“Dear Sally
I remember when I first came to visit you. I was anxious, uptight and emotionally exhausted. I was at a place in my life where I was so unhappy but seemingly had everything to be happy about. I had my 18 month old son, a supportive husband and I was in the process of changing my career. I had probably taken on more than I could cope with. I was so confused I couldn’t even make a decision, but I was not prepared to carry on that way. I found your details in the yellow pages, it was so simple. I chose life coaching over counseling or psycho therapy because I didn’t want to talk about the past I wanted to make the future better.
All in all I think I came to see you over a six month period. I found your approach calming, professional and common sense. Sometimes when I came I didn’t even know what I was going to talk about, but once I started talking it would all come out. You would help me to take control of my life. You would help me to set goals, and steps I would take to achieve them. You would also give me visualisation exercises or models to help me get through the day.
Gradually I was able to extend the time between my appointments, which meant I was able to cope with my life. What I like about your professionalism, is that you did not push appointments just to make money. You clearly cared more about me, and I was able to set my own schedule. I was able to make decisions again, and reassess my priorities. Without your life coaching I would not be able to do this. You are still my life coach and, if I needed to, I know I can always phone you or email.
I know that life coaching helped me to move on, and look after myself. You helped me to realise that I do not need to live up to society’s expectation of a superwoman. That it was ok just to want a simple life, be at home and raise a family. Coming to see you each week was a lifeline, but you ensured that I remained independent and didn’t use you as a crux. Thank you so much for helping me.”
(Jenny, 2008)
“I met Sally during a very dark time in my life. Through her understanding, fantastic listening skills, guidance, support and care I have now been able to totally turn my life around not only for me but for my daughter too. I am now strong enough to turn all negatives into positives and have dealt with all the past hurts, of which there were many. Because Sally also has a very deep spiritual understanding she was also able to help and guide me through what I had and was experiencing. Sally is a very committed person and truly believes in you which is why I would always turn to her for help and would recommend anyone that is suffering to contact her so that she can help them to rebuild their life too and learn to look forward.”
(Jean, 2006)
“I didn’t know a great deal about life coaching but when I found myself, a few months ago, in a turmoil of indecision about a variety of aspects of my life, I decided to give it a try. I had discussed my situation with friends and family who gave helpful advice, but it was sometimes too much to take in. Being naturally indecisive, all advice seemed useful, even when conflicting.
The life coaching consisted of weekly hour-long phone-calls. It is refreshing to have an impartial person to talk to confidentially, who is focussed on helping you help yourself, without her own agenda.
By talking to Sally and using the techniques she suggested to me between sessions, I was able to clarify the problems and come up with practical solutions. By having realistic goals set at the end of each session, progress was made each week. Interestingly, the focus of the discussion seemed to evolve as time went on. The sessions are very flexible and deal with issues as they arise.
Life coaching is not about being advised or told what to do. It helped me find a way forward from a difficult part of my life by drawing out of me the solutions that were always there, but that I was too unfocussed and confused to see.
After four sessions, I felt that I was back on track and I can’t believe how much more sorted my head is. I hope that in future I will equipped to recognise and deal with episodes of acute indecision, but I will certainly use life-coaching again if I need some extra help.”
(Michelle, 2005)
“Dear Sally,
Following the completion of my coaching sessions, I thought the following feedback would be helpful; I have had the benefit of 4 coaching sessions with Sally and without doubt I have achieved greater focus in terms of my role; more confidence; more of a structured approach when dealing with different situations and my time management skills have definitely improved.
Sally made the process of communication very easy and gave me the time and space to talk through the issues. At times I was challenged in a sensitive way to examine my feelings and behaviour but this was to achieve a greater sense of self awareness.
Sally was always non-judgmental, whilst appearing to fully understand the issues. This approach made the whole process much easier for me.
She summarised at the beginning and end of each session proving she had a full grasp of the issues and there were always clear action points for me to address before the next session.
The coaching sessions were always timely and the boundaries we were both working to were very clear in terms of what did/what did not constitute coaching. In essence, I knew that I would have to find the answers but Sally was there to nudge me along!
The coaching sessions have without doubt taken me out of the rut I was in and I now work to a much wider framework of options simply because the sessions have enabled me to see the wider picture.
I would have no hesitation in recommending Sally to anyone who felt they would benefit from coaching.”
(Anita, 2004)