My Story

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I qualified as an Osteopath in 1996, after first working as a Nurse specialising in burns, wound care and plastic surgery.

 

Those early years taught me that successful healthcare involves far more than treating injuries—it begins with listening to the person in front of you. 

 

The pressures of professional life particularly in acute and chronic clinical settings , can sometimes cause healthcare practitioners to neglect their own well being.  We may even lose sight of the humanity and vulnerability  and mortality that we share with the people we care for .

 

Sometimes this understanding emerges through personal illness, emotional challenges or burnout . Our  own stories  begin to  unravel, and we may need guidance to understand our experiences and find a way forward.

 

"Every person has a story "

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that is to seek expert help in understanding that and moving forwards . Our deepest truths and potential for better health may be locked within our own personal stories 

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As life unfolded I experienced challenges of my own. Caring for my disabled son, navigating ongoing  family grief and spending years placing the needs of others before my own eventually taught me something that changed both my life and my professional practice. 

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"Healing is about more than treating the body."

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That journey led me to the Reach  Approach developed by a Birmingham based Psychotherapy practice .

 

The Reach Approach offers an integrated holistic methodology that considers the many influences on psychological , physical and emotional wellbeing. 

 

Its development was informed by the recognition that people can experience recurring difficulties, even following an initially successful therapeutic intervention. This pattern became  known within the Reach Approach as the  "Revolving Door". 

 

Through my work with Reach I discovered a compassionate and deeply personal way of understanding health and the human condition.

 

The approach became so important in my own life that I went on to train as a , psycho -therapeutic coach, alongside completing an NCFE certificate in Life Coaching. 

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This allows me to bring coaching skills together with more than three decades of experience in osteopathic healthcare, 

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What is Reach Coaching? 

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Reach Coaching is a  whole-person individually focused approach that recognises that  every person is unique.

 

Whether you are living with persistent pain, chronic illness, stress, anxiety or simply wish to develop a healthier and more fulfilling life, there is value in understanding your inner world and the circumstances that shape your experiences.

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My aim as a coach is simple : 

 

"To help you , understand yourself more deeply and live with greater confidence."

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As a Reach Coach I remain actively engaged in personal development. I bring that experience , together with a structured coaching approach, to helping others explore what matters most in their lives.

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The approach considers physical health, psychological well being, lifestyle, personal goals and life direction . ​

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By bringing theses elements together, we work towards a state of greater harmony and cooperation, which is described as synergy . 

 

This process can help us carry our past with greater understanding, manage the present more effectively and approach the future with renewed confidence .

 

The Journey Towards Change 

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On initial appointment , it will begin with  having the opportunity to tell your story  knowing you are in a safe place. feeling acceptance and unconditional positive regard. In following sessions you will be encouraged to recall specific milestones and experiences in your life through creation of a Life Map . This is helpful to identify key moments that help to take you on a journey to self awareness . The past can remain a archive that informs the present and helps construct a future with positive goals and outlook.  Change then becomes a reality rather than just a hopeful dream. The past however can also be negative and disabling to the  present , causing reactions in relationships and a negative outlook, thus affecting future positive progress . Through careful listening, a person specific therapeutic model can be applied and a sustainable pragmatic practice adopted. ​

Personal development does not necessarily begin with an immediate revelation or dramatic transformation. 

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Often, meaningful change emerges gradually through reflection , understanding and practical action. 

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There is work for the individual to undertake and guidance for the coach to provide. Yet much of the potential for change already exists within your own nature , experience and relationships with the world around us .

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Just as the dormant bulbs of winter gradually emerge into the fragrant flowers of spring, our capacity for growth may develop quietly before becoming visible.

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My friend once wrote beautifully  about hope and  change, reminding me that even after difficult experiences, a new beginning remains possible: 

 

" It is like dew, we fall asleep despairing

just to wake up covered in fresh hope

upon which no yesterday can cling " (JMH-Mind and Body )