Frequently Asked Questions about Neuroscience-Based Coaching & What to Expect
All of your Burning Questions about Neuroscience-Based Coaching Answered:
What makes you Qualified to Coach me?
Coaching is an unregulated industry. You may have noticed a lot of people on Social Media calling themselves “Coaches” with little to no experience, qualifications or credibility. In efforts to professionalise the industry, various quality assurance processes have been put in place. These ensure Accredited Coaches are given adequate training, continuous professional development and accreditations to recognise their profession as a Coach.
I completed a year-long Certificate in Professional Coaching between 2021 – 2022 through Your Balanced Mind. This involved various Workshops, 6x Two Day In-Person Training Modules, Co-Coaching, Coach Supervision, Coaching Observation, Coaching Tool Implementation, Case Studies, Coursework, Assignments and Self-Study. This intensive qualification provided me with Accreditation as a Professional Coach through the Association for Coaching. I’ve continued to work with both organisations since qualifying, to ensure I’m constantly learning and improving my skillset as a Coach.
I’ve trained in Exploring Autism through Chimp Management with world-renowned Psychologist, Professor Steve Peters (Author of The Chimp Paradox) and I’m a member of The Coaching Masters, where I constantly access further online training and co-coaching to keep my skills up-to-date. I have completed Trauma-Informed Practice Training with the incredible Zoe Lodrick, to widen my services to support those who have experienced Trauma. I’ve completed the Springboard Women’s Development Course and I’m a trained Mentor. I engage in self-study every day, focusing on Personal and Professional Development through reading and online courses. I specialise in Neuroscience-Based Coaching, Neurodiversity (specialising in Autism and ADHD), Mental Health and Trauma Recovery.
To learn more about me, please visit the About Me page through the link (COMING SOON) (it will open a new tab).
Do you only work with people who are Neurodivergent?
Not at all. I work on a completely Neuro-Inclusive basis. I was late-diagnosed autistic and ADHD myself in 2021 at the age of 28. This gives me an additional “string to my bow” in terms of lived experience and first-hand knowledge of the challenges faced under the umbrella of Neurodiversity. I also have personal experience of PTSD and I’ve worked with people across the entire human spectrum in various roles over the past 12 years. There is no gate-keeping involved in entering into a Coaching relationship with me. If we vibe, we vibe, no matter what your neuro-type is.
What actually IS Coaching?
I’m going to refer to The Coaching Masters to explain:
“Coaching, at its most basic, is a non-directive collaborative conversation between Coach and Coachee, that can enable profound change through choices, questions, reflections and new behaviours. As part of this process, Clients are empowered to make courageous decisions about their work, life and much more.”
“Coaching is where a Coach works with a Client and facilitates change within that client’s perception, by asking questions and taking them through frameworks, in order for that Client’s perception to change so much that they’re then willing to take action on things that will help them and serve them.”
“Coaching is asking challenging and thought-provoking questions that allow the Client to uncover the answer for themselves.”
Coaching is not teaching, consulting, mentoring, counselling or therapy. However, experiencing Coaching is a very therapeutic process.
Here is another excerpt from The Coaching Masters about how Coaching differs from those other roles:
“A Consultant gives advice based on experience. A Teacher gives advice based on education (but not limited to). A Mentor gives advice based on experience (“this isn’t how it’s usually taught, but this is what I did, so you can be my protégé”). A Counsellor is exploring the past. A Coach is asking questions in order to dig into your mind and allow you to move forward.”
Coaching is Future-Focused and Non-Directive.
How many sessions will I need?
There isn’t a set number of sessions, as everyone’s goals are different and may require more or less time in a Coaching Environment to achieve them. I book sessions in blocks of 4, 6, 8 or 10, with the option to add further sessions, either as another course or at a single session rate. I avoid booking single sessions, except for returning Coachees who feel they just need a “top-up” session, or in extenuating circumstances, where someone’s goal is very specific and can feasibly be progressed in one session.
What time commitment is required of me to make Coaching a Success?
A coaching session will last around 1 hour, depending on the session goal. I recommend putting aside 1.5 hours of your time for each session to give yourself a few minutes before and after to plan your goal and then reflect on the session. I book sessions every two to three weeks, as this gives you time to put your plans into action, but doesn’t leave it too long for you to become disengaged from the benefits.
What if I need a different type of Therapy or Support?
As mentioned above, Coaching is not Counselling. Whilst I have completed training in Trauma-Informed Practice and have lived experience of PTSD and EMDR, I also recognise the years of specialist training held by Therapists and Psychologists, who are competent and qualified in supporting long-term recovery from Trauma. Coaching is forward-facing, so if it feels like we’re back-stepping too often for you to feel the benefits of Coaching fully, or I think you’d benefit from Counselling or Trauma Therapy before engaging in a Coaching relationship, I will be completely honest with you. I will honour any paid sessions for when you’re ready to re-engage in Coaching.
This isn’t to gate-keep access to Coaching, but to ensure your Psychological Safety at all times when Coaching with me. Trauma experiences are an area we can definitely explore during Coaching, but I won’t unpack deep-rooted past traumas with my Coachees and risk not being suitably trained or qualified to support you through the process. The most important thing to me is your Wellbeing.
What can I do to prepare for a Coaching session to make it a Success?
Decide what you want to achieve, short-term and long-term. Try to identify what would make this a successful coaching session in your own mind. What would make you feel fulfilled? What is it you want to get out of the process?
I recommend keeping a journal throughout your Coaching Journey. This doesn’t need to be laborious; a basic reflective log to solidify any mindset shifts during the sessions, and track your progress and remind yourself how far you’ve come. This can be completely private and can just be your “thought dump” after each session; it could even just be on the notes on your phone if that’s easier!
Bring an open mind, whatever that means to you; be open to being wrong and be open to being right. Coaching requires a “buy-in” from both Coach and Coachee to make it a successful partnership; this isn’t about the financial buy-in, this is about you being genuinely engaging and open during your sessions with me to maximise value for yourself, and me promising to do the same for you.
Prepare to be challenged! My role as your Coach is not to try and make you like me, it’s to support you in becoming a happier, more confident, more successful individual, however that looks to you. We usually engage in Coaching because we’re of the perspective that something isn’t working, so in that case, you have to be prepared that something needs to change. Coaching will challenge you.
Rest assured, I always coach from a kind, non-judgemental and compassionate place; I’m not about being “cruel to be kind”. I will simply be honest and open with you, on the basis that I would expect the same of my own Coach and will expect the same of you.
Expect to change! Change is scary, but change is GOOD, and the whole point of this process is to facilitate and expedite life-changing propulsion towards your ideal life.
Do you ever Mentor your Clients?
Coaching and Mentoring are different approaches, where Mentoring becomes more directive. I avoid moving into a Mentoring space for the following reasons:
- I know the answers are within you, so I will not disempower or undermine you by assuming that either you don’t know, or “I know best”, and talking over you in a Directive approach.
- I believe Coaching offers more opportunity for exponential personal growth and development than Mentoring alone, as it gives you the time and space to assimilate your thoughts.
When WILL I move into a Mentoring space?
If I ever move out of a Coaching space and into a Mentoring space, I will inform you that I’m doing so to make the distinction between Coaching and Mentoring clear in that moment. I will also inform you when I return to a Coaching space.
- If you’re struggling to overcome a specific barrier and I have personal experience of doing so, I may ask if you would LIKE my perspective, but I will never force it upon you and I will avoid giving advice.
- If we move into the realms of Trauma or Neurodiversity, especially if you’re experiencing negative feelings about either, I may ask if you would like me to cover some of the Neuroscience behind these areas, as many of my Coachees find it very validating to understand that they are not weak or broken at all.
- If you appear to be circling around the same mindset and hitting a stumbling block to progress within the session, I may ask if you mind whether I make an observation; for example, “I noticed you were becoming a little upset when talking about that, but you didn’t stay there before moving on; is that something you want to talk about?” You can always say no, but often these observations help us to address the true root issues that may be impeding your progress, such as internalised messaging or negative self-talk that we could reframe.
What sort of Techniques and Tools do you use in Coaching?
I fell in love with Neuroscience when I began my Coaching studies and have used this as a basis for the majority of my work. I also value Mindfulness, Emotion-Based Coaching and Visualisation.
During a Coaching session, I tend to follow the GROW Model Framework to maintain a loose structure to the session.
I also employ Time to Think techniques from Nancy Kline’s book, which means there may be times when you feel you’ve answered a question, but I remain quiet. This isn’t because I’ve suddenly “powered down”, or lost interest, but it’s to give you the time and space to really think about whether you have anything else in your mind that you would like to bring to the conversation. Often in day-to-day life, we communicate in a frenzied, back-and-forth dynamic, where first answers are taken verbatim and the conversation moves on before you’ve even fully considered whether you’ve said all you wanted to say. We then reflect later on and wish we’d said that thing! By giving you that empty space to just think, talk and reflect, Coachees often come away from sessions feeling much “lighter”, because you’ve been able to expel a lot of the mount-up thoughts in their mind, through a safe “thinking partnership”.
Alongside the Coaching conversations, I may sometimes use tools I feel will benefit the Coachee’s specific journey. Some of my favourite tools are the Emotional Landscape, Perceptual Positions, Resourcefulness Timeline and Values Hierachy. If I think these tools will bring you value, I will go into more detail about them within our session.
Is it really Confidential?
Absolutely. Everything we discuss within a Coaching Session remains confidential and will not be shared any further. There are only two situations where this does not apply:
- In any situation where I have a genuine belief that there is a risk of harm to yourself or another person; I will be honest with you in this situation and will endeavour to support you through the least invasive approach, always prioritising the safety of yourself and others.
- If you provide me with explicit permission to share anonymously any success stories where incredible breakthroughs have been achieved by you.
How do you facilitate Coaching?
My practice is based in Northampton, England and I’m in the process of setting up my “Coaching Corner” from my home for in-person Coaching (the address is provided on confirmation of booking). In-Person Coaching is always my preference and I can recommend local hotels if you choose to travel for your session.
I work internationally across multiple countries and time zones, so for Coachees who can’t travel to me, I utilise the amazing power of the internet to provide Coaching through Microsoft Teams. I’m keen to remove barriers to Coaching, especially for those who may feel uncomfortable about a face-to-face dynamic.
I really enjoy Coaching in Nature, taking walks in the countryside side by side, or even sitting at a local beauty spot. I used to do a lot of Coaching in Coffee Shops, but I try to avoid this now the weather is improving in the UK, as they’re often very noisy environments and privacy isn’t always guaranteed.
If you are too far away for an in-person walk, we can always go for a walk together on a video call; location is but a small hurdle, and often this can be a great middle ground to provide a Coachee with bilateral stimulation whilst engaging in Coaching.
If you have any more questions, please reach out to me via Instagram @theautonomycoach.