There can be some overlap between the two, particularly with the kind of coaching I do. I’m interested in more than the immediate task or professional problem, so our conversations may explore your history, beliefs and experiences where they help us understand what’s happening for you now. The difference is primarily one of orientation and purpose. Our coaching will keep your goals in the foreground. It is generally present and future-focused, has a defined timeframe, and I’ll keep bringing us back to the main thread of what you came to explore. There may also be some light reflective work between sessions.Therapy can offer a different kind of space, including greater scope to explore past experiences, emotional distress or patterns that need therapeutic support. Coaching isn’t a substitute for that.The boundary isn’t always perfectly neat. If, during our work together, I feel that what you’re carrying would be better supported by a therapist, I’ll say so plainly. I have a small number of trusted therapists I can refer you to if that’s helpful.Equally, keeping that boundary clear doesn’t mean coaching has to be a shallow, tick-box exercise. Senior people rarely need another corporate skills checklist. Sometimes the useful conversation is about the beliefs, experiences and bigger questions sitting underneath the professional goal – while still keeping sight of what you want to do next.

Not at all. You might arrive with a very specific decision in mind, or simply with a persistent sense that something doesn’t quite fit the way it used to. You don’t need to diagnose the problem before we start. Working out what the question really is can be an important part of the work.

No. This isn’t a programme for engineering your escape. You may ultimately decide something significant needs to change, but equally you may find that much of what you’ve built is still right for you. The work is about understanding what stays, what changes and why before making decisions you can’t easily take back.

No. For many people, this is when the question becomes hardest to ignore. Coaching can help you understand what the business gave you, what you miss, and what you want to build your next chapter around.

No. That's the job of your accountant, corporate finance adviser or broker. My work is on the personal side: what you want, what you'd miss, and what comes next for you. It sits alongside their advice, and many founders find it makes those conversations easier.

Mostly, we talk. You’ll do most of it. I’ll ask questions, occasionally challenge an assumption, notice where something seems worth staying with and help keep us connected to the question you’ve come to explore. There may be some light reflective work between sessions, but there are no elaborate exercises to perform or right answers to arrive at.

Six sessions gives us enough time to get underneath the presenting question without allowing the work to become open-ended. We meet for 60 minutes every two weeks over roughly three months, giving you time between conversations to notice what changes, test your thinking and come back to what matters. Sessions are usually online, aiming to fit around your diary.Towards the end, we’ll review where you’ve got to. You might feel ready to conclude our work, arrange occasional check-ins or explore a further series of sessions.

Yes, coaching can be sponsored by your organisation. Either way, everything we discuss stays between us, with the arrangements and any necessary exceptions explained in our coaching agreement. I follow the EMCC Global Code of Ethics, and your employer has no access to the content of our conversations.

That’s entirely reasonable. Some coaching deserves its reputation, and I’d rather have an honest conversation about that than pretend otherwise. The initial conversation is a good way to test it, with no charge and no follow-up chasing.

Before we agree to work together, we have a free 30-minute conversation. We meet, you tell me what’s on your mind, and we both see whether coaching makes sense. You’re under no obligation.1. Getting to know each otherCoaching works best when you can speak openly. This is your chance to see how I work and ask me anything. It’s also my chance to check I can help with what you’re looking for.2. What brings you hereWe’ll talk about where you are now and why this feels like the right time for you to have some space to think. For example:What feels stuck, flat, or ready to change?What would make our coaching work together worth your time?What would you like to be different by the end of our time together?3. Is coaching the right fit?Coaching focuses on your choices and what comes next. It isn’t therapy or counselling, and I won’t tell you what to do, as a consultant or mentor might. If another kind of support would suit you better, I’ll say so.4. How we’d workSome people want space to reflect, some want to be challenged, and most want a bit of both. We’ll agree what works for you. Coaching usually runs as a block of six 60-minute sessions, every two weeks, spread over about three months. Sessions are usually online, but we can meet in person.5. What happens nextIf we both want to go ahead, I’ll send you a short agreement covering confidentiality and practical details, plus a few questions to think about before we start. If it’s not the right fit, that’s fine.