Clara, Charity Director

I came to coaching because I was tired of feeling like I of reaching the end of my day and feeling shame and anger that I had “messed it up”. I was in the process of getting diagnosed with ADHD and hoped that coaching would help me come up the strategies to feel less frustrated by how I was getting things done. 

Prior to diagnosis and coaching I had no real understanding of my difference. I felt that I was failing for not meeting neurotypical expectations. I was furiously masking, putting pressure on myself to not be “found out” as what I felt I was: lazy, disorganised and broken. I was outwardly perceived as extremely effective and suffering in the dissonance of that perception versus my own feelings. 

Katie’s approach meets you where you are. I can come in a dysregulated state and find the root of my middle or I can bring a specific thought and unpack it with her. It’s a great balance of education in neurodivergence, empowering asset based work and important acknowledgement of challenges. I always leave with a lens or frame that will apply to other challenges.

It’s difficult to pinpoint when I realised coaching actually working/helping but I just had this moment where I was like oh wait, I’m not angry at myself. It felt like weeks had passed where there had been ups and downs - but for once I had a grasp on why some of those fluctuations were occurring and how I might be able to ride them better.

Now, life feels like I am more at ease and more optimistic. I am more compassionate with myself and I’ve unlocked this birdseye view where I can see links between habits in all parts of my life. I’ve realised that I came to coaching looking to fix me and that I’m now firmly working on fixing the stuff around me. I am much more focused on my “gold” and building up my tool kit to give it the context in which it sparkles.