The Arts of Life - Client Case Studies and Testimonials

The Case Studies show how personal and business coaching helps people create positive change. They reveal the wide range of issues clients have, and the forms of support I offer. Clients include self-employed and employed professionals and executives, young people, those dealing with difficult change (redundancy, divorce, retirement, deaths of close ones, business downturn, ill-health or general overwhelm). What they have in common is feeling stuck, lost or confused, unable to decide a positive direction to go in. Details have been changed to protect the identity of the individuals.

The Testimonials highlight what clients appreciate about my professional, yet informal and flexible approach; how I help them gain self awareness, and develop new skills. Some of their changes have been immediate, others longer-term and deeper, depending on the nature of their problems. Many clients have been fearful, lacking confidence, and they gained a lot from realising that their problems did not mean they were mad or hopeless - merely lost or stuck!

CASE STUDIES

" Through working with you, I have gained a huge amount of self awareness and developed into the person I am today." Belinda, Counsellor

Overcoming depression and building a new life

Belinda's difficult divorce had left her feeling depressed and she lacked self-confidence. Our work helped her to slowly create a more positive life, with "small steps", like local recreational courses. After winning an award, she progressed to degree level. To begin with we met monthly, face-to-face, and often used block clearance. Later our quarterly sessions were sometimes on the telephone. Her family situation is now more positive and she successfully retrained in a caring profession.

Finding a new career direction

I had coached Oliver's wife to overcome deep feelings of doubt and worthlessness. She suggested her husband see me, because, after over two decades of running his own business, he was very restless. We explored his business options, his dreams, and how they could all be met. A year later he launched an innovative new business locally (and internationally later). He goes to the coast regularly to sail, as this keeps him motivated and calm.

Finding employers who valued them more

Mary was on one of my part-time courses, when she realised that she no longer wanted to be unhappy, working in an organisation which did not respect her talents. After nearly two decades there, Mary decided she was worth more than this, and within weeks got a far better job which fulfilled her professional needs and offered more credibility. The course had triggered her to say "enough is enough" and act on what she had been feeling for a long time.

Actively moving from overwhelm to empowerment

Neil was finding concentration difficult, was depressed, worried about having too much work for his own small business, and he feared for his marriage. Working with block clearance and other approaches, Neil began to change his old thoughts, feelings and behaviours about his personal and professional dilemmas. He took action to make life calmer, then things improved at home. After we analysed his overwhelming workload, he began to only accept work with higher total value - meaning he had fewer jobs, and a more balanced life. After some years of monthly, then quarterly, coaching sessions we now meet twice a year. Neil is off depression medication, but does use a SAD lightbox in winter.

Developing the confidence to retrain

Katy was in her mid forties when she realised she really want to retrain. Always an administrator, she wanted to become a nurse, but this was rather scary, with impacts on money, time, relationships etc. She also feared failing the degree and making a fool of herself. We used Myers-Briggs personality type indicator to explore Katy's personality preferences, and she recognised her strengths and problem areas. She applied for the course with confidence, knowing it was realistic, and she was forewarned about potential difficulties. She managed the intense academic learning well.

Understanding and overcoming anger

Eddie was recommended to see me by another counsellor who was having difficulty making progress with him. They both wondered if my background in business as well as coaching/counselling/therapy might help him take me more seriously. Eddie runs a successful small business, with several staff, and needed help with his regular outbursts of uncontrollable anger, as they were affecting work and personal relationships. He had attended a course, which gave him no insights into his anger, so he was willing to work with me. I taught him practical actions for self-control, when he felt anger flaring, and we later used block clearance to discover the issues behind his outbursts - which we learned related to him becoming the "man of the house" in his late teens following the deaths of his father and step-father. He locked feelings of fear and grief away and got on with life - until his angry feelings erupted during times of stress. Acknowledging these relationships and issues helped Eddie to gain better control over his anger, and we now meet twice yearly now to appraise progress on business and personal goals.

Understanding and overcoming "feeling small"

Victoria's business had developed over twenty years, and she employed and collaborated with others - yet she often felt "small and helpless", which could knock her confidence at work and lead to moody behaviour with family and friends. Block clearance revealed that as a child she literally stood between her parents' blows, to protect one parent. She knew this fact already, but had not realised what an impact it was still having on her. She saw that she repeated this pattern at work, taking defensive action and not starting new things although she was capable of it. Her doubts left her when she understood their roots, and she took her business into new fields.

Unhappy family relationships motivated career change

Betty was very unhappy and wanted to talk about ongoing family issues, and learn how to change her role and reactions to them. She realised she wanted to do more with her life, as there was little she could do to change family members. When she decided to return to University study, our weekly one hour meetings provided practical, rational and emotional support during this challenging period. After further training Betty began fulfilling work in a new profession, which led to better relationships at home, because she was more relaxed and easy to be with. She still practices assertiveness at home, drawing boundaries around time and space, and feels less on the receiving end of everybody else's "stuff".

Taking responsibility for change

Brian was a Company Director facing enormous change at work. He also wanted to leave his long-term relationship, but feared the consequences. He wondered if he could cope with such change in both work and personal life, or if this was too risky. We focussed on finding what Brian did want to do - not what he did not want - and identified steps to take. He began to look after himself (eating better, drinking less, exercising), and developed orienteering skills, so he could achieve his ambition of being in an international challenge. As he took responsibility for himself, he stopped blaming work and relationships for holding him back.

15 - 25 year olds : Young people looking for themselves

I have worked with many young people who need help around issues of career and life in general. I use Myers-Briggs personality typing and some internet-based tools to help them understand their personality, values and motivations. Sometimes, the self-understanding and practical ideas they gain lead their parents to come and do the same! I have also worked with several young men in trouble for drinking and fighting, whose anger is threatening to blight their lives; and with young women with social and relationship difficulties at work and home. I help them learn things about themselves, and to see themselves and their problems from a fresh perspective, so that they can begin to take responsibility for themselves and their actions.

Testimonials

" Through working with you, I have gained a huge amount of self awareness and developed into the person I am today." Belinda, Counsellor

Overcoming depression and building a new life

"Initially the block clearance work was of most value. It really helped me to move on with my life and approach any new "obstacles" that have occurred since in a totally different way. However, since starting my new enterprise (thanks to Block Clearance!) I now find the Myers-Briggs work helpful in my dealings with people. " Edward, small business owner

Finding a new career direction

"You offer a very constructive and interesting service (Myers-Briggs Personality Typing), the explanations you give are easy to grasp. You have provided me with an invaluable and professional service, which has enabled me to have the confidence to start a new career that I've wanted to embark on for years. " Katy, mature student

Finding employers who valued them more

"Thank you for a really good day yesterday. Your guidance and patience were really appreciated!! The whole process of turning the dream into reality now is a possibility rather than a fear-wracked minefield!! ....Thanks again for your straight forward approach! XX" Jane, teacher and artist

Actively moving from overwhelm to empowerment

"In the process of my work I can't tell you how many people I meet who have bad mental images of themselves - all because of and negative messaging that's gone in over the years which ultimately led to blocks and lack of confidence. I always recommend them to see you." Katherine, consultant

Developing the confidence to retrain

"I very much identified Lesley as a transformational leader throughout the course. This is because I found her easy to talk to, nonjudgmental on mistakes and she had a way of making you feel confident enough to talk in class." Ben, student

Understanding and overcoming anger

"I feel more content and less frazzled .... more positive about what I want/need to do. Not assertive or aggressive, just doing it. Playing when I want to and enjoying (life). Thank you for making it such a safe environment. I feel able to share and it's helped me to listen (I hope). It's due to you that we've gelled as a group. " Alice, retired teacher

Understanding and overcoming "feeling small"

"At the age of 48, thinking I was an outgoing and confident person, I could not believe how difficult I found starting a new business venture to be. ... Working with you helped me change (my negative) "language" to cans instead of can'ts. I can't thank you enough..... I am now in the top 10 business producers in the company - and regularly speak to large groups but what I realise most is that we are all works in progress and not to be so hard on myself and others." Peter, franchisee

Unhappy family relationships motivated career change

" I would definitely recommend you to other people, if I felt someone was stuck and would benefit from block clearance. Because of the work we have done together, I am happy with who I am and am comfortable with .... me.... I know that you have made a difference to my life and I am very grateful to you.x" Jennifer, Human Resources manager

Taking responsibility for change

"I am much better at getting things in perspective and I don't allow other people to "pass the monkey" to me. I have cleaner thoughts, not clouded by other people's "stuff" ." Neil, small business owner

15 - 25 year olds : Young people looking for themselves

"Block clearance has definitely been the most useful part of our work. Knowing when I am stuck and being able to go back to understand when and why has been wonderful. I have always felt that there was more to life than the here and now..... It has been very difficult at times but the relief and insight has been worth it. The Myers Briggs personality typing helped me to be aware of the things I may be suited to." Diana, health professional