Welcome! If you’re thinking about starting coaching, it is completely normal to feel unsure about what to expect. This page walks you through what to expect from coaching in Sheffield, step by step, so you can feel more at ease before we begin.
What is coaching?
Coaching is unlocking a person’s potential to maximise their own performance. It is helping them to learn rather than teaching them.
– Sir John Whitmore, Coaching for Performance (1992)
Put simply, coaching is a powerful, future-focused process that helps you gain clarity, grow, and move towards your goals – faster and with more purpose. It’s not about being told what to do. It’s about being supported as you uncover the best path forward for you.
What does coaching look like?
Coaching is a series of conversations between you (the client) and me (the coach). It’s goal-oriented and designed to help you move forward with clarity, confidence, and intention.
At the heart of what to expect from coaching in Sheffield is a simple but powerful belief: you already have the answers inside you. My role is to help you explore, reflect, and take action.
Together, we’ll work to:
- Discover and define what you really want
- Raise your self-awareness
- Take ownership of your choices and actions
One of my favourite quotes from John Whitmore sums it up beautifully:
We are more like acorns, each of which contains within it all the potential to be a magnificent oak tree. We need nourishment, encouragement, and the light to reach toward – but the oak-treeness is already within us.
– Sir John Whitmore, Coaching for Performance (1992)
Why might you choose coaching?
People come to coaching for all kinds of reasons. You might be:
- Feeling unclear or stuck, with some big decisions ahead
- Wanting to better understand and use your strengths
- Ready to improve your performance or learn new skills, personally or professionally
Whatever’s brought you here, coaching offers a safe and supportive space to figure things out and move forward.
Your first coaching session in Sheffield
Your first session is a little different from ongoing sessions. It is called a consultation session, and it is all about:
- Getting to know one another
- Exploring what’s brought you to coaching
- Deciding whether we’re a good fit to work together
Before we meet
You’ll likely have had a free discovery call with me for 20 minutes. This is a friendly chat to see if we are a good fit and how I can support you. You will receive an email with directions to my practice and my policies so you can read those in advance too. I will also send you details of how to pay for the session.
If your session will take place online or by telephone, I’ll include a link and some simple guidance on how to prepare, so you can feel comfortable and ready before we begin.
When you arrive
I’ll welcome you at the door, offer you a drink, and show you into the coaching room. It’s a peaceful, comfortable space designed to help you feel safe and relaxed.
Or when we connect
If we’re meeting online or by phone, I’ll greet you just as warmly as if you were here in person. We’ll take a moment to settle in, check that the connection feels clear, and make sure you’re comfortable before we begin.
What we’ll cover
During the 50-minute consultation, we’ll take our time to:
- A warm hello and introductions
- A quick overview of how I work
- The coaching agreement, including:
- Confidentiality and ethics
- Data protection and notes
- Contact between sessions
- Cancellations and fees
- Duration of coaching
- What’s brought you here
- Any practical needs or adjustments
- Your goals and what you’re hoping to get from coaching (I have a handout that can help guide this)
I might ask you questions like:
- Have you had coaching before?
- How are things for you right now?
- What would you like to get out of coaching?
This is also a great time for you to ask me anything. Your comfort and clarity are really important.
Deciding whether to work together
At the end of our first session (which lasts 50 minutes), we’ll take a few minutes to reflect on how it felt and whether working together feels like the right fit for both of us.
- If you’d like to continue, and I feel it’s a good match too, we can go ahead and schedule your next session.
- I’ll also ask you to complete a short client form, which includes contact details and some background to help me support you effectively.
- You’ll be invited to review and sign a coaching agreement so we’re both clear on how we’ll work together moving forward.
And if you decide not to continue, that’s completely fine. It’s important to find the right coach for where you are right now. This openness is part of what to expect from coaching in Sheffield – a collaborative, flexible process built around your needs.
What ongoing coaching sessions look like
After the initial consultation, future sessions will be focused on your goals and the areas you’d like to develop or explore more deeply.
Each session is tailored to your needs and in line with your goals for coaching. We might focus on:
- Building confidence, clarity, or direction
- Supporting you to try out something new
I may also introduce simple tools or techniques if they feel supportive, such as:
- Mindset or values-based exercises
- Practical strategies or action planning
Everything we do will be collaborative – we’ll always check in on what’s working and adapt as we go. This evolving approach reflects what to expect from coaching in Sheffield: personalised, purposeful and encouraging.
Coaching and counselling
Sometimes, I integrate elements of counselling into our sessions, depending on your needs. I’m trained in both coaching and counselling, and we’ll always work in a way that supports your growth and wellbeing.
Number of sessions
I generally offer six sessions for coaching.
Sessions are weekly for the first few meetings, to build a strong foundation. After that, they may be every few weeks or spaced a little longer apart so you can do the work between sessions. Each session lasts 50 minutes.
If you’re wondering what to expect from coaching in Sheffield over time, this flexible structure allows space for growth, reflection, and lasting change.
Ongoing feedback and progress
Coaching is a collaborative process. Throughout our work together, we’ll check in to see:
- How you’re finding the sessions
- Whether your needs are being met
- If any changes are needed to how we work
This helps make sure coaching stays relevant, meaningful, and supportive for you.
Ready to begin?
If you have any questions before we meet, feel free to reach out or book a free 20-minute discovery call to see whether coaching feels right for you. It’s a relaxed chat where we can explore what’s been happening and how I can help.
I look forward to supporting you on your journey.
If you’ve been searching for what to expect from coaching in Sheffield, I hope this has helped you feel more confident about taking that first step.
