Welcome to me as a coach. Coaching is a really important part of my life. I often wondered whether I should have gone into a caring profession earlier on, so when the opportunity to train as a coach landed on my desk, I didn’t hesitate to accept. Do, please, read on.
Coaching centres around the fact that you are the expert on yourself. I will not give you advice – unless you specifically ask for it and it is something I am qualified to offer you – but I will help you, through guided questions, to find the right path for you. To find where you want to be, and how best to get there.
I often liken the work to tipping out your bag on the table between us. We will take a look at what you are carrying – what is it that you want to take with you? What don’t you need? What will be useful and what can you get rid of? Are there things missing? And where can you find them?
Here are a few commonly asked questions. If you have more, please use the contact box below.
What is your vision of mentoring/coaching, your philosophy?
My vision of Coaching and Mentoring is help creative women. So often low in self esteem, battered by motherhood, bashing their heads again and again against patriarchal systems and manifestations. I believe I can assist them in the journey to find their inner strength and resilience, to find a clearer path, restore faith in themselves to achieve their aims and goals in life.
Alongside this I work with those who are experiencing Neurodiversity in their lives, be it in themselves, their partners or their children. This can bring a whole new set of colours and textures to the room, that I embrace, work with and alongside, and will hold and support to enable my clients to be the every best version of themselves.
In addition to this, I work with a specific set of rules for those who are parents.
- Your role as an individual person and parent is equally valued in our sessions.
- Children are welcome throughout.
- No apology for their presence is required.
- Their needs will be honoured and integrated at all times.
What are your strengths and how do you see your personal style?
I am kind and empathetic.
I have experienced living in pain with chronic illness, and I have experienced grief and trauma.
I am passionate about helping others – about holding space for them to take a step back and see their lives more clearly, enabling them to see their own journey from another, often clearer, perspective. I use humour and can create a light atmosphere when suitable or needed. I bring a lightness of touch that puts people at ease.
How do you contract your clients?
I contract with my clients with an introductory 30 minute meeting, where we get a feel of rapport, learn a little about each other, and I explain the different ways, if needed, of finding useful areas of their life they might like to focus on. With neurodivergent people we look additionally at anything that might help them – location, lighting, sound, setting etc – to feel comfortable in the coaching environment.
Within this time I will read them some basic contractual rules and, if they agree, will send them afterwards in written form. I also ask them to send phone number and address for safe-guarding, which I keep in a locked document.
What do you cover in the beginning?
For clients with no clear starting agenda, we might use a coaching exercise to look at their life as a whole. Look where satisfaction lies, and where there may be room for change. I will send this ahead of the first session for the client to look at, if they want.
Always aware that not all exercises suit everyone, it is very much a voluntary option. Some clients come and launch in straight away, and others do not know where to start. This is also fine.
What strategies have you for building trust; working with emotions; working with difference (including personality types); working with diversity; ensuring non- dependence?
Building trust is crucial, and honesty is of paramount importance to me. I hope that that comes through in my personality and what I can say in introducing myself.
I am more than happy to hold space for any emotions, and feel my empathy serves me, and therefore the client, well here.
I specialise in working with Neurodivergent people and worked hard to ensure that my clientele in whilst training covered this, including different personality types. Working with diversity is obviously important to me, and an ongoing work in practice.
Ensuring non-dependence is something I always try to ensure, but does not mean we cannot work longer term together. I encourage clients to use somebody else in their lives to be accountable to – if that works for them – or am willing for email updates to let me know that they have achieved any goals they have set themselves.
What theoretical underpinning principles shape you practice/model?
I use OSCAR as a basic coaching model alongside the Listening Space model for many clients. Developing awareness of the fact that we carry our feelings and emotions not only in our brains, but also in our bodies. Listening Space also uses metaphors for helping look at more difficult feelings.
What protocols do you put in place for safe storage of client information and case notes?
I never use surnames in any of my recorded notes. The only place I have full details is in a locked document for safe-guarding purposes.
Where did you train?
I trained as a Coach and Mentor at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and with Gold Mind Neurodiversity (this was a course in general neurodiversity when I trained with them) and The Listening Space.
Please message me in the box below or on rebeccajburman@gmail.com No question is too big or too small.
Against the Dark 