Coaching is about exploration, going beyond surface-level improvements to cultivate deep and lasting change.

The International Coaching Federation has a great definition here.

To paraphrase the ICF: Imagine driving on a road you’ve never travelled before. You’re in the driver’s seat, in control of the destination, but beside you is a trusted navigator — your coach — helping you see new possibilities, find alternate routes and ensure you don’t lose focus. This partnership ensures you hold the power to unlock answers you already have within, while also challenging you to go further than you imagined.

OK, let’s try what coaching is and isn’t!

Coaching is future-focussed. It supports: getting clarity on big decisions, exploring possibilties, building confidence, identifying and optimising your strengths, rewiring limiting beliefs and bad habits, helping create more positive beliefs and good habits, uncovering self-sabotage patterns, challenging you to see the blind spots others won’t tell you about, navigating conflict…providing clarity, resilience and purpose.

Coaching isn’t about having someone else holding you accountable; it isn’t advice or teaching; it’s not mentoring, consulting or training. This is because coaching is driven and directed by you; you’re in control and make the decisions.

Coaching also isn’t therapy. I’m a certified coach but I am not a psychotherapist and not qualified to explore trauma. It is possible to have coaching whilst also having therapy but one does not replace the other.

We start each coaching session with boundaries: I commit to maintaining confidentiality and remaining non-judgemental. The topic and pace is alway set by you. Safety and trust is key.

I’ll then ask you what you want to bring to the coaching session and that’s where I hand the reins completely over to you. You may come with a specific goal in mind - like how to approach an upcoming difficult conversation or explore techniques to deal with stress. Or it may be much broader - you feel stuck in a rut and want to find a way out, you want to explore the deep questions around your purpose, you’re about to make a big life change and want to see the path ahead.

We’ll spend the session - perhaps several sessions - exploring what you bring. I may introduce tools to help with focus or exploration, ask challenging questions, share resources or stories, but largely the session will feel like a conversation that has a consistent focus: you.

My approach to coaching is holisitic, So whilst, for example, you may bring a very specific work goal, if relevant the session may explore your wider strengths and values. Coaching can be a deep conversation but if there are areas you don’t want to discuss, you remain in complete control.

In short, it’s coaching outside! The process of coaching stays the same, but the environment changes how we think and feel.
Being outdoors often helps people think more freely and creatively. Nature offers calm, space and perspective. As with all my coaching, the session is led by you. We might walk, sit, or simply pause and reflect at a pace that suits you.

I usually meet clients at Norfolk Park in Sheffield. It’s a beautiful, accessible green space close to the city centre, within walking distance of the train station and on major bus routes. There’s also easy parking for cars and bikes.

Not at all! We won’t be hiking. Norfolk Park has wide, paved paths and plenty of benches. We’ll move at a pace that suits you, and there’s no need to walk any particular distance. If you’d rather stay in one place, that’s completely fine.

Norfolk Park has a friendly café and accessible toilet facilities.

I like the saying “there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing,” but I know it’s not for everyone. If the weather isn’t on our side, we can move our session to the café instead.
My usual policy of 48 hours’ notice applies if you want to reschedule or move online. If there’s a Yellow or higher Met Office weather warning, that notice period reduces to 24 hours.

Yes. I use Norfolk Park because it’s accessible, with wide paved routes, benches, and no steps. There are also accessible toilets nearby. The park is generally quiet on weekdays outside school holidays.
Sheffield’s hills may be a challenge for manual wheelchairs, but we can adapt the route or stay in one spot if that’s more comfortable. If coaching outdoors appeals to you but you have questions about accessibility, please get in touch so we can plan what works best.

If you can’t travel to Sheffield, I also offer coaching online.
Depending on distance and the number of sessions booked (usually six or more), we can explore other suitable green spaces. If travel is involved, I may add a small travel cost.

Wear something comfortable and weather-appropriate, along with shoes you’re happy to walk in. You might want to bring a drink, notebook, or anything that helps you feel at ease outdoors.

Yes. The same confidentiality standards apply as in all coaching. I choose quiet routes and spaces that allow for privacy, and we can pause or adjust if others are nearby.

Not necessarily. Some clients enjoy a gentle walk; others prefer to spend most of the time sitting and reflecting. The pace and flow are led by you.

Absolutely. Many clients like to combine the two as it suits them.