Do you sometimes feel like this at the end - or even the beginning! - of your day?

We tend to become so caught up in pressures and simply keeping everything in motion that it can be hard to stop, look around and assess whether we are going the right way, or even whether we want to "go" at all.

Life Coaching gives you space to stop and reflect, and asks provocative questions to help you think about why you are living the life you are, and if it is really what you want.

Coaching is a powerful and extremely flexible method of helping people set and move towards their goals - whatever they may be.

There are as many different approaches to coaching as there are coaches, so it is important to explain a little about how we work as well as the services we offer.

Coaching with Drastic Action...

Coaching can achieve remarkable results in a very short space of time if you have a clear sense of what you want. Within a 30 minute session it is possible to clarify your objective, explore options, decide upon strategies to overcome obstacles and plan a series of steps to move you towards your goal.

Goal setting is an excellent approach for getting things done, becoming better organised, coping with projects where there is a fixed deadline, etc. It works regardless of whether you know the coach or not, and can be used on a sporadic basis whenever there is an urgent need to accomplish a specific objective. (The "Bookending" service is especially effective for this)

In addition to the fundamental TGROW model, coaching uses a particular technique of provocative questioning to help clients think about their lives in different ways. Experiential exercises can be used to focus on particular areas that need attention.

But what if you don't know what you want?

Unfortunately the reason many people seek coaching is that they have trouble knowing exactly what they want. Uncertainty, indecision, lack of confidence and resistance to taking obvious steps are common problems that can be hard to deal with alone.

In these cases coaching can be equally effective, but it usually takes a little longer and requires a different approach.

Problems such as indecisiveness or under-achievement are bound up with your sense of identity - who you believe you are, what you think you are capable of, and the sort of life that you feel is destined for a "person like you".

Rather than pressing on with endless goal-setting, Drastic Action draws on two other methods which have been proved effective for dealing with identity conflicts.

Narrative Coaching

We all create elaborate internal stories about our lives, and cast ourselves as particular characters whose fate is played out. Narrative Coaching - a powerful new approach - explores and challenges these myths that we live by, and helps you rewrite them to achieve tangible changes in how you feel and behave. We work with the 'stories' you create about your life using a combination of psychology and acting theory and practice.

Psychodynamic coaching

People rarely know exactly why they wait until the last minute before starting projects, walk out of flourishing relationships over minor arguments or feel dissatisfied with everything they achieve. But there are reasons... Psychodynamic Coaching pays particular attention to the underlying factors which prevent you from living the life you really want.

Given the right questions, in the right coaching relationship it is possible to uncover why you undermine your efforts, lack confidence or communicate in a way that antagonises rather than endears.

Starting from the same assumption that there is a reason which explains why we behave as we do, the BBC TV show Spendaholics provides weekly examples of this process in action: revealing the emotional factors which lead people compulsively to spend beyond their means. Psychodynamic coaching provides a similar blend of personal discovery and practical help with making changes (although we don't actually go shopping with you!)

Which Coaching is better for you?

A 12 week programme, or life coaching?

Life coaching sessions usually take place once or twice a week at fixed times. They can be booked either individually, monthly, or in blocks of 12 sessions for a 20% discount.

This arrangement is perfect for people who:

Programmes are designed for those who want to sort out a particular area of their life - such as lack of confidence, dissatisfaction with career options, or making life more manageable. Tackling a whole aspect of your life usually requires a commitment of at least 12 sessions, and there are certain core topics that will be discussed. The length and specific focus of the programme will allow you to explore the issue in depth, from several different perspectives, and create a detailed plan once you have decided how you want to move forward.

30 minute or 1 hour sessions?

Getting to the real issues that may be holding you back can take time, so initially we recommend coaching sessions of 60 minutes, rather than the fast-paced 30 minute “set a goal and move on” approach. Once coaching is established shorter sessions may be more effective, and some clients find two 30 min sessions a week preferable - so we offer both options.

Telephone Coaching or in Person?

This is a matter for personal choice and logistics. Most clients prefer to meet in person at some stage in order to have a picture of who they are talking to. But the majority of the time - especially in winter - telephone coaching is usually easier to fit into busy schedules, and reduces time spent travelling. Telephone coaching is just as effective as face-to-face work for most people, and tends to improve concentration so more can be achieved.

The choice is yours: you can either telephone or come to sessions in my comfortable office in Temple Cloud near Bristol.

Face to face meetings are required for voice and body-work sessions, or for those that involve more acting techniques.

Phone now for your  reduced fee introductory coaching session

01761 348049

or contact me via email