"Helga is a generous and supportive coach. Her demeanour is calm and nurturing, and I completely trust her to hold the space in a reassuring and sensitive way."
Alice Booth, Producer, Lancaster Arts
Why Coaching?
Coaching can help us reflect, explore new (creative) directions and re-focus. It is part of a whole suite of supporting tools that can be useful at some point or other in our lives and careers, including, but not limited to mindfulness, training, mentoring, counselling or therapy. It is applicable to both personal and professional development. Whether you are developing a new strategic trajectory for your organisation / freelance creative business, or whether you would like to work towards an important decision or life goal, coaching could be a powerful tool to help you achieve them.
How does it work?
Coaching is powerful because it enables people to take agency and make empowered choices in their own, unique voice. The coaching approach is based on trusting that we already know the answers and solutions that work for us. As coach I listen, reflect, question and provide a safe space for you to find your own way, your own solution.
Coaching to me is like a lighthouse beacon for personal & professional development – rather than offering a predefined set of directions, coaching illuminates the surroundings, so the individual path can be seen more clearly.
"I enjoyed my coaching session with Helga. She asked insightful, pertinent questions that helped me to get to the root of my struggles in relation to my creativity and to decide on next steps. She is an excellent listener and I am happy to recommend her coaching services."
Katherine Baldwin, coach, writer and motivational speaker
“I did a coaching session with Helga and she really helped me delve into some things that I had been pondering. She listened, gently probed and helped me set some useful personal goals.
It was a really helpful experience and I would recommend Helga highly. She is a kind and thoughtful person and this comes across in how she practices Life Coaching.”
Charlotte Mackie, Arts Manager and Producer
Before I start working with a client, we will have a “chemistry call” to establish if coaching is the right approach at this point in time. It is an opportunity to understand how I work and clarify any questions you might have.
If we decide to work together, what happens in the sessions is largely guided by you. My role as coach is to provide a framework for our conversation and to hold a safe space for your thinking and self-guided learning. I will listen, question and reflect back. I will be alongside you as you work towards your solution.
My coaching journey
My interest in working with people in a coaching capacity has grown over a number of years. Whilst at university, I contemplated studying psychology, but when I developed an interest in this area I was already halfway through an archaeology degree. I decided to continue my career in the arts & heritage sector instead, and I am very happy that I did!
Yet the desire to support people in some mentoring capacity persisted and developed further when I stepped into leadership positions with management responsibility. I first encountered coaching on a course about leadership skills with Relational Dynamics 1st. Impressed with their approach, I have been practising it in group settings since 2015, and I would certainly say that coaching has become part of my leadership style.
From my experience of being a creative freelancer and maker I'd also say that the goal-oriented, collaborative coaching process is a good approach for many freelance creatives / makers. I have found coaching to be a powerful tool to help me shape the direction of my business, to work out what I want from it and how my personal way of getting there might look like.
My qualifications
I qualified as a Relational Dynamics 1st Coach in 2021. The course is accredited through Culture at Work (equivalent to ILM level 7). Since then, I have been working with clients in 1:1 settings.
Work with me
Please email me if you would like to find out more about working with me and whether coaching could be the right approach for you. Sessions can be held over Zoom or in person.
