as part of that diagnosis. For most people with Long Covid this is also the case. However, if one of these conditions has not been diagnosed it is important for you to see a doctor and have medical checks done so as to rule out any other potential causes for your symptoms.