About
Why I coach and how I work
Why I coach
Coaching came into my life at a turning point. After redundancy, I took a round-the-world trip to decompress and rethink my future. Between long flights, strangers’ stories, and moments of reflection, I realised I wanted to set up on my own.
I’d always wanted to make a positive impact, and coaching was the skill I knew I could use. I’d been doing it for years in leadership and recognised it could be used differently to help people more directly.
In Japan, I went to an event with a life coach where we shared what we wanted to do next. In that moment I thought — yes, this is it. I came home and made it happen. Helping people open their minds and understand themselves has kept me coaching ever since.
"Helping someone open their mind and learn more about themselves is deeply rewarding."
As a gay man growing up during Section 28, societal support was scarce. I learned what it meant to carry shame and search for belonging. That journey gave me resilience and empathy, and it’s why I care so deeply about creating safe, non-judgemental spaces for others.
Over time, I’ve built awareness of how I see and react to the world — noticing patterns, pressures, and what I find difficult. I’ve faced periods of anxiety and depression. That taught me how powerful self-understanding can be, and I bring that into my coaching.
Outside coaching, you’ll find me writing music, out in nature, or planning my next trip. These are the spaces where I recharge and find perspective — the same presence I bring into coaching.
“That taught me how powerful self-understanding can be.”
Coaching with me
I bring both formal coach training and lived authority. My work is shaped by navigating shame and self-worth, and turning those lessons into insight for others. I’ve lived through uncertainty myself, and I know how powerful it is to be seen and supported. That blend of experience and training means I can stand beside people through change, challenge, and growth.
My vision is simple:
Support clients to overcome challenges and achieve their most authentic selves
Build a community of open-minded, emotionally aware individuals
Help people pull their future into the present
Coaching with me is safe, human, and collaborative. I work with honesty, curiosity, and emotional presence — offering challenge without judgement and favouring authenticity over performance. I create spaces where people can explore at their own pace, build self-awareness, and grow their self-trust.
Life coaching is an interesting term. I embrace it in some ways and resist it in others, depending on how the label is used. For some, it suggests clichés or quick fixes. I do believe in quick wins when they’re right — a small change can make a big difference. But my work is about more than surface solutions: it’s about helping people understand themselves and move forward with lasting clarity and confidence.
I’m not here to offer toxic positivity or brush past the hard stuff. Sometimes that distraction helps, but often the way forward is to pause and unpack what’s really there. Progress comes from working with emotion, not ignoring it.
What to expect
You won’t find quick fixes or templates here. Coaching with me is real, human, and led by what you need. Sometimes that’s a bold challenge. Sometimes it’s space to exhale. Always, it’s grounded in curiosity, honesty, and non-judgement.
We might use reflections, stories, models, pattern-spotting, or emotional depth — flexible tools to help you think clearly and act meaningfully.
Professionally
trained in coaching
Certified in Neuro-Linguistic Programming
Member of the Association for Coaching, following its Code of Ethics
Ongoing supervision and CPD for continual growth
I also embrace the role of AI in self-development. For some people it’s useful, and I’ll suggest ways it can enhance reflection, creativity, and structure. But AI can never replace empathy, connection, and human understanding — the heart of coaching will always be the human relationship.
If you’d like to explore working together:
If you’re ready to start: