Structure & Fees
1. How often do I have a coaching session?
The 3 month Ageing with Purpose programme
This consists of a 50 minute coaching session every week for 12 weeks. An alternative structure could be 3 weeks of sessions, then one week for catch-up. There are activities and reflective exercises to be done by the client between sessions and email contact is also included. I am your coach and available to you for the entire 3 months, not just during the sessions
On-going Monthly Coaching
The usual schedule is 3 x 40 minute sessions a month, followed by a 'catch up' week, paid for in advance. 4 sessions a month may be possible, if required. Once some momentum has been achieved, it may be possible to move to two sessions a month
Prior to the first session, I send you an Intake Pack consisting of questions and activities to help you to reflect on where you are, where you want to be and the strengths and resources that you bring to the journey. There may also be additional activities and reflective exercises to be done between sessions
Other Coaching programmes
Do you find the idea of a fixed length programme, such as Ageing with Purpose, appealing even if you are not yet 'ageing'? That structure and most of the activities and reflective exercises can also be used for rethinking how you generate your income. A career change? A move to or from self-employment or running your own business?
The same structure and fees would apply as for Ageing with Purpose
Single Sessions
There may be times in your life when you feel you just need one or two sessions to focus on a specific issue or situation such as an important interview or a challenging situation at work. Please contact me to find out more
2. How else do you support me?
As your coach (and unlike in a counselling or therapeutic relationship), I am available to you all the time (within reason). In addition to the scheduled sessions, the fee you pay entitles you to email contact between sessions - to ask a question, request some 'emergency' support, update me on a success, use me as a sounding-board to clarify your thinking or just to download. The fee also covers occasional additional short telephone calls
If I come across relevant resources (articles, books, web sites, checklists, questionnaires or anything else that supports you in deepening your understanding of yourself and making the changes that you want to make) I will send them to you or signpost them. I also have a huge library of handouts from my previous training and development work
3. Face-to-face, telephone or video?
Coaching can take place face-to-face if geography allows, and the client wishes, but most coaching happens by telephone or video
Telephone/video coaching has a number of practical advantages
1. No travelling time, no travelling expenses, no traffic or parking problems
2. You aren't limited to a coach who lives nearby - you can choose from all over the world.
3. No need to get dressed up to go out (or even dressed)
4. No need to arrange childcare, negotiate who has the car etc
5. If necessary, appointments can be rescheduled with minimum inconvenience
6. With so many free/cheap methods now available, coach and client can be on opposite sides of the planet and can continue even if one or both of them are away from home for extended periods
But telephone coaching doesn't just have practical advantages
A number of clients have had reservations about telephone coaching (“I hate the telephone” is a phrase I have often heard) but, because they wished to work with me, were willing to try it. Without exception they have become converts. They find it easier to focus and concentrate with no visual distractions and easier to ‘open up’. One client described it to me as “anonymous intimacy”. One way to check out telephone coaching is to have a free introductory session
Are there any disadvantages?
One perceived drawback of telephone coaching is the obvious one of no visual contact which means that body language feedback is unavailable. Yet this doesn't seem to weaken the coaching process. Coaches have very good listening skills – they can usually ‘hear’ a smile – or a tear
4. Fees
Sliding scales
Even the highest rates quoted below are lower than the recommended 'market rate’ minimum for a coach with my years of experience and training/qualifications
Yes, of course I want to paid for my time and experience - but I also want coaching to be available to as many people as possible. Life is so challenging in so many ways at the moment and my way of ‘making a difference’ is by coaching
I know that asking you to decide what you can afford to pay may feel challenging. Money is a challenging area for many of us. I will not be asking you to justify your choice
I am also aware that, until you have experienced coaching, it may be difficult for you to balance the value you receive with what you feel you can, or are willing to, pay. The coaching relationship is one of trust and I trust you to make a decision that feels fair to you. And, if you wish, we can review your decision at any time
Donations only
I know that there are people who would really love to have coaching but, because they are on a very low income or benefits, genuinely cannot afford even the lowest fees quoted. I intend to work only with a small number of clients at a time but, if I have a slot available, we can have a conversation
Fee for the 3 month The Ageing with Purpose programme
This consists of one 50 minute coaching session a week for 12 weeks. All sessions are scheduled and paid for in advance
There is a sliding scale between £600 and £960 for the entire journey - which also includes activities and reflective exercises to be carried out between sessions plus additional support if required. Paying in full at the start is the norm but paying by 3 instalments may be possible
On-going Monthly Coaching
There is a sliding scale of between £135 and £180, for each set of 3 x 40 minute sessions
Sessions are scheduled and paid for a month in advance. The monthly fee includes not only the scheduled sessions but also email support, occasional additional short telephone calls and all materials/exercises/handouts etc
However, you can stop coaching whenever you wish, giving at least one session’s notice to enable us to work together to plan your next steps. If required, I will refund you for any unused sessions. However, clients generally choose to ‘bank’ any unused sessions to be used when required – for example, for a three month review.