Rosebank, Cape Town
B.Soc.Sci (UCT) | Post-graduate Certificate in Life Coaching (SACAP), 2007
Rosebank, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
Coaching for Women who give till they’re empty.
Learn the art of building spaces in your busy day that nurture and replenish you.
Women are often raised to be empathic, caring, giving, all of which is beautiful, but without self-care we deplete ourselves…and then there’s nothing left to give.
From years of experience working with many caring people I’ve noticed one key ingredient that is consistently missing: Self-care.
Women in particular have problems with self-care. The world needs nurturing people, however increasing the light and the love doesn’t require self-abnegation till the point of burnout. The quest is to develop harmony between giving to others, and a healthy level of self-appreciation and care.
I believe the best approach is a combination of Spiritual and Self-care Coaching:
Recognize you are precious, unique and vital to the process of building the world.
a) identity your values.
b) clarify your purpose
c) listen to your inner wisdom.
a) practice self-compassion.
b) develop healthy boundaries.
c) create inner harmony, build self nurturing moments into your busy day.
Clients bring their unique challenges and goals. These form the focus of the Coaching. Problem solving comes from using the tools and skills of Spiritual Self-care Coaching.
We are here to build the world and to grow ourselves, this is a world of learning and growing. There are moments in the Coaching that are serious work, but, as experience with many clients has shown me, there are also times it can be just joyful.
I have 16 years experience as a Life Coach. I was also a volunteer Life Line counsellor for over 12 years.
I’m a wannabe artist, I love the process of art making. And am the proud writer and illustrator of my own children’s book: “Lindiwe, Our Hero”.
I’m passionate about self-care, mainly because of my own journey with CFS/ME, which really started off with a heavy dose of self neglect. Like most of us I had internalized the message that value comes from what we achieve, constantly striving. In reality value is intrinsic to us as being created by God, you are born valuable. So for me it’s “been there, done that, got the t-shirt”…I’m now a big proponent of finding harmony between work, social commitments and a wholesome, caring for yourself.
Over the years I’ve worked with men and women for short and long term coaching. I’ve seen lives change in 2 or 3 sessions. I’ve also seen the enormous benefits of long term support, with clients coming to coaching for 2 or 3 years.
Clients come to me from a wide range of backgrounds, but most consistent is that almost all people I’ve worked with, are carrying the pain of childhood difficulties. Clients who were abused or neglected as children find self-care especially challenging. The support given in Coaching can be part of the process helping you release the past and build the tools to move forward with a feeling of personal power.
What is the experience of Coaching? A supportive place to talk freely about what’s on your mind, a place to clarify your ideas, a place to get the support and help you need as you go forward, a place to celebrate your victories.
The world around us is changing, rapidly. The changes we make within ourselves strengthen us, empower us and deeply affect our future. Coaching is a call to courage, to be the person you were created to be, and bring your blessings to the world.
Leanne
‘Michelle is so easy to relate to and open up to, with a great sense of humour, and a perspective on life to which I could relate and take insight from.
‘Her methods are simple but effective; I found that my attitude and expectations with regards to life and what I want to get out of it have changed. She helped me pinpoint my strengths and my core values and helped me take stock of who I really am. She helped me realize all that I had to be grateful for and helped me increase my self-confidence. Since my coaching I have effected big changes in my life, including a change in career.
‘Michelle helped me figure out what it was that I really want, and helped me gain the confidence I needed to go after it’.
Dr Steven
‘Michelle has a natural talent for insight into the human psyche. [The coaching] was certainly effective…and something I continue to recommend to others. I believe every person can gain from this’.