As a woman, you have been feeling stuck or overwhelmed for a while. You are drained by internal conflict and wish you could reclaim some freedom. You want to make choices with clarity and confidence. You want to be seen and heard, but without judgement. You know you have something within you to ignite and really want to thrive on it. You’re curious about what could have been or could still be for you.

Deep inside, you know that investing in yourself is the answer, but until now something has held you back. However, you are finally here, looking for support and willing and ready to act to make what you really want actually happen.

Whatever your reasons for feeling stuck or overwhelmed, I can help you to get ahead without sacrificing your family or well-being.

Whether, as an unfulfilled woman, you want to...

…my holistic and evidence-based approach to coaching is how I will help you to get ahead.

Coaching is a personalised and transformative service which involves thought-provoking conversations and exercises to unlock your potential and maximise your performance in life. It helps you to:

The positive change is created gradually so that it can be sustained. Some of these changes will be visible to others and some just within yourself, but the change doesn’t need to be large to have a large impact on your life.

Investing in yourself

Investing in others in terms of your time, money or energy is a cost, but investing in yourself in the same way is an opportunity. Women who thrive in life invest in themselves just as easily as they do in others.

As difficult as this may sound, particularly for mums, sometimes you need to invest in yourself first, like on a flight when you have to secure your own oxygen mask before assisting anyone else. Imagine the benefits to you and those around you if you just chose to invest in yourself before others?

Magic potions don’t exist but the right coach for you does. Of course it’s possible to achieve positive change without a coach and many people do, but usually not as efficiently or as effectively. How have your own efforts served you so far?

It’s a false economy to choose not to see alternative perspectives, not to be held to account and not to identify and learn from mistakes earlier. Investing in yourself is simply a matter of choice and those that get ahead choose coaching with conviction.

A carefully considered dream can become a reality, but knowledge without action is useless. Coaching helps you to take inspired action so why not take a leap of faith and get in touch?

So why choose me on this journey to support you?

My story

If you’d met me in 2016, you’d have thought my life was great. And it was – on paper. I was an experienced GP with an interesting CV reflecting years of hard work and achievements in different specialties and countries. I was practising in a friendly, small surgery in the lovely Cotswolds with great colleagues and serving a loyal community of patients. I lived just a short drive away with my beautiful young family in a quaint and rural town. What’s not to like? But something profound was missing and underneath the veneer I was not happy.

After having my children and despite reducing my hours, I became increasingly unfulfilled as a GP. My work-life balance didn’t reflect my values and continued to deteriorate as the demands and constraints of the NHS increased. The impact on my family was palpable and I hadn’t fully appreciated the extent of the bullying my daughter was suffering from at school. An intense 14-hour working day was not conducive to deep and meaningful conversations with a 7-year old! The bottom line – although I was a loved and highly respected GP, I no longer enjoyed General Practice and I wasn’t the wife and mother I had hoped I would become. Surely there was more to life than this?

In 2017 I found myself at a crossroads as my surgery, like many other small surgeries in the country, was closing. Although I had every intention at the time of continuing to work as a GP locally I decided to have a short sabbatical first. However, in this time I experienced life as I had always hoped it could be – quality time with family and friends, watching my children blossom with contentment and space for my own personal reflection. I knew there was no way I was returning to my previous life. However, due to a rollercoaster ride of emotions including shame, anger, guilt and fear, it took me two years before I finally removed my name from the GP register.

The emotional response to the loss of identity that I experienced with leaving my medical career was like that of grief, but like most, I came out the other end stronger and wiser.

In late 2018 I discovered my passion and talent for coaching and began my formal and comprehensive retraining with The Coaching Academy to become a professional certified coach. I received coaching myself along the way and I used my newly acquired coaching skills to support my own daughter in overcoming the impact of her school bullying. As a result, she grew into a happy and confident pre-teen ready to take on the world and my faith in the coaching process was fortified.

In early 2020 I qualified with a distinction and set up my own coaching practice, Cotswold Coaching Clinic, helping other women to achieve their own success and lead fulfilling lives. Seeing others overcome their self-doubt and procrastination to avoid the pain of future regrets is humbling and inspiring. As an accredited coach and affiliate member of the Institute of Coaching at McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School affiliate, I am proudly committed to the highest quality of professional coaching.

My life finally feels authentic and balanced because I am at peace with myself personally and professionally. Knowing who you really are (not who you or society think you should be) and working towards your true potential is liberating and empowering.

Having walked the talk myself I can help you to clarify and implement whatever change you are looking for.

Coaching sessions take place via Zoom (or in person if local) at times convenient to you including evenings and weekends. You will leave each session with a challenging but empowering action plan which you are comfortable with and motivated by.

Closing the gender pay gap

In 2019 the Office for National Statistics reported that 75.1% of mothers with dependent children were in work. Although this percentage has gradually increased over the last two decades, many working mothers continue to struggle with their career progression, feeling the need to work harder to prove themselves. As a result, it’s not unusual for women to retrain after starting a family in order to achieve the flexibility they want and the well-being they deserve.

Family-friendly organisations do not just offer flexi-time and childcare schemes; they invest in their working mothers to enhance performance and progression, promote inclusion and well-being, and reduce their gender pay gap. Diverse group coaching of working mothers can achieve this and I offer this service through my bespoke programme Revive and Thrive Together.

I also deliver a 3-hour ‘taster’ workshop for Revive and Thrive Together. This covers some of the basic elements of the full programme and introduces participants to the practice of coaching.

Contact me directly at sally@cotswoldcoachingclinic.com if you would like to learn more about the ‘taster’ workshop or the full Revive and Thrive Together programme.

Well-being in the workplace

As a former GP I witnessed first-hand the impact of work-related stress on my patients, and because of this, I am passionate about creating a culture of well-being in the workplace. By working with you to understand the needs and desires of individual employees and your organisation as a whole, I can design and deliver bespoke services to improve employee well-being and workplace culture. These services may include talks, workshops and/or coaching.

My holistic approach to well-being addresses mindset and performance by exploring leadership behaviours. These behaviours are relevant to everyone – not just those in leadership roles. Employees are leaders of their own lives and by developing their leadership behaviours they can improve their confidence, well-being and engagement. Collectively, this enhances the resilience of your organisation in terms of its culture, reputation, retention and productivity.

Contact me directly at sally@cotswoldcoachingclinic.com if you would like to learn more about how I can help you create a culture of well-being in the workplace.

Life coaching in hospitality

Are you a hotel or spa manager looking to expand your offerings in an innovative way? Would you like your guests to feel good inside and out? Do you want to enhance your footfall, revenue and reputation? Life coaching could be the answer!

We live in such a fast-paced world that the opportunity for true relaxation is not only limited, but priceless. Hotels and spas offer the chance to unwind but guests want more than traditional spa treatments, physical fitness and nutritious food. They want to experience the full mind and body rejuvenation that they deserve, and life coaching can help you to complete your holistic offering for guests.

Life coaching is a highly personalised and transformative wellness offering. It helps you to understand who you really are, what you actually want from life and how to overcome the thoughts that hold you back so you can achieve your goals. It is most effective when individuals give themselves the space they need to reflect which is why hotels and spas are perfectly placed to enrich their guests' wellness experience.

I often describe life coaching as a preventative medicine because of the significant impact it has on my clients’ well-being. Coupled with more traditional spa offerings, life coaching makes individuals feel energised and empowered.

The delivery of life coaching can be tailored to meet the needs of both the hotel/spa and your guests, for example:

• Face-to-face or virtually
• One-to-one or in groups
• Standalone or as part of a package (including overnight stays or retreats)
• Walk and talk in nature

Contact me directly at sally@cotswoldcoachingclinic.com to learn more about how my life coaching services could complement your current offerings and benefit your guests.

Previous clients

Do you only coach women?

I have a particular interest in coaching women, but I have also coached men (and even children) – a bit like a GP with a special interest in Women’s Health who is qualified to see and help all of their other patients as well.

The key to effective coaching is the relationship itself. So as long as we have a great connection and we both feel that you would benefit from my service then I am happy to coach you.

Is coaching right for me, my employee or my child?

Quality of life is enhanced when we achieve fulfilling goals in our personal and professional lives. However, there does have to be a commitment on your part if coaching is to be effective:

• You must be voluntarily willing to be coached (not forced or expected).
• You must be ready now to start taking the actions that will move you forward.
• You must be able to tolerate the uncertainty that may come with change.

Occasionally coaching is not suitable, for instance:

• If you are experiencing current signs and symptoms of an untreated mental health problem.
• If your employee is being held back by a lack of training rather than their perceptions and beliefs.
• If your child is not yet academically or emotionally able to engage with the coaching process.

If you can satisfy these criteria, it is never too early or too late to benefit from performance coaching for success.

Will you advise me on what I should/need to do?

No.

Coaching is different to mentoring, consulting and therapy in that it is not an advisory or medical service. Only you know what is best for your life and as you are the expert in ‘you’, it is your responsibility to choose and implement the actions towards change.

My role is to create a safe space for you to be honest with yourself, provide structured support using reliable tools and strategies, compassionately challenge your thinking to unlock possibility and hold you to account so you keep moving forward with your self-discovery and self-improvement.

What if I want to focus on personal rather than professional goals?

It is entirely up to you what you decide to focus on in your sessions. Your personal and professional performance is closely linked in that improving how you show up in your private life will have a positive effect on your work life and vice versa. Helping you to get ahead in either area of your life will contribute to your overall success.

In practice, the interdependency of both areas of your life means it is difficult to focus on one without considering the other and so most clients choose to work with both personal and professional goals during the course of their coaching with me.

Could I get upset during sessions?

Coaching focuses on your current strengths and future success – it is a positive and forward-thinking approach and does not focus on your past. Some of the life-changing insights you gain about yourself in sessions may at times make you feel emotional and this is normal. However, the positive outcomes of coaching always outweigh any short-lived negative emotions that you might experience.

How are you different to other coaches?

Having worked as a doctor for 17 years, my coaching practice is built on a foundation of integrity, strict confidentiality and putting the client’s needs first.

By radically transforming my own life I understand what women (especially mothers) need, not only to reach their potential, but also to sustain it.

I will have time for you, want the best for you and will always speak the truth to you. Our relationship will be collaborative, based on mutual trust, respect and our shared goal of achieving the change you want for yourself.

What if my goals change during the programme?

It’s actually quite common for your goals to change (either slightly or drastically) as you learn more about yourself, what you’re capable of and what you really want. This is not a bad thing and I continue to support you through any changes you make whilst also challenging you so that you have the self-awareness you need to create the right path for you.

If as a result of changing direction you complete the programme before reaching your desired outcome, you may find that you’ve already gained all the strength and insight you need to see you through and that’s great news. Alternatively, if you reach the end of the programme before this and would prefer to continue working with me for a little longer, then further individual sessions can be booked depending on what you feel would benefit you.

Can your coaching contribute to my continuing professional development (CPD) training?

Cotswold Coaching Clinic is not a registered CPD provider. However, some of my previous clients chose to get approval from their employer for coaching during normal working hours as it is a form of professional development. Others didn’t want to disclose their coaching to their employers and chose to be coached in the evenings or at weekends.

What else can you tell me that would convince me to work with you?

As you progress in your coaching journey with me you will become more aware, creative, decisive, confident and resilient. As a result you will feel more relaxed about what the future holds for you. Those around you will also notice positive changes in how you show up every day. The tools and strategies that I share and use with you can be used time and time again in the future so that you are always in control. The good habits that you build not only last the test of time, but can also be modelled by your children.

However, coaching is not effective if you do not possess a real desire for change or the emotional courage to confront your vulnerabilities. If so, then it’s possible that you are not yet ready to be coached or that you would be better suited to working with an alternative coach.

Do you provide ongoing support after the programme has finished?

Some clients choose to continue working with me long-term to sustain their growth. Depending on their needs they may book ad-hoc sessions, bi-annual coaching or complete programmes.

Coaching works because of the strong relationship that builds between you and your coach.

My service to you is personal, private and confidential from start to finish. You will deal directly with me – not a PA or a VA or an automated calendar system.