As a life coach and counsellor working with people across the UK, I’m sometimes asked if it would be best for people to book a coaching call with me or to have a counselling session, and where mindfulness and therapy fits in.
Over time, I’ve found that the most meaningful work doesn’t sit neatly inside one approach. Life rarely does.
When someone comes to me feeling anxious, overwhelmed, stuck, or quietly dissatisfied, it isn’t just a “coaching issue” or a “counselling issue.” It’s a human experience that is layered and personal.
My philosophy is rooted in a lifelong love of learning and a passion for helping others explore and better understand themselves. I genuinely believe there are many ways to discover the hidden parts of who we are, guiding us to live more in tune with our values.
So, rather than separating things out, I use a blended approach to bring them together.
Beginning with understanding
Often, what’s needed first is a calm space.
Space to slow down.
Space to hear yourself think.
Space to say things out loud without feeling judged or rushed.
Counselling offers that depth. It allows us to gently explore what may be shaping your experience – patterns that repeat, beliefs that have quietly taken root, coping strategies that once helped but no longer do.
There’s no agenda in those moments. Just curiosity. And care.
And when something begins to make sense, the intensity often softens.
Insight on its own isn’t always enough
At some point, many people begin to wonder: So what now?
That’s where coaching naturally weaves in. Not in a pushy way. Not with rigid targets. But with thoughtful attention to what might shift – and how.
What would feel different?
What would feel lighter?
What small step feels possible from here?
Understanding creates clarity.
Clarity creates choice.
And from there, change tends to feel steadier.
The quiet role of mindfulness
Mindfulness sits quietly underneath it all.
Not as something formal or complicated, but as a way of noticing.
Noticing the tightness in your chest when you talk about work.
Noticing how your thoughts speed up when you imagine disappointing someone.
Noticing the moment you begin to criticise yourself.
When we pause and observe what’s happening – kindly, without judgement – something shifts. There’s a little more space. A little less reactivity. A little more choice.
For many people experiencing anxiety or overwhelm, that space can feel quietly transformative.
Why I don’t separate the approaches
During my training, the disciplines were taught separately: counselling in one space, coaching in another, mindfulness somewhere else again.
But in practice, they flow together.
A conversation might begin with an old pattern, move into how it’s impacting life this week, and end with one small, realistic shift. Along the way, we may pause to notice what’s happening in your body as you speak.
It doesn’t feel clinical. It feels human.
People often tell me they begin to see themselves more clearly. Things that had felt confusing start to connect. From that clarity, change emerges – not dramatically, but steadily.
Whether I’m working with someone here in Edinburgh or online elsewhere in the UK and other parts of the world, the approach remains the same: calm, collaborative, and at your pace.
I’m not here to fix you.
I’m here to explore with you.
And in that gentle shared approach – where increased understanding and mindful awareness meet – it becomes easier to understand your thoughts and feelings.
Something deeper than “just counselling” or “just coaching” becomes possible
You begin to make positive changes that bring more happiness and a sense of peace into your life.
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