What made you become a coach?
I want to grow a better world.
I know that empowering people unlocks potential for them to positively contribute to a better world. I want to live in that world too.
When I coach, I help you to identify what you can do in order to initiate positive change in your life, your home, workplace or community. Together we identify where you have most leverage to make things better.
Better can be big or small. Better could be a small shift such as trialing a new crop, changing the layout of your workspace or cycle commuting more frequently. Better could be about establishing a new habit, a new garden or a new community project. Better can also be about solving a problem: clearing the gutters, de-cluttering your house, cleaning up the ocean or getting brave enough to have a challenging conversation. Better could also be about gaining clarity on a decision where you feel stuck and identifying what information you need to move forward.
What is coaching?
As a coach I support you on your personal journey: your life, work and dreams.
I do this by offering a confidential, one on one, conversation-based service. I provide you with the conditions to support your growth: a safe space, a dedicated listener and my belief that you are ready and able to grow.
In the short term, I help you to find solutions: to identify and set goals, gain clarity about your current situation and explore what options and pathways are available so you can identify the most powerful actions to move forward.
The longer term and more powerful outcome is that this work enables you to understand yourself better so you can live in closer alignment with your values and strengths. Goals that aren’t aligned with a person’s true vision can be demotivating and their eventual results disappointing. Identifying what good, better and best truly mean for you can take some time and reflection and becomes easier as we develop a working relationship in which you can fully trust me.
What happens in coaching?
I ask questions. I listen to your answers and then I ask more questions.
I ask questions to find out about your goal, what dream it supports and what that dream feels like. I ask questions to understand where you are now and what the gap is between now and success. I ask questions to learn about the world you are living in. I ask questions to help you see your situation from a different perspective, in turn helping you see different paths forward.
I ask questions because as a coach I am unable to give you advice. How could I when you are the expert in your personal situation?
Ultimately, I ask questions so that you can hear the answers that you already know, but don’t know how to find or recognise. Sometimes I might repeat or rephrase your answer so you can hear your truth spoken by someone else.
Being coached can be a little… uncomfortable. That is totally normal, that is the feeling of learning, of growing bigger and becoming vulnerable enough to move out of your comfort zone.
I mentioned that confidentiality is an important aspect of coaching: the safe space I provide is essential as it provides a context in which you can not only feel vulnerable but also have trust and faith to be able to share those feelings with me, your coach.
Is coaching the same as counselling or therapy?
No.
While there are similarities with other types of talk-based care such as being person-centred and confidential, coaching is specifically future-focused and solutions-based.
As a coach I am not equipped or allowed to help someone deeply explore past issues, to treat a mental health condition such as psychosis, anxiety or depression or work through trauma. If these issues are at the core of your challenges and you are not yet clear about how to manage your situation I encourage you to find the right kind of care you need. If necessary we can use the coaching process to establish a plan to access appropriate care.
Coaching can work alongside other modalities such as counselling or psychotherapy. If you are already getting adequate care from someone else I will happily work with you, however I recommend that you let other care providers know you are starting coaching.
How much does coaching cost?
As I am in the establishing my coaching business I am offering 6 introductory packages for early adopter clients with a per-session cost of AU$60.
Early adopter clients are invited to commit to a minimum package of 6 x 45-minute sessions ($360) to be used before February 2024.
I am also happy to barter for goods and services or to negotiate a pay-what-you-can rate. Please make an inquiry if either of these options would be relevant to you.
I would love to be coached but I can’t currently afford your quoted coaching rates. Is there any other way I can get coached?
As part of my accredited training I am required to record probono coaching sessions. In January 2024 I will be offering three (3) pro bono packages. Please contact me if you would like to be considered for these upcoming pro bono slots
What is your background?
While I can only ask you questions they are often customised for your particular circumstance. I draw on my own experiences and learnings to better understand your situation and help you explore your next steps.
As well as studying coaching I have a Master of Science in Sustainability and Adaptation and am working towards qualifications as a counsellor. Earlier in my career I worked as a computer programmer in the video games industry before working in adult education, including teaching permaculture in Kosovo.
Permaculture inspired me to start coaching: this ecologically based design approach continues to teach me a wealth of understandings about people, the systems we are part of and how small shifts can initiate great change. Just as permaculture garden design is about observing a system and identifying the best ways to support ecological health and meet human needs, coaching is about helping you to observe yourself in your ecosystem and working out what conditions you need to grow. The permaculture principles are all of value to coaching, but in particular Observe and Interact, Design from Patterns to Details, Use Small and Slow Solutions and Creatively Use and Respond to Change are all especially relevant,
I was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 41 and it was a significant turning point in my life. I am still working out how best to celebrate the superpowers this condition brings and manage the challenges it throws at me so that I can contribute to a better world with my full potential. Being coached has helped me understand my situation better and let me identify and add new strategies into my neurodiversity support toolbox.
Pippa Buchanan 