Client Feedback

Client feedback

“I came to Laura at a real crossroads, as a mum in my early 40s, I felt like I’d lost my sense of self, and direction.

From the very first conversation she created such a warm, safe, non‑judgemental space that I could open up easily.

Her thoughtful questions helped me see things from a completely new perspective, and the plan we put in place helped me take small, manageable steps forward.

I found my clarity, my confidence, and a sense of direction again.”

- Lynsey

“The coaching sessions with Laura were a really important space to unpack why I was feeling stuck.

Her style of coaching was incredibly friendly, non-judgemental & she listened & challenged thoughts when needed.

Following the sessions, I have a clearer understanding of my current position, have networked with others in the same position, & have a practical plan in place

for progress.

I'd not have otherwise done this without Laura's coaching, & I would highly recommend the sessions to anyone looking for some time, space, & guidance about their work.”

- Nate

"I find coaching with Laura helpful during the highs and the lows. It keeps me on track with what I want in life and also reminds me how far I’ve
come, and what I have
already achieved.

Laura supports me to stay in-check with myself and helps me to see things differently, which is so useful, especially if I’m struggling. Our coaching sessions support me to
develop and add tools to my toolkit - they also remind me about the tools I already have, but may have forgotten about in the overwhelm.

For me, Coaching is an investment in ME! I no longer see it as a luxury item - it’s essential for my self-care.
It’s an insurance policy for my wellbeing - my sanity!"

- Alice

"I came to coaching to get some perspective on how I responded
to demands on my time and to look at unthinking responses and assumptions that underpinned
my reactions.

I found Laura’s coaching style to be open and empathic, and she was able to approach topics in an open and transparent way, which allowed me to think through the available options very clearly.

By the end of the coaching sessions I found that I had gained some really helpful mental habits but, most importantly, I had found space to think more creatively about my longer-term goals and aspirations.

I found the whole experience to be both rewarding and useful and I would be very pleased to recommend Laura as a coach."

- Rick

"Laura is truly amazing. She is so kind, patient and understanding. If you are experiencing a tough time for whatever reason, then here’s your lady!

I was struggling a while ago and she supported me to look at situations differently and put things into perspective. She used simple diagrams to support my thinking, but, ultimately, being listened to with no judgement - just lots of empathy and encouragement, was so useful.

Coaching with Laura has provided me with tools to manage any challenges or tough times that may now arise. Coaching has also taught me ways to focus more on how to manage my time, have better work/life balance, and gain more self‑love."

- Georgia

"As a fellow coach, I’ve worked with Laura for years in peer and co‑coaching.

She puts you at ease with her warm, friendly nature, and her insightful questions always help you move forward with greater clarity and confidence.

She’s non‑judgemental, empathic, kind, and an absolute pleasure to work with.”

- Kathy

"These sessions have made me stop & think about who I am, what I do
& how I react/act to my world,
both professionally & personally.

I feel that I am developing my
sense of self-worth & value."

- Ann

“Laura is a friendly & approachable coach with a relaxed & supportive
coaching style.

I wanted to explore coaching

to help establish & develop tools

for a more balanced & consistent approach to an often unstructured work day.

I found the process of coaching really useful & would recommend Laura to anyone at any stage of

their career.”

- Katrina

"Coaching with Laura has changed the way I think & plan my work & life. I now have a much better approach to tasks, where previously I felt stressed, overwhelmed & disorganised.

Laura was highly attentive to my goal & she has seamlessly supported me to develop this
in to a gradual path for improvement."

- Stephen

"I have received both individual and group coaching (Silent Coaching) with Laura.

Laura is calm, listens, and coaches you to find the answers deep within.

I feel calm, less anxious, and just energised after a coaching session with Laura."

- Claire

"I reached out to Laura at the beginning of 2025, during one of the most difficult times in my life. I had made the decision to end my marriage and was feeling completely overwhelmed by the emotional fallout. My GP

suggested I speak to a Life Coach, and after browsing through a few options, something about Laura’s bio really resonated with me; I just felt drawn to her.

From our very first session she

made me feel heard and supported. She created a calm, empathetic space where I felt safe enough to open up and it was clear she genuinely cared.

Each session helped me take a breath and figure out my next steps. One of the most powerful things she taught me was understanding what I can and can’t control, which helped me stop spiralling and focus on what I could do. Laura guided me through the divorce process in manageable pieces and helped me take small steps instead of feeling overwhelmed.

I honestly don’t know how I would’ve navigated that time without her. If you’re going through something difficult or need help finding clarity and direction, I can’t recommend Laura enough. She truly helped me find my footing again.

- Helen

"Laura truly lives up to being person-centred. Laura tailored her approach to suit me, drawing on a wide range of techniques and a deep understanding of neurodivergence. The experience was grounding, insightful, and genuinely freeing. I’ve benefited in many ways and highly recommend her."

- Sarah

“Coaching with Laura has helped me gain valuable insights into myself & my personality style; I now have

a much better understanding

of what makes me tick.

Laura has a friendly, calm &

practical approach & has

supported me brilliantly to reach the career & confidence goals

I set for myself over the 6 months

I have worked with her.

Thank you Laura!”

- Jenny

“I came to coaching for support with poor time-management & managing overwhelm, particularly during high-stress/high-pressure situations. I tended to stay in ‘flight’ mode during stressful periods, which further exacerbated my feelings of overwhelm.

I have learnt so much from my coaching sessions with Laura, she has truly provided a space for me to give myself empathy & for me to grow and flourish.

Designing my version of a ‘Priority Matrix’ has genuinely changed my life & proved to be such a vital tool for so many aspects of my life.

I can be very self-critical, but coaching has supported me to give myself more empathy when it comes to setting expectations & failure.

Coaching has provided me with a set of skills I can take with me through life. For the millionth time - thank you, Laura! I genuinely don’t think I would be as happy as I am now without coaching.”

- Magda

"I recently found myself at a life/career crossroads, with a number of options to consider;

I couldn’t determine which direction to take & so sought coaching support from Laura.

At the conclusion of our sessions, I had a clear vision of what I needed to do to pursue my preferred options & felt that a weight had been removed from my shoulders.

Laura is a brilliant coach & I would highly recommend her to anyone seeking support to find the right direction, or the motivation to make a change, at any level or point in their life or career.

Laura has a very natural, friendly & relaxed coaching style, which put me at ease. I also found her approach to problem solving to be practical & effective.

Laura has completely changed my perspective about coaching &, consequently, I wouldn’t hesitate to seek support from

her again in the future."

- Mark

"Coaching with Laura has supported me to balance out the negatives & positives within my life, & identify what benefits me, & what doesn’t.

I have started to focus on the good in my life more & I feel, & act, much more positively.

Coaching has also supported me

to manage my feelings & understand more about what I need in the moment, but also what I need to move a step forward. I feel like I know what to do if I'm ever in these situations again.

Laura has a very neutral, supportive & friendly coaching style – it almost feels like talking to a friend. I was very comfortable in our coaching sessions & felt able to be fully open about everything that I was

thinking & feeling.

Coaching is something that I needed & I'm so glad I invested in it".

- Keelie

“I came to coaching for support with poor time-management & managing overwhelm, particularly during high-stress/high-pressure situations. I had a tendency to stay in ‘flight’ mode during stressful periods, which further exacerbated my feelings of overwhelm.

I have learnt so much from my coaching sessions with Laura, she has truly provided a space for me

to give myself empathy & for me

to grow and flourish.

Designing a ‘Priority Matrix’ has genuinely changed my life & proved to be such a vital tool for so many aspects of my life.

I can be very self-critical, but coaching has supported me to

give myself more empathy when it

comes to setting expectations & failure.

Coaching has provided me with a

set of skills I can take with me through life.

For the millionth time - thank you, Laura I don’t think I would be as happy as I am now without coaching.”

- Alex

“Before I started coaching, I felt a little hesitant about how I could move forward in what feels like a rut.

Laura made me feel at ease straight away & was very calm

& understanding.

At the end of our coaching package, I felt reassured &

much more confident in my ability to make the right decisions for me; my decisions are not wrong & what I want -

& deserve - in life matters.

I will continue to work on the actions we discussed together,

& I look forward to more coaching in the future."

- Lucy

work with me

January, MY WAY.

I’ve skipped ahead to daffodils 🌼 and Hot Cross Buns.

Still haven’t opened my 2026 family organiser calendar.

And you know what, it feels good 😊!

Hot Cross Buns, what’s your fave, and how do you like them?

It’s tradition all the way for me, with lots of fridge-cold Lurpak. These were Waitrose ones and were very nice - lots of fruit!

Laura x

@lurpakuk @waitrose @emma_bridgewater

This year I have taken a couple of days holiday before our children break up from school, to try and get organised, and to also have a bit of quiet time before the Christmas shenanigans really ramp up!

My quiet time = planting some late tulip bulbs, and watching Alan & Amanda’s Spanish Christmas with a coffee and a couple of @marksandspencerfood Peppermint & Chocolate Dunkers 👌🏻.

I’ll officially sign off for Christmas now. Sending love to you and yours over the festive period.

Laura x

Today’s post is inspired by a chat with a friend about the busyness of the festive period, and how many plates we are spinning.

This time of year can make every task feel urgent, important, and impossible to ignore. Gifts to buy, food to prep, social plans, school activities, family commitments… plus the everyday life stuff that never stops.

This is where the ‘Eisenhower Matrix’ comes in - a deceptively simple tool first used by President Eisenhower, and later popularised by Stephen Covey in ‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.’

This is a priority matrix that helps us sort tasks based on importance and urgency, so we can move from frantic reactivity to intentional, values-led choices.

If your brain is buzzing, try using this matrix to bring some calm back into the season - see image for my quickly penned, slightly tweaked version.

* First write down everything - festive tasks, life admin, emotional load, all of it.

* Then step away. Make a brew, fold some laundry, take a moment.

* Come back and sort each item into the four boxes:

🔴 Do First – tasks/activities that are genuinely urgent and important.

🟠 Schedule - tasks/activities that are important, but not urgent.

🟢 Delegate - things that need doing, but not necessarily by you.

🟡 Don’t Do - things that don’t truly matter (even if they’ve ‘always’ been done).

And here’s the Christmas twist…

During this season, it’s easy to treat everything as urgent and important, but not everything is urgent, and not everything is important.

Alongside focusing on what truly needs to happen, ask yourself:

✨ What can I lovingly let go of this year?

The traditions that cause stress, the tasks that drain you, the expectations you’re carrying alone - they’re allowed to move into the ‘Ditch’ box.

This exercise helps you:

✔️ Organise your tasks.

✔️ Reduce festive overwhelm.

✔️ See clearly what actually matters.

✔️ Release the pressure to ‘do it all.’

This season doesn’t need you to do it all - it needs you to be well.

Do yourself a favour, spend 10 mins of your week completing the matrix to lighten your load, and to enjoy the parts of the festive period that matter the most.

Laura x

Late night posting from me, but I’m feeling so joyful after tonight’s book club with @thelovelycowshed.

Tonight was our Christmas party and we celebrated with @dominos_uk pizza, the most amazing winter salad, and a murder mystery game, where I ended up being the murderer 🙈. Only one person guessed it was my character: 1/14 isn’t bad at all, so perhaps it’s am-dram for me in 2026! Such a joyful evening with loads of laughter 🤭.

Now off to bed with my Philippa Gregory book!

Laura x

This lunchtime, whilst sat underneath a beautiful pine tree, enjoying my coffee and book in the crisp, autumnal sunshine, I was reminded about a lecture that I attended last year. This was all about the impact of colour and light, and how they can support our wellbeing during the darker winter months. I’ll pin my original post, but here are some evidence-based top tips:

- A 20-minute walk – preferably in the morning – will support your circadian rhythm to stay regulated = improved sleep, metabolism, immune system, and mood.

- Ditch the sunglasses so you can absorb as much natural daylight as possible.

- Consider how you can absorb more natural daylight during the day (work by a window if you can and take breaks, where practical, outside).

- Consider the colour choices in your working environment, and the psychological and physiological impact of these. How might you be able to add splashes of colour that support your wellbeing.

You can find out more about these tips in my original pinned post ☺️ and, as always, I’d love to hear your tips and ideas too.

Laura x

One of my happy places. Who else LOVES paint shopping?

Sometimes ‘success’ is tackling the mountain of ironing that’s been staring at you all week!

In my latest blog post (link in bio), I’m sharing how the ‘Ladder of Success’ can help you make progress towards your goals, one rung (and one frilly blouse!) at a time. I also share how different members of my family adapt this versatile tool to suit their preferences.

You don’t need giant leaps to move forward. Just start with one small step.

As always, I’d love to know what you think, and how you might use the Ladder of Success in your life.

Laura x

CORE VALUES

Our values are like our inner compass and heavily influence our thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. They guide us back to what matters most.

Some of you may have seen that I started a new book club this week via @thelovelycowshed and, in doing this, I was reminded how powerful it feels for me to do things that are in alignment with my core values. The experience prompted me to write a new blog post all about it. If you fancy a read, go to the link in my bio.

If you’ve been feeling a little out of sync, maybe it’s time to pause and check in with your own values.

- What moments make you feel most like you?

- What feels missing right now?

If you’re not sure where to start, that’s OK - I can help you with that.

Book a discovery call via the link in my bio.

As always, I'd love to hear from you - about your core values, and how you align your activities with these.

Laura x

SOUL SISTERS & A COFFEE RENOIR!

Today, I met my oldest friend @blmholistic for lunch and an afternoon of coffee, chat and deep conversation. I left her feeling supported, uplifted, re-energised, and very loved. It was just what I needed.

So here’s to beautiful friendships.
Old friendships.
New friendships.
Casual friendships.
Soul sister friendships.

…and a HUGE takeaway Coffee Renoir, which has defeated me!

Laura x

On this last day of September, I’m soaking up the autumnal sunshine with a REALLY good coffee, and a triple chocolate chunk cookie in my bag, ready for tonight’s Bake Off theme: chocolate!

I’m feeling optimistic that October is going to be a great month! Bring on autumn, in full swing!

Laura x

LIFE ISN’T PERFECT

You may have seen from my recent stories that I’ve been gifted so many beautiful flowers recently, from wonderfully thoughtful and kind friends - my soul sisters. This is because this summer has been a tricky period for me.

I mentioned in a previous post, back in June, that there have been some significant changes for me professionally, within my internal coaching role, that have impacted me deeply. From a wellbeing perspective, I needed to take some time out and be really intentional about how, and where, I spent my energy. The unexpected loss of our beloved Labrador, Penny, has also been extremely tough.

However, I’m now feeling so much better and am making good progress. I also feel more at peace with Penny’s passing; I’m very spiritual and sense very strongly that she is still with us - there have been so many signs 🦋

I find, as a Life Coach, that people can assume I always have everything together. That’s not the case, because I’m human!

I’m not here to pretend life is perfect, and I bring that real and relatable approach to my work: down-to-earth professional coaching for real life, built on honesty, empathy, and lived experience.

So here’s to:
- real life.
- the mess.
- the ups and downs.
- emotional overload.
- small joys.
- hope.
- flowers.
- amazing friendships.
- soul sisters.

Laura x

Do any of these statements resonate with you?

How would you like to feel instead?

I’ll help you navigate life’s twists and turns — the ups and downs — with:

🌟 Clarity
🌿 Calm
💪 Confidence

💬 I offer a FREE 30-minute, no-obligation discovery session, so you can explore whether coaching is right for you. Link in bio.

Laura. x

BLACKBERRIES.

Blackberry picking - so simple, yet it brings me great JOY.

I LOVE it!

I also LOVE the crumble and custard that follows it.

July feels very early to be picking blackberries - I don’t think I’ve ever picked them this early before - but they were ripe, ready, and waiting, so off I went with my Tupperware boxes in tow!

Isn’t nature just wonderful!

Laura x

Hello to you all. I’ve been quieter on here recently. I’m in the process of navigating a significant professional transition — the kind that really shakes things up and asks you to sit with the unknown for a while.

And truthfully, over these last few weeks, I’ve had to be really intentional about how I spend my energy, so I’ve focused on what’s needed and let the rest take a back seat.

In my experience, when you’re deep in change and transition, it’s easy to get caught up in the storm - the fog - and miss the flickers of joy and light filtering through. But, this morning, a few small things stood out to me — quiet, subtle reminders that great joy lies in the small things… when we are in the headspace to notice them. For me, this morning, these were:

💗 A really energising coaching session that reminded me exactly why I do what I do, and why I care about it so deeply.

⚽️ Our youngest son, racing through the front door, proudly showing off his first football kit for his new team.

🥖 My husband bringing home a freshly baked sourdough loaf, still warm from the oven, and some chocolate brownies ☺️.

💧And the glorious rain after a stiflingly warm few days.

This transition is still very much unfolding, and my coaching skills have never been more important; self-coaching has supported me to stay grounded — to meet the challenges with a bit more calm, a bit more curiosity, and to trust that growth is happening, even when it’s not glaringly obvious.

These joyful moments felt like flickers of light through the storm - through the fog - and reminded me of a quote that appeared in my feed right at the start of this period:

“Not all storms come to disrupt your life, some come to clear your path.” Paulo Coelho.

Sending love to you all, especially all of you who are navigating your own changes, challenges, and transitions currently.

Laura x

In celebration of International Coaching Week, with permission, I'm sharing a takeaway from a fantastic individual that I am currently coaching.

Those of you that have followed me for a while will know that I'm a BIG lover of imagery and, where appropriate, use it in my coaching practise. This individual responds well to visual ideas and loves the use of imagery, analogy, and metaphors in our coaching sessions, as it supports them to articulate and process the complex thoughts and ideas in their head.

At the end of our session, I asked them what their key takeaway was. They replied: "analogies - they’re a fresh way for me to look at old problems."

In the short space of time that we’ve been working together (yesterday was our second coaching session, excluding their intro session), the shifts in their perspective, confidence and focus are palpable! They’ve taken to coaching like a duck to water and I'm loving working with them. Their passion and determination to achieve what they want and need in life and their career is inspiring and I feel privileged to partner with them on their journey.

Laura x

#internationalcoachingweek #icfcoach #freshperspective #professionalcoach #coaching #lifecoach

The Power of Silence.

Honestly, how often are you silent? Or do you process things in silence?

Embrace the silence.
Gain focus.
Feel empowered.

Group Silent Coaching sessions are on the way. Scan the QR code or see link in bio to join the waiting list.

Silent Coaching is an introspective, no-pressure approach to coaching.

It’s great for individuals who are new to coaching, or for those who feel hesitant to open up.

It also works well for seasoned clients (coachees) who have experienced impactful traditional coaching and are keen to try a fresh, introspective approach.

This group session is a chance for you to privately:

*Pause, reset and reconnect with yourself and your inner wisdom.

*Reflect and gain clarity around your thoughts and insights.

*Process information and explore possible solutions snd strategies.

*Boost your sense of self-reliance and autonomy.

*Develop practical skills that support you to self-coach.

Discover the benefits of coaching your way.

No talking, no pressure.

As always, I'd love to hear what you think, or if you have any questions, please just get in touch.

Laura. x

#silentcoaching #lifecoach #professionalcoach #professionalcoaching #icfcoach

Happy bank holiday to you all. It’s been a very busy few days for us, as it was our eldest son’s birthday on Saturday and mine yesterday. It’s been a weekend of fun and we’re drowning in birthday cake, but I’m not complaining!

Last Thursday, my husband and I put on our glad rags and attended a very special awards ceremony; this was through my internal coaching role in HE.

These were student-led awards, with students nominating staff that have had a positive impact on their experience. There were a number of categories and I’m told over 1200 nominations were received.

I was delighted to learn that I’d been shortlisted for my coaching role in the ‘Academic Support’ category; it felt particularly special as it was students that had taken the time to nominate me.

I didn’t come away with the award, but I still feel so proud to have been shortlisted, and to be flying the flag for professional, transformative coaching. It’s great to be seen, heard, and valued for my effort and commitment to supporting individuals to thrive in life, study, and career. It was also really nice to get dressed up!

I’d love to hear what you’ve been up to over the weekend. And I also wanted to say to keep your eyes peeled for more info about my new silent coaching offer.

Laura x

One of my core values is transparency; with me, what you see is what you get, and I hope my Instagram page gives you a strong sense of who I am as a person.

All of my posts and stories have a strong personal connection, but I hope, today, that you will indulge me with an extra special post.

Yesterday, we celebrated a very special birthday… you may have guessed from the photograph that it was our beautiful Labrador’s birthday. Many of you will know from my bio that I am a Labrador lover and, Penny, our sweet-natured, loyal, patient, girl was 11 yesterday!

We feel so grateful to have had 11 joyous years with Penny; she’s still as youthful as ever and for that we are very grateful. She’s such a huge part of our lives and we all adore her 🥰. She’s experienced all the big milestones and life transitions with us, and accepted the changes without batting an eyelid. She truly is a dog in a million 😍.

So here’s a little appreciation post for Penny, who brings so much JOY to so many people.

Spring RESET Package - new coaching package now available.

I mentioned on my stories how I’d noticed an increase in bookings in recent days and I wondered whether this was connected to the time of year.

For me, Spring feels like a natural time to reset; the longer, brighter, days - alongside the emergence of spring flowers - embody a sense of renewal compared with the shorter, darker, colder, days of January; many centuries ago, New Year was celebrated on 25th March, which, symbolically, makes much more sense to me.

I was keen to get the thoughts of others and popped a poll on my stories; 100% agreed that March - and Spring - feel like such a great time to reset.

So, the 'Spring Reset Package' was born.

This package will support you to:

- Gain the clarity & momentum YOU need to focus on what really matters to YOU.

- Build confidence.

- Create a plan that empowers you to make the lasting, meaningful changes that you desire.

The season of renewal is here and NOW is the time to make the change.
I will with be beside you, you every step of the way.

For more information, see the link in m bio. As always, I’m happy to answer any questions / queries.

As I sign off, I invite you to consider:

* What would a 'Spring Reset' look like for you?

* How would a Spring Reset feel for you?

* What’s getting in the way of you implementing it?

Laura x

#springreset #lifecoaching #professionalcoaching #coachinguk #icfcoach

CAREER PROGRESSION.

You may remember, recently, I shared a 'golden nugget' about the importance of making small moves. This was from Nate, who I have been coaching around his career progression.

For context, Nate came to coaching feeling frustrated and stuck with the progression process within his organisation.

With his permission, I'd like to share his testimonial that demonstrates how coaching has supported him to:

- Gain more clarity and understanding of his current position.
- Create a plan that will support his future career progression.

It's been a pleasure and a privilege coaching Nate these last few months and I wish him every success going forward.

If you're feeling stuck or frustrated in your career, or in any area of life, coaching will support you too.

Laura x

#careerprogression #lifecoach #lifecoaching #icfcoach #professionalcoach #professionalcoaching #careercoaching

JOY SNACKING, literally.

I LOVE Pancake Day! It always brings back so many happy memories of making pancakes with my late Gran. I remember so vividly how we used to bundle the ingredients into a bowl and hope for the best; my Gran never weighed any ingredients out, in fact, I never saw her weigh anything out - it was a rack of the eye approach. I always went to her house on Pancake Day, even in my 20s.

Needless to say, the love of pancakes has extended to our boys and even though we do have pancakes throughout the year, they were particularly excited to have them today.

In a slight break from tradition, we had them for breakfast, because Tuesday evenings tend to be quite busy for us, dashing to football practise. Although, I’m sure they will squeeze a couple of extra pancakes in for supper.

But, for me, Pancake Day isn’t just about the delicious pancakes, it connects me to the things that I hold dear - my values, which is something I spoke about last week.

Celebrating Pancake Day in this way supports me to connect with my core values around:
- Tradition.
- History.
- Nostalgia.
- Family.
- Home.
- Future generations.

With any luck, this is something that our boys will continue to do in their adulthood and with their families.

I’d love to hear if you celebrate Pancake Day and if you have any pancake traditions. I’d also love to hear what your favourite toppings / fillings are. Can you guess my favourite?

Laura. x

#pancakes #pancakeday #shrovetuesday #pancaketraditions

VALUES.

Do you know what your core values are?

My experience is that many people don’t.

Values are unique and individual to us. They relate strongly to our needs and guide our behaviour and decision-making. They act as our inner moral compass and support us to navigate challenges and make more meaningful choices.

Last night I attended a values workshop. As a holistic, whole-life approach coach, values work is something that comes up regularly with individuals. Although I felt fairly confident around what my core values are, it’s always good to check-in and assess how I am prioritising these, and to evaluate how much my life, currently, is aligned with my core values.

Coaching supports people to become more self-aware - identify what they need and what makes them tick and, as a coach, it’s really important to me that I practise what I ‘preach’.

I thought more about my values over lunch - I like to ponder things and the space to mull this over supported me to make some tweaks.

Thanks to Charlotte @charlotteflynncoaching for facilitating a lovely workshop with a group of like-minded, amazing individuals! Thanks also to @threesisterscoffeeroasters for creating such a cosy environment.

If you’re curious about what your core values are, coaching will support you to do this in a nurturing, non-judgemental way.

Laura x

The significance of SMALL MOVES.

In the words of @jamesclear, it’s easy to ‘overestimate the importance of one defining moment’ and underestimate the value and power of making small moves, small changes, small steps.

Earlier this week, an individual I have been coaching around career progression shared this golden nugget.

Whilst it’s useful to have a clear longer-term vision, plan or focus, coaching with me is all about getting clear on where you are now and where you want to be, and then designing the small steps – the small moves – to support you to get there.

Laura x

Today, I'm sharing a testimonial from an individual I have been coaching since November. The images represent their coaching journey, which they have kindly agreed I can share.

In a nutshell, this individual came to coaching feeling that they wanted to achieve things within their workplace role, but couldn't seem to find the motivation to get 'stuck in'.

They wanted to feel:
- Proud.
- A sense of achievement.
- A sense of autonomy.
- A sense of worth in their work.

They are leaving coaching with:
- A renewed focus on what their life priorities are.
- An improved sense of value and worth in their contribution at work, and in other areas of life too.
- The confidence to seek out, instigate, and complete, additional activities at work that support their sense of purpose.

I've really enjoyed coaching this individual - it's been a privilege to walk alongside them on their coaching journey.

Laura. x

#confidencecoach #confidencecoaching #coachinguk #lifecoaching #professionalcoach #professionalcoaching #lifepriorities #worklifebalance #senseofpurpose

BALANCING the POSITIVES & NEGATIVES in life.

Over lunchtime, I uploaded some new testimonials to my website - link in bio - and thought I’d share these insights from a lovely client that I have been working with over the last 3 months.

Enjoy the rest of your Friday.

Laura x

BUMPY ROADS & COFFEE DRIVE-THRUS.

Those of you that know me, or have been following me for a while, will know that I am a very visual person. I LOVE the use of imagery and analogy and, where appropriate, use it within my coaching practise to support individuals.

With permission, the takeaway I’m sharing, today, is from an individual I have been coaching for a couple of years, as and when they feel they need some coaching support.

For context, this individual has entered a new career transition, where they are required to work at a more, in-depth, senior level. Things started well, with them feeling super confident and self-assured. Fast forward a few weeks and an unexpected challenge (a ‘bump in the road’) had knocked them off kilter, leaving them feeling overwhelmed, frustrated and experiencing imposter-type feelings.

It is during this session that the bumpy road and coffee drive-thru analogy came to be, and you can read more about it in my most recent blog post. Link in bio.

Spoiler alert: at the end of our session, I asked what they were taking away. They emphatically replied: “a reality check! Reversing back down the road is NOT helping me, today, and WON’T get me to where I want to be”.

As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts 😊

Laura x

NEW 1:1 Life Coaching Services.

You may have caught my stories from earlier, today, where I mentioned that I have decided to make some changes to the coaching services I offer.

You may be able to tell that I am passionate about supporting people through coaching, and I strongly believe that coaching should be accessible for all.

Coaching is an investment in ourselves and our personal development. However, I acknowledge that working with an accredited coach isn't cheap. Investment in ourselves, in my experience, is often viewed as a luxury item and - particularly in the current financial climate - is one of the first areas to drop down the priority list. However, protected time and space to think clearly, plan, collaborate, and reflect is essential to our wellbeing.

Over the last couple of months, I have been pondering how to bridge the gap between the two: how to make coaching more accessible/affordable, so it can become, or remain, a priority.

With all of this in mind, I have decided to move away from fixed coaching packages, that tend to require a more substantial upfront financial investment. Instead, I will offer one-off sessions or bespoke time blocks, and extend the time frame that these can be used in, allowing individuals to create their own bespoke package. For example, if somebody chooses to invest in a block of 3 sessions to use over a year, that’s fine. Or, if somebody chooses to invest in 3 sessions to use over 3 months, that’s also fine. If one ‘Clarity Session’ is enough for somebody else, that’s also fine. It can be catered to what works for you.

For time block bookings, I will also consider a flexible payment plan option.

In a nutshell, I'm hoping these changes mean that accessing coaching with me is more:

- Affordable.
- Flexible.
- Accessible.

As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts on this, and if you have any questions or queries, please get in touch.

Laura x

Hello to you all on this eve of New Year’s Eve.

Whilst having a coffee, earlier, I smiled to myself at my collection of new books sitting underneath the Christmas tree; if ever a pile of books represented my passions and interests, it’s these!

I’ve got the interiors hit from: @devolkitchens
The psychology & coaching hit from: @emmareedturrell @jamesclear
The reflection hit from: @donnaashworthwords
And the heritage & history hit from: @thamesandhudson

I’m seeing lots of posts, currently, about clearing away Christmas and getting all clean and tidy for the NY. Truth be told (casual Gavin & Stacey reference there), my family and I are still very much clinging on to Christmas. The trees (although slightly wilted) and decorations are all still up, and we’re off to a Christmas panto, today!

For as long as possible, we’ll embrace the slowness of these last few days before our normality resumes. I appreciate not everybody is able, or wants to, do this.

Sending love to you and yours.

Laura x

CHRISTMAS EVE HAM!
For as long as I can remember, my mum has cooked a ham on Christmas Eve; I used to ask her why she was making more work for herself, but lo and behold - years later - I’m doing the same and I enjoy keeping up the tradition.

I always use a @nigellalawson recipe, and have opted for her famous ham in Coca Cola recipe, this year. I can confirm it’s delicious and can see why it’s a classic.

We’ve all, in a delightfully gluttonous fashion, devoured it with preserves, crusty bread, and a mug full of mulled wine (for the adults 😀) for a Christmas Eve supper. Now I’m off to put the little piggies in their blankets, and our boys in their beds! I hope you all have a lovely Christmas Eve and wish a Happy Christmas to you and yours.

Laura x

Over on my latest instalment of 'Coach in the Car', I spoke about preparation and pressure, and how I have been reflecting on what I can do, today, to support Future Me, as the pressure builds over the Christmas period.

I invite you to consider:

- What you can do NOW to support yourself during the pressure points.
- What you can LET GO of and what might be unnecessarily adding more pressure.

As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts on this.

Laura x

Using the tools you already have.

Today’s takeaway comes from a client I have recently welcomed to coaching.

For me, coaching, at its core, is about empowering individuals to trust themselves and their decisions; supporting people to harness their inner strength and resilience, so they can back themselves without the need for purely external validation.

Of course external validation through the support and reassurance of others, along with a sense of community, is essential to our wellbeing, but self-belief and the ability to trust and value our own opinions and choices is equally as essential.

For context, this client feels as though they are always being reactive, in both work and their family life. This approach leaves them feeling frustrated, dis-organised, and as though they have lost touch with who they are and what they want.

They are using coaching to gain more clarity and direction, as well as developing the confidence in their ability to make decisions in a more consistent and measured way.

At the end of our first coaching session, when asked what they had learnt about themselves, they responded by saying that can start by using the tools they already have. This will be essential to their journey moving forward and I look forward to supporting them achieve their coaching goals.

I’d love to hear about what tools you rely on to back yourself and your decision making.

Laura x

For me, coaching is all about empowerment - supporting a person to feel more empowered about:

- Who they are.
- What they need.
- What they want.
- How to get there.

This statement came at the end of a coaching session held just yesterday, from a coachee feeling quite lost and without direction. They ended our session saying: "I feel better... actually I feel stronger". For me, this sums up the impact coaching has and I'm really looking forward to continuing our work together over the coming weeks.

It's been a busy coaching week and whilst feeling fulfilled, I'm also ready for some downtime. I'm meeting a dear friend, tomorrow, for a catch-up, and looking forward to spending time with my family.

As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts and what your plans are.

Laura x

You may remember that, last week, I attended a lecture that combined two of my favourite topics: supporting our wellbeing through interiors, namely lighting and colour. I really enjoyed it and asked if you would like me to share some highlights and top tips. 100% responded YES! So here you go!

In true coaching style, I'd like to share my key takeaways from the lecture:
- Don’t wear sunglasses (in the winter months).
- Tune into my working space - can I find a ‘better’ lighter/brighter space to sit?
- Colour psychology is fascinating and I want to know more.

I hope you find this useful and, as always, I'd love to hear your thoughts:

- What have you found interesting and / or useful?
- What will you take forward to support your wellbeing.

Laura x

Ps. I'm happy to share the references and further reading details upon request.

Closing Reflections and the angel and devil on our shoulder...

This evening, I’m ending my working day on a high.

This afternoon, I held a closing session with a coachee I have been coaching via my internal coaching role over the last 12 months, during the completion of their postgraduate qualification; they are due to graduate soon and have recently started their full-time career in the Prison Service.

Closing sessions are a great way to round up and reflect on the coaching journey. With permission, I am anonymously sharing some of their reflections, as – for me – they illustrate the power of engaging with coaching.

I have thoroughly enjoyed working with this person; from minute one they have been so engaged and committed to the process. They came to coaching with an open mind and a real desire to make changes, and see things from different perspectives, so they could progress and achieve the things they wanted. Graduating with a postgraduate qualification and gaining full-time employment in the Prison Service being two key goals.

I invite you to read their closing reflections and celebrate the accomplishment of their end goals, but also the work and effort they’ve put in along the way to get here.

Finally, to ‘M’, it has been a real privilege walking alongside you on this journey and I too will be celebrating you, tonight, with a Baileys, because it’s nearly Christmas, right?

Here's the next FAQ in my mini-series of FAQs.

In the introduction to my research request, I mentioned that I was hoping to demystify professional/executive/life coaching. As a consequence, I was asked what the difference is between a Life Coach and an Executive Coach. So here you go...

More on what professional coaching is coming up soon.

As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Laura x

LIFE COACH DIRECTORY.
You can now find me on the Life Coach Directory - link in bio.

I’ve been meaning to do this for a while and - for one reason or another - kept putting it off, so this feels like a big achievement.

I decided that NOW is the time.

I WILL make this final quarter of 2024 count, in a way that feels good for me!

Now that’s done, I’m off to celebrate my bravery with a good coffee and the next episode of The Hardacres!

Laura x

On this gorgeously sunny autumnal afternoon, I’m reminding you to make this final quarter of 2024 count.

- What needs to happen, in this final quarter of 2024, for you to MAKE IT COUNT?

- What does making it count look and feel like for you?

If you’re not sure what it is you want, or need, but feel it’s something, that’s ok - let’s talk it out.

- DM me
- Email me: laurahuntercoaching@gmail.com

Laura x

FAQs

Here is the next FAQ in the series, as I had a few questions about common coaching topics and themes.

In a nutshell, the most common topics I coach on tend to be around:

- Life balance - however that looks and feels for the individual.

- Self-doubt, lack of self-confidence and taming those imposter-type feelings.

- Navigating change & life transitions.

I hope you find this useful and, as always, I'd love to hear your thoughts on this. I'd also love to hear from fellow #coaches about the common topics you coach on.

Look out for the next FAQ coming soon.

Laura x

FAQs

Yesterday, over on my personal social media pages, I conducted some informal research by asking my followers what they wanted to know about coaching. In my experience, coaching can be enigmatic and I'm hoping to demystify what coaching is.

I feel so passionate about professional coaching, so any awareness I can bring to the coaching profession, and the positive, transformational impact it has on people's lives and wellbeing, can only be a good thing, in my opinion.

So here's the first FAQ. This question came up a lot and is, arguably, the most important one:

Q: What is Coaching?

A: There are many different definitions for coaching - individual coaches may well offer a slightly different definition, but, for me, coaching is all about supporting individuals to identify & achieve their life goals, personal and professional.

I often describe coaching as supporting people to bridge the gap between A & B: where they are now / how they feel (A) & where they want to be / how they want to feel (B).

I hope that helps clarify what coaching is all about.

Look out for the next FAQ coming up soon.

Laura x

"Coaching is an insurance policy for my sanity!"

Over the weekend, I very joyfully welcomed a previous client back to coaching. They are currently navigating an exciting life transition & want to maximise this final quarter of 2024. They have chosen a '3 Month Coaching Journey' package to support them to do this.

I’m so thrilled to be working together again - we have our first coaching session later this week 😊.

With permission, I am anonymously sharing their reasons for returning to coaching:

- To stay on track with their life goals.
- To manage their wellbeing - coaching supports them to tune into and connect with what they need - at different times - to feel good.
- To become "the best version” of themselves.

If this sounds like you, or you're intrigued by what coaching is all about, just head to my website (link in bio) or to my story highlights where there is more info about how we can work together - including what’s included in the '3 Month Coaching Journey' - and testimonials from previous clients.

In addition, I have very recently created a 'Make it Count' coaching package for individuals who want to maximise the time left in 2024. For more info, please just get in touch or check out the link in my bio for 'MAKE IT COUNT'. There's still time to make a change and achieve the things you want - and with this package, I'll be there, right beside you, cheering you on!

Laura x

Thanks to @shelfhelp.club for sharing this from @drtaraswart - I LOVE the simplicity of the receipt concept & hope others will feel empowered by it too.

In our busy lives, we can sometimes overlook the impact of small changes, and the small wins, believing success requires BIG actions or BIG change. In my experience, this tends to result in overwhelm, feeling daunted, and procrastination. So, to “start where you are, with what you have” potentially feels much more achievable? And realistic?

As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts on this

Laura x

Continuing with today’s theme around JOY, after a couple of lost Fedex parcels, I finally have my @icfheadquarters ACC pin badge! I’m feeling really proud to wear this badge, as it reflects the knowledge and skills I’ve demonstrated to achieve my ICF Credential - the global gold standard for professional coach credentialing. It also represents my commitment to professional coaching and the coaching industry.

Now I’m off on the school run, with an extra spring in my step!

Laura x

I’ve had a lovely slow start to my morning, enjoying a new episode from one of my all-time favourite tv programmes: All Creatures Great & Small.

It’s no exaggeration to say that this programme brings me a lot of JOY! I love the warm, fuzzy feeling I get watching it - it’s just a lovely, lovely programme ☺️ . I also love the decor and styling - it gives me lots inspiration.

You may remember it was at the top of my list of Joyful Things’ - a personalised print I won from @murphys_sketches - swipe to see - but instead of apple crumble and custard, it’s porridge and a sprinkling of brown sugar - something else I find joyful 😁.

I often speak about finding JOY in the small things and the above is exactly that; soaking up the small, everyday things that energise me and lift my mood.

I’d love to hear about a small JOY you’ve experienced today.

Laura x

What FEAR is holding you back?

Today's blog post - link in bio - is all about tackling fears and was inspired by a BIG fear of mine: uncertainty.
This showed up, unexpectedly, in my week, this week. Have a read and see how I managed it using a coaching approach.

As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts and if you’re interested in learning how to manage your fears, so you can make the progress that feels right for you, let’s talk.

Laura x

“Coaching has provided me with a set of skills I can take with me through life.”

Within my internal coaching role, the summer is a natural transition period and a great time to check-in with people I’ve coached over the last 12 months.

With their consent, I’d like to share some reflections from an individual I’ve had the privilege of coaching for 6+ months, as I feel this gives an insight in to how coaching supports people in all areas of life. Sharing their reflections also allows me to express gratitude - see my post from 18th July for more about that - and supports me to connect to my why; why I am passionate about coaching and how this work supports me to fulfil my purpose.

As always, I’d love to hear from you and if you resonate with managing overwhelm in stressful or high pressure situations, let’s have a chat.

Laura x

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