“Is personal development coaching for me?”

What's on offer at Deeper Coaching?

You may be wondering whether personal development coaching is right for you. You rightly see yourself – and your situation – as unique. You might have had other kinds of help or support and you want to know what's distinctive about the Deeper Coaching way.

There's help here for individuals and – based on my long experience in practising, teaching and supervising – support for other professionals: coaches, counselors, integrative medicine practitioners and organizational leaders.

On this page, you'll find some descriptions of the kinds of issues that people bring – and a little about the approach I take with each one.

After these three core approaches, I talk about my work in:

• Helping people to develop internet home based business
• Career change coaching
• Health and well being coaching

Three core approaches to
personal development coaching

All my personal development coaching work is based on skilled, insightful listening. I create an emotionally secure space where you feel able to explore thoughts, feelings, emotions, memories and dreams.

Breakthroughs occur when you see how different parts of your life-story relate to each other; when you identify blocks and barriers that have been hidden 'til now; and when you get those moments of insight that are so difficult to achieve in the private world of thinking (which often creates vicious circles of anxiety).

Is this you ...?

1. “I'm looking for short-term help with a current problem at work, or with a significant relationship in my life.”

Essentially you're stuck with a particular problem. You believe that you can solve this, but need help and support to do so. You may have a problem communicating with a colleague, your manager, your boss, your teenager or your lover. You're looking for a 'sounding-board' who will listen ... and help you to discover new ways forward.

Twenty-five years of helping people overcome barriers, plus a postgraduate qualification in Coaching for Organizational Excellence [from Sunderland Business School] inform my personal development coaching work here.


2. “I have consistent problems in one area of my life. I've tried to make changes (changed jobs, changed partners), but the same issues keep showing up. I'm beginning to see that in some way I'm responsible. It's scary, but I know that if I'm going to achieve lasting change, I have to look at that.”

You're beginning to recognise that when problems start to follow you around you have to stop and look at yourself. The bullying boss exploits a hole in your self-confidence or your self-worth. Manipulative partners, family members, team members do the same. The hole in your integrity needs to heal. Only you can do that, but you need help to expose the hidden barriers and beliefs that currently block your path to self-love, freedom and happiness.

In addition to the above, my key insights into supporting this kind of transformational change with people come from my practice as a homeopath. Homeopathy informs a unique, mind-body approach to personal development coaching.


3. “My life is good. I've been successful in many ways. But – looking back – I see that my victories seem hollow. I'm now questioning my life and my purpose ... what is my life for? I guess it's spiritual direction I'm looking for; not a guru or a religion, but a 'spiritual friend' who has their own way with life, and who – through listening, dialogue, challenge – will help me discover mine.”

You want to discover the real you. You want to nourish the part of you that remains connected with divine fire at your core. And you want to take responsibility for your own journey. You're recognising that the first really meaningful relationship, the one that can bring deep and lasting joy, is your relationship with your real self.

Maybe these lines: “I live my life with gratitude, love, loyalty and justice / Beginning with myself and continuing with my brothers and sisters.” [from The Circle of Fire Prayer by don Miguel Ruiz] resonate with you.

Personal development coaching work I do here is informed by a long standing interest in modern psychology, ancient wisdom traditions and meditation. For the last ten years my major influence has been study, workshops, retreats and apprenticeships in the Toltec way of life described by don Miguel Ruiz in "The Four Agreements" [Amber-Allen].

Other personal development coaching on offer

Supervising personal development coaching and other helpers

“I'm looking for a supervisor to support my continuing professional development as a counselor, coach or practitioner of alternative medicine.” Or: “I use listening and communication skills extensively in my work, I would value the support of an experienced practitioner to help me develop ... personally and professionally.”

I've provided one-to-one and group supervision in a number of contexts: with groups of peers working as a team; to groups of alternative medicine students making the transition to practice; as a tutor in personal and professional development courses, counseling skills and communication classes.

I teach coaching classes to managers in local authorities and the health service. My most recent LA contract focused on the development of leadership skills in local government managers.

I currently supervise homeopaths and coaches. My interest and experience of managing chronic health problems can be helpful to coaches whose clients have health challenges.

My approach is very much "coach the coach" ... helping my supervisees to become aware of the information they have about their clients that they have not (yet) acknowledged. Helping them plan how to respond to these insights.

More specialised areas of personal development coaching

Specific personal development coaching experiences I've gathered along the way enable me to provide:

1. Second income and on line home business start up mentoring.
2. Career change coaching.
3. Health and well-being and wellness coaching.

How?

Internet home business start up coaching / mentoring

Your own personal development coaching challenge may be to boost your earnings ... or "sack the boss" completely. An on line business, whether full or part time, offers a low cost, low risk entry into business that can grow with you.

The internet has grown in importance in my own home business. As a practitioner and a director of a training school and clinic, I understand the pressures of working from home. As a tutor I've been responsible for supporting our students in setting up their own consulting businesses. I've run my own home-based business for over 25 years now!

I've also worked as a consultant with Right Management. My role with some of our clients there was to support them in starting their own businesses. I've helped managers and leaders set up consultancies; and others set up, for example: a fast food business, an importing business, and a number of tradesmen to set up independently.

The best way I've found to support coaching clients who want to set up a business is to work with them as they follow a tried and tested strategy. The one I use I have now worked with for years myself. I know it and trust it ... and it supports a wide range of on line or traditional businesses.

So, if you're interested in creating a second income, or building a business, please check out these videos to see how easy it is to start an internet home based business.

Career Change Coaching

Career change coaching is for people who want to improve their prospects of landing their ideal job. It consists of:

• identifying opportunities; networking; making speculative enquiries
  
• understanding what the employer wants; de-coding advertisements and job descriptions
• matching your experience, personal qualities, skills, knowledge, qualifications and achievements to prospective employers' needs
• creating a punchy, convincing cover letter / cv / resume to convey that information
• how to write clear objective statements
• what to include in your personal statement
• how to choose reverse chronological or functional style
• how to write an electronic resume; use of keywords
• ensuring you leave the coaching knowing how to update and refine your own cv / resume to suit future career changes
  
• interview preparation
• negotiating the best deal
• making an impact in your first three months

I learned this personal development coaching stuff to start with because I had to! I had to work in various part time and interim roles to fill in round my freelance work when it wasn't going so well ... or when moving place of work, and so on.

In addition, I've earned gold stars from Right Management managers for customer service in outplacement consultancy work! I've now worked (sometimes single-handed, more usually as part of a team) to deliver career change coaching to well over 1,000 clients.

More will follow as this personal development coaching site develops. If you'd like to know more, please contact me.

Health coaching

A bout of ill-health, or a longstanding health problem can create major life challenges. I know, I've been there ... as a patient and as a practitioner of alternative medicine.

My potted health history goes like this: severe acne from teens to early 20s; bucket loads of antibiotics (they'd never - I hope - do it these days) probably contributed to ulcerative colitis and most recently I've been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease (which I'm managing with minimal drugs ... and maximal health and well-being coaching!).

If you:

• need help identifying and maintaining a programme of self-help measures; need support in staying 'on the wagon'
  
• want help in deciding which different alternative approaches to managing your health (self-help and practitioner managed) might best meet your needs
  
• want help in adjusting to a diagnosis ... in helping you to see through fear and anxiety so you can make clear-headed choices
• are considering homeopathy specifically

please contact me.

Would you like a simple system to monitor whether the changes you're making (diet, supplements, relaxation, etc.) are creating real health benefits?

I've created a a detailed questionnaire and evaluation system. It enables you to quickly and easily check whether you are benefiting from the changes you've made or treatments you are receiving.

I'm looking for people to test it before I make a final version available.

Contact me if you're happy to use the latest draft form. I'll be very happy to send you a copy for free, in exchange for your feedback. The final version will be sent free to all who help by commenting on the draft.

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Where to next?

On this site:

Next article in this personal development coaching introduction explains how personal development consulting works.

Off this site:

Many people with inner conflicts, stress, anxiety and so on express this as an eating disorder. I've just found an excellent resource, written by an experienced specialist nurse, that will interest you. Coping-With-Binge- Eating.Com will help you discover how to stop binge eating and claim your life back, with no-nonsense information you need to help set yourself free from eating disorders.

Ask questions, subscribe to my personal development coaching newsletter, get free downloads on the contact deeper coaching page.

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