UK Changing Lives

23/01/2026

Helen, one of the life coaches in our group, shares her thoughts in a series of posts from our discussion about Getting Ready For Coaching – about the need to prepare ourselves and being open to explore, to new ideas and possibilities, and to be stretched…

'Getting Ready For Coaching' (part 1)

Helen, one of our life coaches, shares her thoughts after our discussion about this topic….

Life is often about getting ready for new things and experiences. Many times, it involves practical planning and taking steps before anything can actually begin. Coaching is no different, except it may involve a mental and emotional change within us. This may be harder because we need to be willing to step into the unknown and enter new territory that perhaps we hadn’t considered before.

Before training to become a life coach, I imagined that sessions with someone seeking coaching would be quite directive with concrete steps to follow. This couldn’t be further from the truth as the aim of the coach is to facilitate deep thinking and for the person being coached to make their own meaning. It's the strength of the partnership between two people that can enable a shift in thinking.

In my coaching sessions, I've had people who are ready to explore the unknown. Sometimes it's an emotional journey as things are voiced that a person has never uttered before. However, I've also experienced others who are wanting quick fixes and answers from their seasoned coach. This may be due to some internal resistance within the person or just a misunderstanding of the true nature of coaching. But this is abdicating responsibility for the hard work that needs to be done by the ‘thinkers’ themselves.

So, getting ready for coaching means being willing to journey wherever you need to go, whether it's uncomfortable or challenging, trusting the process and your coach. It is in this place of vulnerability that you will be rewarded with transformation and ultimately helping to stretch you and to move forward to reach a new level of understanding and new possibilities.

03/01/2026

UKCL Blog #16 - Seeing things in a new light

Fresh for 2026, this is a reflection on an early morning experience of a local park. It looked incredible, dynamic, and constantly changing. I saw it in a completely new way. I make parallels about how we can see our lives in new and fresh ways. And how coaching is one way to help us do this. Every day there is a new dawn with new opportunities. With this New Year, perhaps it would help to take time out and reflect on things in a new light?

Click on the blog link below and take 10 minutes to reflect for yourself… bit.ly/UKCLBlog16seenewlight
Please like and share this post and comment below to join in the discussion! Wishing you all a joyful 2026, full of newness!

For ideas about setting positive goals for the New Year – check out the previous blog ‘Secrets to Success for Your Year Ahead’
bit.ly/UKCLBlog15secrets2success4NY

What is life coaching? Find out here - bit.ly/UKCLWhatIsLC

Is life coaching right for you? Take these 2 free quick self-assessments to find out - bit.ly/UKCL2freeSelfAssess

Start with a free 20-minute informal Discovery call – bit.ly/UKCLbookFREEcall

Get your first coaching session HALF PRICE! Other discounts may be available. Contact us to find out more bit.ly/UKCLContact

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23/12/2025

Happy Christmas - and a Blessing - from our Coaching Connection!
Merry Christmas one and all!

As we move closer to Christmas, we, as a team are taking some time to rest and lean into the hope and peace that Jesus birth brings. We hope that you and your dear ones might find time to do the things that help you connect well with God and one another.

Just below, there is an end of the year blessing, we have written for you and anyone engaging with Christian life-coaching. It's been fun starting our community together...see you in 2026!

May you dance with curiosity and search hidden depths in the light of God's unconditional love for you.
May you allow God to outmanoevre your preconceptions.
May your attachment be secure in the One who is your stronghold, so that, in Him you may adventure in inquiry and confidence.
May you keep taking courageous steps with God into the new insights that you discover.

Happy Christmas to you all!

13/12/2025

Following on from our first AI post, what's it like to use an AI coaching tool? Helen, one of our life coaches, tried one! Find out how she got on here...

Following the AI theme, one of our coaches, took time to try some AI coaching.....here's her thoughts......

It feels like AI has suddenly appeared out of the ether like a magician doing endless improbable tricks. AI is on everyone’s lips and ‘knowledge is power’. It’s proving time and again to be a game-changing tool.

At our monthly coaching meet up, we began considering how our offer of personal coaching differed from an easily accessible AI tool downloaded from the web. I volunteered to try out one of the sites and experience for myself how it operates.

Firstly, typing responses is very different from giving verbal ones. There is no human presence silently encouraging with non-verbal communication. I’m a seasoned touch-typist but I think this would be a barrier for those with more limited skills. It does feel more of an effort to constantly type your thoughts.

I gave the AI coach a broad problem of how to begin resettling in the UK, after more than ten years living overseas in Hong Kong. There were many practical suggestions such as linking up with groups and people with shared interests. What the AI coach missed was my emotions around the whole process. It continued to give practical solutions but was unable to understand the deep ‘rootlessness’ that I was feeling. It became increasingly frustrating because the answers were standard things that I knew already and together we were unable to move past this point.

However, I can see that an AI coach could help with accountability. It would successfully help a ‘thinker’ follow through on goals that they wished to achieve or set up routines to that end.

To conclude, AI is a useful tool but cannot replicate the experience of being coached by a human with deep empathy and the ability to challenge appropriately. AI’s understanding is more superficial and does not allow a ‘thinker’ to make their own meaning and gain their own insight. It cannot respond to a change of tone, mood and flow of conversation. I received helpful advice but nothing more.

Perhaps the true transformation that happens in a coaching conversation, human to human, is the real magic!

05/12/2025

We’ve just posted our first Coaching Connection blog – ‘You’re a unique creation (not a problem to be solved!)’

As coaches, we asked each other, “Why do people need a life coach, when AI can provide answers for them?” and we discussed our answers. Click below to find out our thoughts.

We pose two questions for you to reflect on - we’d love it if you can share your own thoughts too...

Blog #1: You’re a unique creation (not a problem to be solved!)

Welcome to our first Coaching Connection blog! 👋

As coaches, we asked each other, “Why do people need a life coach, when AI can provide answers for them?” and we discussed our answers…

People come to life coaching for a variety of reasons. As life coaches, we offer a confidential space for them to reflect. We’re specialists, trained to listen intuitively. There’s no set formula to our questions, as we respond to each unique person and what they bring.

People respond to the personal presence of their coach, their warmth, their sensitivity, and their authenticity. So trust is quickly established and they can go deeply into what matters most to them. People don’t always come with clear questions though. So sometimes, they’re helped to define what their central focus might be. We enable them to explore and think outside the box, and from the coaching conversation they find their own answers in moments of revelation. Then we help them decide how they want to put things into practice for lasting change. With Christian coaching, they can also bring questions about their faith, which are deeply personal. They’re supported with empathy and understanding and given space for the Holy Spirit to work.

In contrast, AI offers none of the above! It’s functional and transactional, only giving the illusion of human responses and understanding. It can’t give you intuitive listening or real responses and so there can’t be the same exploration. Of course, AI can provide some factual answers and guidance. But it can’t help you to explore and find your best questions to ask. And it can’t enable you to find your own deepest answers. There’s no warmth as there’s no actual relationship. So, there’s no way for AI to relate to us about the hopes in our heart and about our faith. And it certainly won’t be guided by the Holy Spirit!

AI is designed to solve problems and give you its own answers. But you’re not a problem to be solved! You’re a unique creation in a changing world. You’re designed to think for yourself, explore, and find your own answers, to move forward in your own purpose and calling in your life. 🤗

Think of a time of change that you’ve gone through yourself. What helped you feel supported? 🤔

Have you had an experience of AI personal support? If so, what was it like for you? 🤔

Watch out for our next follow-up post: Helen will share her experience of testing out an AI coaching tool! 🤖

27/09/2025

I’m thrilled to be featured in an intro post by the Christian Life Coaching Connection 🌱

If you’re navigating change, want to explore your identity and purpose, or wanting a faith-aware space to think deeply, this is for you!

👉 Read my intro post here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1D3sMbjdBV/

You can also have a look at my profile post and 1-page bio to see more info about my methods, client testimonials, discounts, and take two free online self-assessments to see how coaching could help you: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19tZgdTQi9/

Keep an 👁️ out for my regular coaching blogs starting next week

Message me: [email protected]

21/09/2025

Thanks to all Facebook friends and family. 6 days on and the 'Coaching Connection' launch post has had nearly 7,500 views, 430 likes and 15 shares. We have 63 followers on the page too.

This confirms that there's real interest out there for faith-focused coaching.

Keep an 👁 out for midweek posts both here and on the Christian Life Coaching Connection page...!

16/09/2025

I'm so pleased to be part of the Christian Life Coaching Connection which has launched today. We're a group of coaches who help Christians - and those exploring faith - find high-quality life coaching that fits their needs.

Click on the link below to find out more!

We’re live! Welcome to the Christian Life Coaching Connection 🎉

We’ve launched this page to help Christians - and those exploring faith - find high-quality life coaching that fits their needs. You can connect with five coaches with different approaches and stories.
All certified and working to ICF values. And their sessions are available on Zoom and in-person.

Over the coming weeks we’ll spotlight each coach and share practical tips, client stories, and ways to explore coaching and faith.

👉 Start here: browse the coach intros on our page and contact a coach directly for a friendly, no-pressure chat.

💬 Questions? Drop them in the comments.

🔔 Follow the page to see each weekly spotlight.
https://www.facebook.com/christianlifecoachingconnection

06/01/2024

Secrets to Success for Your Year Ahead

It’s only a few days into 2024. So this may be the perfect moment to reflect on what you REALLY want to achieve this year.
Find out how to set New Year goals that will work for you...
1. starting by accepting yourself and how things really are
2. setting targets that will make you truly fulfilled
3. giving yourself achievable markers on the way,
4. and motivating yourself with a support structure.

Do you want to change things, but aren't sure what or how?
Do you struggle to get started? Or to keep things going?
The click on this blog link. Taking just 10 minutes now may start the change you long for… https://bit.ly/UKCLBlog15secrets2success4NY

Please like and share this post and comment below to join in the discussion! Wishing you all a successful and joyful 2024!

What is life coaching? Find out here https://bit.ly/UKCLWhatIsLC

Is life coaching right for you? Take these two free quick self-assessments to find out https://bit.ly/UKCL2freeSelfAssess

Start with a free 20-minute Discovery call – https://bit.ly/UKCLContact

Book a HALF PRICE coaching session. Offer ends 31st January 2024.

Life Coaching is a partnership which empowers and inspires you to bring about change in any area of your life. As your coach, I will empower you, and help release you, to find your own freedom.

31/12/2023

Planning and Prioritising - Our Time is Our Life

The fourth and last in a blog series about positive mental health.
The importance of setting your true goal first, then plan and prioritise to reach it. Judging timing may be important or may be a trap. How ‘our time is our life’ as it’s so precious. How you’re free to use your time on what matters most to you. And how coaching can help. Take the time to read it today! - https://bit.ly/UKCLBlog14coach-2-help-mwb4

Please like and share this post and comment below to join in the discussion! How do you work out what’s your priority? Do you need to make time for what’s important to you?

SIGN UP FOR WEEKLY BLOGS – covering topics from coaching with tips and pointers to help you and to start a group discussion.

Book a HALF PRICE session. Offer ends 31st January 2024.

What is life coaching? Find out here https://bit.ly/UKCLWhatIsLC

Could life coaching help you? Take these 2 free quick self-assessments https://bit.ly/UKCL2freeSelfAssess

Book a free 20-minute Discovery call – https://bit.ly/UKCLContact