Relaxing on a summer's day
My life has been full of fun, adventure, change and challenge. I grew up in Buckinghamshire, went to college in Cheltenham, and now live on the London/Essex border.
I started professional life as a school teacher working in East London. This was a daunting job, with lots of highs and lows. After a few years I decided that it wasn't right for me. I felt that my life had been dull and wanted to explore other things. I left to travel the world and took a 6 month trip from London to Bali on a double decker bus. This opened my eyes to many amazing sights and sounds and gave me confidence that I could do whatever I wanted.
Wild and free in Ngorogoro Crater, Tanzania
I then got a job teaching English in Brunei, SE Asia. I had a wonderful 3 years there, travelling all over South East Asia and enjoying life and work in the tropics. At the end of my contract I took another 6 months off to travel across Australia, New Zealand and the United States.
On my return I worked briefly as a temporary secretary in offices across London, and in magistrates' training, before going to King's College School of Medicine & Dentistry, where I worked initially on a mental health project. I changed jobs several times within the college, ultimately becoming an Education Advisor and Senior Lecturer, working on the undergraduate curriculum, and training doctors and dentists to teach. I also undertook research and gained a PhD in education.
Diving in the South China Sea
After 11 years there, I was again ready to break away, and took the opportunity of voluntary redundancy. While at work I had several experiences where colleagues, after talking to me, suddenly decided to change their careers/lives. I realised that sometimes, all it takes for people to change their lives is to have someone encourage and believe in them. I decided to take a year out and use my redundancy to train as a life coach with the European Coaching Foundation (now the Rivas-Palmer Foundation).
I now work freelance as an educationalist and life coach. I enjoy the variety and the ability to work from home.
Donegal - one of my favourite places
Outside work, I love playing tennis, walking and cycling in the countryside, playing the piano, dancing, meeting up with friends and family, including my 7 year old niece, and learning languages. I have also been involved in a range of voluntary work, most recently with a local nightshelter.
I find life coaching satisfying because I see how people's lives can change when they start to believe in themselves. Your goals may be totally different to mine, but if you can achieve them, then we will both be happy. I look forward to working with you.