The Women’s Life Coach: FAQ

What happens when I first get in touch?

What happens at the first full session?

How soon will I start to notice the changes?

How many sessions will I need?

What’s the best length for a coaching session?

Let’s cut to the chase, how much does it cost?

How does the telephone coaching work. Surely body language is important?

What advantages are there to working by phone?

When are you available for coaching, Jan?

Do you have things like a Code of Practice or your own coach?

Could you tell me a bit about your background?

What if I live locally to you?

What happens when I first get in touch?
The first thing we’ll do is arrange a time to have a chat (normally over the phone). It takes about 20 minutes and is free of charge and without obligation (that is, there’s no obligation to have any more sessions after that). This 20 minute consultation gives you the chance to tell me what you’re hoping for through the coaching, and I can give you an idea of how we might set about working together.

It gives us both the opportunity to decide if coaching with me is the best catalyst of change for you. Click here to mail me, or call 01422 842543 to arrange a time that suits you.

What happens at the first full session?
The first session is an overview of the issue you’re bringing to coaching, in the context of your whole life as it presently is. The first session lasts an hour.

I guarantee (that’s 100% money back if I’m not right!) that you will end that session buzzing with ideas about the changes you can make and, primed with new ways of thinking, you’ll start things moving right here, right now.

How soon will I start to notice the changes?
Straight away. Often, before the first official session. In fact, I’ll go further, often women report changes immediately after or even during our initial 20-minute chat. The very fact that you’ve take the first step is enough to make you feel better, more in control.

And then, as long as you’re willing to take action I guarantee your life will change. Within days of our first session, you’ll be doing things differently, spotting new possibilities.

How many sessions will I need?
This varies from woman to woman. It averages out at 6 sessions; sometimes one is enough, and some women like to book a regular monthly conversation ad infinitum.

What’s the best length for a coaching session?
I have found that 45 minutes is a good length. Some clients prefer to book hour-long sessions. Once we’ve got things moving you may even want to opt for twenty or thirty minutes to touch base and make sure you’re focused on where you want to be.

Let’s cut to the chase, how much does it cost?
Coaching with me costs £1 a minute. Your first session will be an hour long and after that we can decide whether sessions should be 45 mins or an hour. After a sustained period of coaching you may need as little as 30 minutes per session. The cost includes email support in between times.

I ask for payment in advance of sessions. You can pay by cheque, bank transfer or, if you refer to pay by credit card, you can use PayPal. Just let me know and I’ll help you to arrange the best option for you.

How does the telephone coaching work. Surely body language is important?
You’re right it is. And also, it isn’t!

I find that within a few minutes of talking with someone I can gauge a huge amount from the pitch, speed, timbre of their voice. My hearing does the work that my eyes would do if we were in the same room. You’ll soon find that the same thing happens for you – in fact the conversations can be so real and vivid you might well forget the conversation took place over the phone at all. It will feel like we were in the same room.

I’d say that overall 80% of my clients have worked with me by phone.

What advantages are there to working by phone?
Working by phone means that appointments can be made whatever your schedule and location. An added bonus is that you avoid the time and costs associated with travelling to appointments. Because I work by phone I have been able to coach people in (for example) the Highlands of Scotland, in Cornwall, Norfolk, Ireland, and in mainland Europe, despite living in Yorkshire.

My experience of working this way is that clients feel quickly at ease, the relationship tends to be very balanced and it is possible to make progress really rapidly.

When are you available for coaching, Jan?
I’m generally available for sessions from Monday to Thursday 9-5, plus Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings (latest appointment 7 p.m.).

Do you have things like a Code of Practice or your own coach?
I’ve signed up to a Code of Practice; I belong to a professionals’ peer group of coaches, Coaching Associates North and have my own coach/mentor.

Could you tell me a bit about your background?
I have been working as a women’s life coach since 2003 and first started to work with women who were keen to change their lives way back in 1994, as a teacher in F.E.

I am passionate about our potential to get unstuck and really move on. My own story may cast some light on this:

I left school with very poor qualifications. Despite doing the whole 11+/grammar school thing I was demotivated and miraculously scraped some low grade GCEs.

Then, when I was almost 40 I got the studying bug. I really loved it. I couldn’t stop in fact, for 6 years. After an undergraduate degree, I did a Masters and then a PGCE for teaching adults.

Then I taught for a while. I taught women returners, women who had left school with little or nothing in the way of qualifications and who wanted to change their lives through education. I loved those students and rejoiced in their successes, but realised that teaching was not for me, so for a few years I worked as a manager in arts organisations.

In 2003 I got a coaching qualification and started my own business. That’s more than 7 years ago! And I’ve worked with women from so many different backgrounds: writers, artists, therapists, stay-at-home mums, administrators, accountants, social workers, teachers… it’s a long list.

If you’d like to know more you can find out what fires me up by clicking here.

What if I live locally to you?
Clients who live near my home in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire may wish to opt for face to face sessions in my lovely writing room, with its view over garden and woodland.

…and, to finish, a secret answer to another frequently asked question: yes, I coach men too!!!