Frequently Asked Questions

Clean Language coaching is a reflective process of discovery. The truth is that I will not know what is right for you, and you do not know yet. So I will be asking questions to direct your attention inwards and to aspects of your experience where new learning and insights can come from. The fundamental belief in this way of working is that each person knows exactly what is right for them, even if they don’t have conscious awareness of it yet.

This is a very effective way of clarifying your thinking and figuring out what you need to do. We all need this kind of support from time to time to get the clarity we need to more forward!

Clean Language is a questioning method developed by psychotherapist David Grove to help people explore their inner experience without adding any ideas, assumptions or suggestions from the therapist, coach or the facilitator. This is the a very person-centred and holistic approach that fully respects the client and their unique experience.

Symbolic Modelling is a technique developed by Penny Tompkins and James Lawley, which uses David Groves Clean Language questions and the metaphors and symbols that naturally occur in language to model out the experience of the client. These naturally occurring metaphors often hold deep wisdom about the current situation and client’s desired changes.

For example, if you describe feeling “stuck at a crossroads” we would explore that metaphor in detail - what kind of crossroads is it? What’s in each direction? Where is that crossroad as you’re stuck there? What kind of stuck are you? And when stuck what would you like to have happen? Through this exploration new insights and possibilities usually emerge.

In psychology, individuals are viewed as complex interconnected systems where our biological processes, thoughts, emotions and behaviours interact dynamically. Meaning that we are one connected whole mind, body and psyche - with feelings, memories, emotions, sensations, aspirations, etc. What makes us unique individuals is the interplay of this ‘mind-body-psychic system’ in the present, our aspirations for the future and what our system holds from the past in the form of experiences, habitual patterns and even ancestral traumas.

When life is broke - through loss, relationship breakup, illness or any other life changing event - and you are feeling lost, confused, stuck or overwhelmed - you don’t have to ‘cope’ alone. The specialist coaching support I offer can help you process what is going on, find yourself and align with your core values, so you can feel empowered to move forward with clarity and confidence.

This kind of coaching is for you, If you:

• Want to make sense of your emotions

• Are committed to your personal development and growth

• Want to learn as much as you can from the current situation and transform through it

• Need to accept what has happened

• Need clarity to move forward

• Want to make sure you don’t feel this way next year

• Want to live in alignment with your values and grounded in your truth

• Feel stuck or overwhelmed

• Feel confused

• Have noticed an unhelpful pattern and would like to change it

• Are curious and open to going inwards and learning what you need to learn

• Are ready to trust your own wisdom

• Are interested in transformation

• Something has ended and it hurts

• You want to find meaning in what has happened

• You feel lost and you want to find yourself

• Things are up in the air

• Feel like you are adrift alone on an empty sea

• Want to clarify what you really want

When life breaks, it hands us an opportunity to grow.

I work with people who are serious and committed to their personal growth.

If you want to see lasting positive results in your life; if you want to make sure you transform through the difficult situation you are currently in (not just get through it), then this work is for you.

No. Coaching is different to therapy, although it can have therapeutic effects, the focus of coaching is different to therapy.

In therapy, the focus is on the past and healing or recovering from past events.

In coaching the focus is on the now (the current situation) and the future (what you actually want). And during the coaching process you can find out how to get there.

No. Coaching is different to counselling and they have a different focus.

Counselling is typically focused on the past and talking through difficult emotions or experiences.

In coaching the focus is on the now (the current situation) and your desired future (what you actually want). This makes coaching an outcome-focused process, with the aim of getting you from where you are now to where you would like to be.

Every person’s situation is unique. The number of sessions required will depend on the complexity of the situation and your own system. Sometimes one session is sufficient and sometimes several is needed. You will be the best judge of how many you will need.

Absolutely not! I will never tell you what to do, because I will not know what it right for you. Instead, I will support you by asking appropriate questions so you can find out for yourself what you need to do.

I might suggest a task in between sessions that I think might support you in your process. This is just a suggestion and almost always related to something that has come from you in the session. It’s your choice to take it or leave it!

I am not an advisor and coaching is different to advising or mentoring. I will not know what is right for you. My role is to support you to find out for yourself what will work for you. If you need specific advice I suggest that you seek professional advice from a qualified person.

Life transitions are emotionally challenging times when we might need extra support. If you are experiencing acute depression, anxiety, intrusive or suicidal thoughts or struggling with daily tasks such as personal hygiene, homemaking, connecting with friends and family please seek professional help. Your first port of call should be your GP followed by an experienced and qualified therapist. Keep your friends and family updated and ask for their support.

If we start working together and it becomes apparent that you need more support than I am able or qualified to provide, I will discuss a referral with you.

If you are interested in booking a session with me, the first step is to book a 30 minute discovery call, which I offer free. This call is an opportunity for us to connect, to find out more about you and your situation, to tell you more about how I work and answer any questions you might have. And if we are a good fit and you want to proceed we can arrange that on the call.

I offer programmes of 6, 12 or 20 sessions.

These are blocks of 90 minute sessions tailored to you and your needs. You can find out about these programmes here.

A standard 90 minute session costs £140.

I also offer block programmes of 6, 12 or 20 sessions at £130 per session.

Details of all the one to one programmes I offer can be found here.

I also have a limited number of reduced-rate sessions available each month for those who need it - please let me know if cost is a barrier.

After our initial greetings, I will ask you, “What would you like to have happen?”

Since coaching is an outcome oriented process, this question is a gentle invitation for you to consider what you really want. This then sets the direction of the session, because the aim of the session is to get you from where you are now to where to want to be.

I will then ask you questions that are designed to direct your attention inwards so you attend to your own experience. This is so that you get to know more about yourself, find your inner resources and gain insights about the situation.

Clean Language sessions can get deep and you might need some time to process afterwards, so be kind and gentle with yourself.

I will explain all of this and more details in the discovery call and you can ask any questions you might have.

I offer one to one sessions in-person as well as online via zoom. My London location is perfect if you are London-based and prefer to meet in-person. If you are based elsewhere in the UK, the world, or prefer to meet online, I offer sessions via zoom.

Group coaching sessions and workshops can be in-person as well as online. Each programme will be advertised with location details. If you want to stay up-to-date with upcoming offerings, sign up for my newsletter.

Yes! I work with people from all over the world. Our sessions would be via Zoom at a time we schedule that’s convenient for both of us. Please get in touch! It would be pleasure to support you in your transition journey!