100% of my clients feel empowered to make a change
Read my clients’ coaching journeys and feedback to help you decide if you’d like to work with me!
Identifying your core values and needs to drive career satisfaction and make decisions
I worked with Lesley in 2019 and she wrote this testimonial in 2024, reflecting on how the coaching we did together continues to help her when making career decisions.
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When I startred the coaching process, I had felt unfulfilled in my professional life for some time. I knew I needed change but I didn't know what to change to!
I found it really helpful to dig into my core values more. I now know that there are a number of beliefs I had that had been shaped by the people around me, rather than by my genuine beliefs, and digging deeper into times I have felt most in my element (past and present) helped me see for myself what was important to me. Having the exercises in workbook format was really helpful for me to work through when I was in the right mood and in my own time and space.
I was really surprised by one of the visualisation exercises (I admit I was sceptical but I went in with an open mind). I ended up crying it was so impactful! It was the one where you envisaged your future self - she was happy, content, calm, in control - none of which I particularly felt at the time. It gave me comfort knowing that everything would work out even if I felt lost right now.
As a result from the coaching process, I decided to return to work part-time so that I could have 1 day a week to continue to explore other aspects of my life. I decided that if I didn't know what to do career-wise yet, one thing I could control was to do the thing that is draining me, LESS. I used that time to pursue a craft workshop business I had set-up, and to generally have brain space for myself and to slow down. Several years later I have not returned to full-time work!
While I would say that I am still exploring my ideal career, I feel much more content and those first steps with you spurred me on to continue to explore other routes and to get closer to my deep-rooted needs and desires. I decided that the craft business wasn't the right model for me but I learnt a lot in the process and had a lot of fun - which is key!
I have now set up another business which is feeling really positive and is fulfilling many of my values and needs. Who knows where this path will lead me, but as long as I’m enjoying it I will be doing it!
Working with you also got me challenging what I THOUGHT I needed/wanted from a career (due to outside influence) and what I actually need/want. This, for me, is absolutely essential if I'm going to be able to find the right path at all.
Lesley - founder of A Life Less Complicated
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building the confidence to look for a job in a new sector
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When I started the coaching process, I didn't quite have a clear image of what it is I was hoping to achieve. I knew I wanted to change my profession, and move to a private sector. Having primarily been working within the charity/public sector, I lacked the confidence to even apply for new roles outside of my comfort zone.
Coaching is kind of like having a conversation with someone who isn't afraid to call you out on your (enter inappropriate word here), but in the most constructive way possible. The coaching workbook was great - made me actually examine what's important for me, not just the employer.
By the end of the coaching sessions, I had reworked my CV, started a proper job search and decided to stop applying for arbitrary reasons.
You are approachable and human. The conversation was very easy. Having tasks to do was good, and honestly an honest conversation with someone I don't have personal ties with who had an outsider view was great.
Jakub - Bussiness Support Officer
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Job hunting after a career break and preparing for the transition back into work
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I was starting a job hunt and needed help deciding which direction to take my career in next and support with the process of networking and applying to jobs. Coaching helped me think through my priorities, my strengths and what I need to thrive in work. Having someone to talk things though with boosted my confidence and sped up the job search process. I achieved my objective and found a job that suits my skills and career goals. I now have a framework I can return to whenever I want to plan my career.
I really enjoyed working with you! You are a great listener and talking things through with you helped me order my thoughts. You provided validation and great suggestions which gave me the confidence to take the little actions necessary to find a job. Your help on my cover letter was incredibly valuable and I think your worksheets are brilliant
Taro - Programme Manager
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building confidence to change jobs and setting healthy boundaries
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I wanted to regain confidence and be able to change jobs after a terrible work experience combined with debilitating health issues that made me lose self-esteem.
Thinking through what I want vs what I need vs what is expected of me really helped me realise what is actually important and what to look for in a new job. It also helped me set some healthy boundaries in my new job. Catherine also helped me with more concrete advice about the recruitment process, negotiation skills, etc. I found a new job while still being coached by Catherine, and in the last year in this new role I really thrived and managed to implement most of the techniques that we discussed.
You are very relaxed, and made me feel very at ease during the sessions. I felt you really thought through my specific situation when giving advice and didn't try to apply a generic template to my case. The sessions were long enough to have time to go deep into a specific topic. Also I liked to be able to decide on which exercise / topic I wanted to focus on that day.
Oriane - Programme Manager
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Returning to work after parental leave and making a big career decision
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I had just returned to work after parental leave to a new boss and to find my parental leave cover was being extended. I found I didn't fit into the team; I didn't feel valued or given space to fit back into my role. I was feeling very pushed out and wanted to try and find a way to navigate the team dynamics and successfully bed into my role again.
The coaching process gave me space to talk through and reflect on the situation I was going through and gain perspective. Catherine helped me discuss how to handle things proactively in a well considered manner and build back my self confidence.
I learnt about non violent communication and found a way to successfully frame my concerns to my boss in a way which was well received. I also came to the decision to leave my role and found the right timing with requesting voluntary redundancy to take this step which was really daunting.
I really enjoyed working with you. You were always friendly and you made it easy to open up and be vulnerable - I felt that you liked and respected me and had empathy for me and my situation. I appreciated that you were gentle with me as I was feeling really vulnerable throughout our time working together.
Lucy - Learning & Talent Development professional
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I was looking for someone to help me open my mind to opportunities beyond the obvious 'next step' in my career. Having only worked at one small agency, I needed help to figure out what alternatives could look like, and how feasible it'd be to take a sideways step. Catherine helped me figure out ways to get personal insights into other job roles and industries, and gave me very practical tips on how to keep motivated during a job hunt.
Catherine is absolutely lovely so it's very easy to open up and talk through your questions and concerns. I enjoyed working through the exercises: I found the values exercises the most helpful as they really helped to clarify which aspects of a job were the most important to me, and what things would be deal-breakers.
Olivia - Project Manager
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Catherine is a warm, personable coach who makes her clients feel at ease from the very first conversation. I worked with her over a period of several months, and through our work together I have got to know myself much better, and our conversations definitely helped me to finish and pass my own coaching diploma and to secure a new work opportunity. Thank you!
Read Kei’s coaching journey exploring her professional future
Kei - Coach and CSR Professional
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I was quite lost. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with my career. Catherine helped me to get to know myself more and what I actually want. She supported me during some turbulent times at work and made me think and reflect on the things I want from my career. At the moment I feel like I am in control of my decisions about my career and I have an action plan for what to do next.
Anna - Software Engineer
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I really enjoyed working with you. I was initially drawn to working with you because you seemed less 'corporate' compared to other coaches and career-changing businesses I looked at. I liked that who I was as a person was put front and centre of working through decisions. Sometimes I needed more concrete steps I could work on to fundamentally pull myself out of my own head, but knew I could say this to you and you would help me work them out. Your style of coaching is relaxed and approachable which resonated with me. You have the ability to ask the right question at the right time to prompt further thoughts and also feelings.
Jenna - Television Professional retraining as a Therapist
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It was very easy to work with you - I think it was really useful to have an initial free discovery call to talk about what I wanted from the coaching sessions and how you could help me. I also appreciated you sending me various exercises to do prior to starting the sessions as this enabled me to start thinking about some of the areas we touched on such as my values and strengths.
Read Julie’s coaching journey to grow her confidence at work and plan her career
Julie - Governance professional
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You have a guiding style. You impose nothing but you know how to get the right answers by asking the right questions.
Read Ouissem’s coaching journey about making career decisions.
Ouissem, Entrepreneur & Writer
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It was fantastic to work with you, I really cherished the free and safe space to unload my ideas and to then challenge and refine them together. I liked the flexibility to space out our sessions so that enough change and development occurred between each session.
Read Murray’s coaching journey about finding clarity and developing his self-knowledge.
Murray - Project Manager
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Catherine is such a lovely person and a great coach. I felt very at ease with her from the get-go, my confidence has really improved and I am now doing things I never thought I would be able to. Catherine is also an excellent listener and I would absolutely recommend her as a coach to anyone who is seeking a career change and wants to change their mindset.
Joe - Non-practising solicitor
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Catherine is absolutely brilliant, she has a warm, friendly and professional personality which made me feel at ease throughout our sessions. She helped me gain clarity and confidence in my decision making by breaking things down into manageable pieces, I was looking for direction with my career and she helped me find the answer in myself. I would highly recommend her!
Read Agatha’s coaching journey about growing her confidence and making decisions.
Agatha - from Real Estate to Teaching
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I really enjoyed working with Catherine. She gave me the space I needed to lay down my thoughts around my professional project while prompting me with questions which helped me to deepen and clarify what I wanted and what actions I needed to do. She helped me to turn thoughts into action without the feeling of being overwhelmed.
Read Claire’s coaching journey about gaining clarity on her business idea.
Claire Letellier - Cuisine Thérapie© Practitioner | Transformational Coach | Baker
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I love my sessions with Catherine. Her relaxed and personable approach is a great fit for me and my business. As a mother of 2 young boys and a freelancer, one of my big hurdles is time management and organisation. Catherine is helping me feel more in control of balancing all the life tasks I have to get through in a day/ a week. It helps with that feeling of being overwhelmed, especially as my business is a one-woman show. Catherine uses her expertise to help me with goals and the steps to get there. She asks the right questions and challenges my thinking without judgement or ever telling me what to do. I find our sessions very inspiring and they push me to move forward and continue to grow.
Joanne Warren Moore - freelance photographer
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Catherine is patient, respectful, very attentive and observant.
Read Dorit’s coaching journey about understanding herself better.
Dorit - Freelancer ceramic artist, cook, writer and peace activist
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It's been fun working with Catherine. She's helped me discover insights into my skills, personality, working style and interests which has helped me more broadly understand myself as a whole - beyond just my business, job title or CV. I've gotten to know myself better thanks to her expert guidance.
Amanda - Community Facilitator and Event Programmer
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The coaching sessions gave me a boost to progress my CV, helped me confirm the type of role I am looking for and gave me ideas and new directions to explore in terms of industries or where to look for another job.
Catherine is a really calm and down-to-earth person, so she will challenge your assumptions in a gentle way to enable you to progress and gain confidence towards your goals.
Isabelle, Marketing Manager
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Catherine helped me progress my thinking and define my goals for the next two years. Her approach really worked for me. I feel like I have a good plan in place and a new positive approach to what I want to achieve.
Fiona, Communications Manager
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Catherine helped me clarify my goals and she steered me towards useful resources. She has been great at keeping me accountable and focused, asking the right questions and helping me explore different options for my business. Her approach to coaching definitely worked for me.
Read Jane’s coaching journey about setting business goals and increasing her confidence.
Jane Walker, Web Designer
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I worked with Catherine for several months and really enjoyed the experience. She is charming, friendly and flexible, and open to sharing her own vulnerabilities too which I find reassuring in a coach. She definitely guided me towards some pretty profound insights about the direction I wanted to take my business, and helped me find a way through some challenges that honestly had seemed insurmountable.
Anna, Creative Producer
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Catherine is a truly superb coach, a great listener and I can't rate her services highly enough. I have gained clarity on my goals and feel confident in my ability to achieve them. Thank you Catherine!
Siobhan, Social Media Manager
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Catherine will help you identify the cause of your issue in an empowering way, Taking you step by step on the road of identifying why the situation is unclear and giving you tools to use in the future if you end up in a similar situation. She is a very good listener and she is good at making you face your feelings and admit how you feel even when you are in denial. She has a great intuition! These sessions have helped me have a better understanding of who I am, why I did not feel aligned with my job and how I can fulfil my dream.
Emilie, HR Specialist
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I think you listen exceptionally well and you asked me some really probing questions that made me think a lot. I feel much clearer in what I want at the moment in life and what's important.
H, Project Manager
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The process, a gradual build-up of confidence and clarity, has been — and still is — a highly informative and interactive process. Working with Catherine greatly helped me on the path to my next challenge.
Jens, Head of Global Operations
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Coaching helped me discover new blind spots which were holding me back from progress and get new tools to help me progress towards goals.
Kaite, Brand Marketing Manager
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Catherine has been a great listener, asking the right question and challenging enough to get me thinking on how I could change in my mindset. those sessions really helped me have a better understanding of how I could better manage my professional life and improve my way of working.
Mathilde, Group Buyer
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Your coaching helped speed up the process and bring clearer ideas quicker! You coach with passion!
Baptiste, Entrepreneur