Coaching for clarity, resilience, and sustainable change

A calm, structured approach to coaching complex challenges

How I work with clients

I offer coaching and mentoring as a structured thinking partnership, rather than a programme, a course, or a prescriptive process. It’s a space to slow things down, make sense of complexity, and work out what actually matters, without pressure to perform or conform to a model.

Curiosity is my biggest drive. I don’t rely on assumptions, but pay close attention to the details of your experience. My brain naturally notices discrepancies and connections, helping to bring clarity to situations that feel complex or stuck. I don’t try to interpret you or read between the lines. You can speak freely, without pressure to perform or be anything other than yourself.

Some people come with a specific issue they want clarity on. Others are navigating something broader or less defined. Both are welcome. Because of my own personal and professional background, I also offer dedicated thinking partnerships for late diagnosed autistic professionals, as well as those navigating the unique pressures of hotel management and digital, SEO, and analytics roles.

What people typically work on

Clients come to me with a wide range of situations, but common themes include:

  • decision-making when everything feels tangled or overwhelming
  • rebuilding confidence after burnout, loss, or prolonged stress
  • making sense of complex emotions or internal conflict
  • improving communication in professional or leadership contexts
  • finding direction when the old ways of operating no longer fit

We don’t need to define or label the problem neatly upfront. Often, this becomes clear as we talk.

Scenic rural road sign on farmland with clear blue sky and clouds.

Coaching and Mentoring

Most of my work is coaching: offering a structured, thoughtful space to slow things down, helping you reflect and question assumptions, make sense of complexity, and regain clarity when things feel unclear, overwhelming or emotionally heavy.

Coaching isn’t about forcing insight or action, but about understanding what’s going on and finding a way forward that fits your capacity and context.
In some cases, particularly with analytical, technical, or digital professionals, mentoring can be more appropriate. That might involve sense-checking, sharing perspective, or drawing on my professional experience. Mentoring tends to be most useful when someone already has strong technical skills, but wants support thinking through leadership, communication, or strategic direction without being pushed into generic coaching models.

We’re explicit about which mode we’re working in, and we agree it together. There’s no rigid boundary, but there is transparency

Ways to work together

I offer flexible options depending on what you’re looking for. You don’t need to commit upfront unless you want to.

I am committed to making coaching accessible. If you work in the charity sector or are currently navigating financial barriers, please enquire about my concessionary rates.

one-off COACHING OR MENTORING
(1 X 60 min SESSION)

£89.00 (self-funded)
£109.00 (employer sponsored)

A single, stand-alone session. No preparation required, and no expectation to continue unless it feels useful.

Suitable if you want:

  • Clarity on a specific issue
  • Help untangling a decision
  • A focused calm confidential thinking space
book a free call

SHORT TERM COACHING OR MENTORING
(5 X 60 MIN SESSIONS)

£400 (self-funded)
£490 (employer sponsored)

Five sessions, scheduled at a pace that works for you. The focus can evolve as things become clearer or change over time.

Suitable if you want:

  • Continuity over a defined period
  • Space to explore something in more depth
  • A gentler pace
book a free call

ONGOING COACHING OR MENTORING
(10 X 60 MIN SESSIONS)

£750 (self-funded)
£925 (employer sponsored)

Ten sessions over an agreed timeframe. This option offers the most continuity, without locking you into a rigid programme or outcome.

Suitable if you want:

  • Sustained support
  • A consistent thinking partner
  • Space to work with complexity over time
book a free call

Practicalities

I tailor each coaching session to suit your individual needs and thinking style. Session recordings, follow-up summaries, feedback and accountability support are available at no extra cost, based on your preferences. By default, I don’t record sessions unless requested.

In general terms:

  • Sessions are held online
  • Flexible scheduling (day & evening slots available)
  • There’s no homework unless you want it

What some of my clients say

“Barbara has been a mentor of mine for years, and her impact on my career and in my life outside of work has been huge. When she started her coaching practice, I jumped at the chance because I already trusted her judgment and how she shows up.

In our sessions, she is able to help get me unstuck quickly. She challenges my assumptions, helps me reframe what I’m looking at, and brings an alternate perspective that always proves so valuable. I leave our sessions thinking more clearly, with better options on how to tackle problems, and the confidence needed to get working on them. 
 
If you’re looking for a coach, I cannot recommend Barbara enough, she’s the real deal and I recommend her to everyone.”

John Cross, Web Growth Manager

“I feel truly fortunate to have found Barbara, she is such an empathetic warm and understanding lady who has transformed me in so many ways after our life coaching sessions together. 

I suffered the loss of both my parents over the past few years and felt helpless and lost but Barbara listened sensitively without judgement offering positive encouragement and help to move forward at such a difficult time in my life. I will be booking more sessions shortly and highly recommend Barbara if you have suffered trauma and need help to heal.”

Rachel Ivan, Civil Servant

“Barbara’s tech skills and analytics know-how are off the charts. She’s all about pushing for excellence and genuinely cares about your success. Working with her has been a game-changer for me. She has been my mentor for years and will remain for years to come (hopefully). I would recommend Barbara to anyone without a single hesitation. Best of the best!”

Ben Weber, Head of Analytics
CURIOUS TO SEE IF THIS IS A FIT?

coaching shouldn’t be about forcing you into a model

It should be about building a strategy around how your brain actually works.
Let’s have a 30-minute conversation to see if my approach makes sense for your current situation. No pressure, no pitch.

LET’S TALK

Before we work together

Coaching and mentoring can look very different depending on who you work with. To make things as clear and transparent as possible, I’ve answered some of the most common questions I’m asked about how I work, what to expect, and whether this approach is likely to be a good fit for you.

My work sits primarily in the coaching space: I help you think, reflect, and make sense of what’s going on, rather than telling you what to do, unless we’ve agreed otherwise.

That said, when clients come from analytical, digital, or specialist roles, there are times when mentoring is more appropriate, particularly around communication, leadership, or navigating complex professional environments. In those cases, I’m transparent about when I’m offering perspective or experience rather than pure coaching.

We agree the boundaries together. There’s no hidden agenda or rigid model.

I don’t follow a single branded framework or scripted process.

My work is informed by psychology, systems thinking, and evidence-informed coaching principles, and shaped around how you think and process information. I draw on approaches such as ACT and metacognitive models when useful, but I don’t apply them mechanically.

Sessions are responsive rather than formulaic. The structure emerges from the conversation, not the other way around.

Sessions are conversational and focused. We usually start by clarifying what feels most relevant that day, then explore it in depth identifying patterns, assumptions, constraints, and options.

Some sessions are reflective, others more practical. There’s no expectation to arrive with a polished goal or outcome, and no pressure to leave with a rigid action plan unless that’s something you actively want.

Not by default.

My role is to help you think clearly and arrive at your own conclusions. However, if you’re looking for perspective, sense-checking, or experience-based input, particularly in a mentoring context, I’m open about that and we agree it explicitly.
I don’t believe in pretending not to know things, but I also don’t believe in unsolicited advice

The work is structured, but not prescriptive. There’s enough structure to create safety, focus, and continuity, without forcing you into a predefined journey or timeline. Some clients prefer a looser, exploratory approach; others like more definition. We adjust as we go.

No.

You’re welcome to start with a single session and decide from there. Multi-session bundles exist for people who want continuity or ongoing support, not as a requirement. There’s no expectation that coaching has to be open-ended or indefinite.

Yes.

Much of my background is in senior, analytical, and strategic roles, and I’m comfortable working with complexity, ambiguity, and responsibility. Coaching can focus on leadership, communication, decision-making, or direction without becoming performative or abstract.

We start with a conversation.
That gives us both a chance to see whether the way I work feels useful and whether I’m the right person to support you. There are no charges for an introductory 30 minutes call and no obligation to continue beyond that.