Is coaching for me?

Are you sat at a crossroads or feeling kind of stuck, trying to improve on the way things are in your life right now? If this sounds a little familiar, then coaching is likely for you.

Coaching can help you appreciate yourself more, improve on your relationship to yourself and others and discover new resources that you were not aware of. It will also challenge you to consider perspectives that you have not considered before and do things which you may have been avoiding or felt not ready to do. It will call on you to take responsibility for every aspect of your life and step out of your comfort zone.

If you are committed to become the best version of yourself possible, and do what it takes to accomplish that, coaching is a proven method to increase the speed with which you will get there.

I am not a musician, but music is an important part of my life. Can I still work with you?

Absolutely! While the bulk of my clients are from the music industry, I also work with many talented creatives from different disciplines – visual artists, poets, and even professionals from outside the music industry who are ravers and rockers at heart.

Feel free to get in touch – and let’s talk it over.

How much do your services cost?

I currently charge £50 per one hour session.

What is Positive Psychology Coaching?

Positive Psychology Coaching (PPC) is an approach to coaching which fuses science and art.

The science side derives from extensive positive psychological research that the coaching is based on. In essence, it is a practical application of the science of positive psychology, where the approach is often informed by research findings (such as focusing on strengths because we know that there are greater gains in personal growth if we do so, rather than focusing on weaknesses).

Positive Psychology Coaching is also an art through the coach’s way of being and relating to each unique client and their ability to integrate the science in a way that matches your individual needs in the best way possible.

Just like all other forms of coaching, PPC is a process of self-directed learning, where the coach provides you a safe space to do your best thinking so that you can find your own answers to the challenges you face.

What makes PPC unique is that while it focuses on achieving goals like other types of coaching, it actually spans beyond your goals alone – doing so explicitly in the service of your overall well-being. 

This is exactly the approach I take during my coaching sessions.

Can you explain the difference between coaching and therapy?

The key differences between coaching and psychotherapy are:

• Psychotherapy deals with psychological issues that are often severe enough to be deemed clinical (for instance depression that is not lifting and interferes with everyday functioning), while coaching deals with issues that are below that threshold (for instance, low mood due to lack of inspiration, fear of failure or overwhelm that affects the person, but does not stop them from functioning).

• Psychotherapists can advise and diagnose, while coaches would not and cannot. Rather, coaches help you find your own answers and way forward through powerful questions, feedback, observations and by holding you accountable.

• Therapy spends much more time in the past to understand present day challenges, while coaching, although it does occasionally address facets of the past that are relevant to the coaching agenda, it focuses on the present (where you are right now) in order to help you get to the future that you are aspiring towards.

• Therapy is a longer-term process compared to coaching. Psychotherapists, given the severity of issues that they deal with, must be licenced to practice – while coaches do not.

With that being said, certain issues are best addressed in therapy, while others are best to be addressed in coaching. Oftentimes, therapy and coaching can be done in parallel. In this case, the therapist needs to be informed about the coaching and vice versa. I always remain honest with my clients and I will openly tell them if I think therapy would serve them better in moving forward – and it is their choice whether they take that recommendation or not.

What should I look out for when choosing a coach to ensure I give myself the best chance of receiving a high-quality service?

A professional coach will have training accredited by one of the main professional associations for coaching, such as the International Coaching Federation (ICF), the Association for Coaching (AC), or the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC).

They are likely to be a member of one these associations which require them to abide by strict ethical guidelines of best practice and may hold an additional ICF, AC or EMCC credential.

Last, but equally as importantly, just like therapists, professional coaches will have a more experienced supervisor who they can consult on a regular basis to assess their practice, discuss any challenges they may encounter in helping their clients progress, and make sure that they are providing the best service possible to their clients.

How do you measure up to that?

I am a member of the ICF and my training is ICF accredited. I abide by the ICF code of ethics, am working towards credentialing with them, and I have supervision every month. This is part of my commitment to delivering an outstanding service.

Do I need to sign up for a certain number of sessions?

Yes and no!

No, as I do not offer coaching packages. It is my belief, that although coaching is not therapy, it is therapeutic in nature. As such, it will depend on your unique situation how many sessions you will need.

Yes, as we will discuss and agree an initial number of sessions at the beginning of our work together (most often, 4) and then will do regular reviews of our progress and make adjustments according to your needs. I am flexible in creating a coaching plan that serves you and your unique needs best.

As our relationship is based on mutual trust, the agreed number of sessions can be paid individually, a few days before or on the day of the individual session. However you decide to proceed is completely up to you.

Where do coaching sessions take place?

Currently, coaching sessions are exclusively via Zoom, as a result of the pandemic. However, you can rest assured that they work just as well as face to face coaching does. Meeting like this gives us more flexibility in scheduling our sessions, it is convenient because you can work with me from the comfort of your home or wherever you are in the world.

How often will we meet?

The frequency of our meetings depends on your needs and schedules, which we agree mutually. Usually, we kick off by meeting once a week, and gradually reduce the frequency over time (and as you progress). Once we set out on our journey, you can expect smooth sailing from there.

How can I get started?

You can start once you have booked an initial chat with me. You can check my availability for the coming days here. If you cannot find a time that works for you, or if you have any questions before you book, feel free to email me at imola@streetlevelredefined.co.uk and I’d be glad to help out!

I can’t afford your services. What do I do?

Drop me an email to imola@streetlevelredefined.co.uk and we’ll see what we can do.

If you cannot find your answer here…

Feel free to drop me an email at imola@streetlevelredefined.co.uk. I would love to hear from you!