Creating safe spaces with life coaching

How Coaching Transformed My Life

Coaching has impacted my life in a positive way. While I still sometimes feel guilty for not completing tasks, I’ve learned as a neurodivergent person, I often need to break things down into smaller, more manageable steps, which coaching has helped me learn. Coaching has taught me to step back and ask myself: What exactly needs to be done, and what’s simply my brain trying to juggle too many things at once?

Reflecting on my Coaching Academy journey, I realise how much the varied learning styles supported my neurodivergent brain. The ability to learn in different ways through the training events and the variety of booklets so it's manageable. It wasn’t just about the content; it was about understanding and being able to apply the content. I still enjoy revisiting my NLP resources and booklets.

Parenting Through a Coaching Lens

As a parent, coaching has helped me develop a deeper understanding of my children. I’ve learned to listen with more empathy, to see things from their perspective, and to create a space where they feel seen. Coaching has given me the tools to show up for my boys in ways that feel more intentional.

The Impact of Coaching in My Professional Work

In my professional life, as well as being a trained Counsellor, coaching has opened doors to some truly meaningful work. I’ve had clients who, after months of coaching, have safely planned their exit from an abusive situation and have found a path to independence and healing. I’ve worked with individuals who’ve connected with the little child in them that was once abused*, allowing them to grieve and understand their trauma.  I’ve also worked with people who’ve transitioned from struggling with suicidal thoughts to shifting to a sense of hope and purpose. Some have uncovered the complexities of their relationships with food, unravelling deep-seated patterns and understanding why it has been so difficult to create a healthy relationship. I’ve also worked with individuals who’ve learned to understand what neurodivergence means for them, helping them embrace their differences and use them as strengths.

Making Space for Positive Change

One of the key questions I often ask my clients is, “What do you want to make space for in your life?”  - this question holds special meaning for me, especially when working with individuals who have experienced domestic abuse or trauma. After leaving an abusive relationship - or even just considering it - can be incredibly difficult to focus on goals or envision a brighter future. So, instead of diving straight into the big “What’s next” questions, I like to start small. Sometimes, it’s about making space for one small, positive thing in your day-to-day life. This can be anything from carving out time for self-care, to pursuing a hobby, or simply taking a moment to breathe. Making space for even one small positive change can be the first step in rebuilding a sense of agency and possibility.

As a neurodivergent person, I often struggle with how I’m perceived, and I’m not the best at accepting praise. Not a confidence issue, a neurodivergent challenge. So, one of the things I’ve incorporated is written reflection goodbye messages for my clients at the end of our sessions. The message serves as a reminder of their journey and the work they’ve done. It’s a small gesture, but it helps reinforce the idea that their progress is valuable.

A recent client testimonial was:  “Within my first few sessions with Stasia I knew I was in a space, which was both safe and calming.  I have never felt judged by Stasia in anyway, only comfortably challenged.  This complete lack of judgement has allowed me to be completely honest with Stasia, which for me is imperative in this process. I have felt seen and understood. Every session with Stasia, I understand, respect and am more compassionate with myself than I ever thought I could be. Stasia kindly also laughs at my silly jokes.  Stasia has created a perfect Safe space for me to move forward in figuring me out.”

Evolving as a Coach

Looking ahead, I’m excited to offer more workshops and coaching through my business 'Stasia International'. In 2023, I had the privilege of delivering a workshop on the complexity of skin colour at a university which was a rewarding experience. I also want to explore workshop topics like domestic violence, childhood trauma*, and the long-term effects of abuse. I’m also interested in rebuilding my podcast and creating content that can serve and support others on their healing journeys. However, I’m still figuring out exactly what that will look like and how I can best step out of my comfort zone to share my work more widely.

Coaching has been a journey of constant learning for me, and my role as a coach has evolved over time. I started out as a body empowerment and confidence coach, but as I continued to learn and grow, my focus expanded to include areas like neurodivergence, and coaching through practical strategies they can implement in their daily lives and the impact of getting a late diagnosis. I also work with survivors of domestic abuse, sexual assault, and complex childhood trauma. Many of my clients come to me at a point when they feel as though their options are limited.

Ultimately, my coaching is about helping people reconnect with themselves.

Thank you Stasia for sharing with us your empowering coaching journey and the transformational work you are doing.

*Important Note:  Coaching is not a substitute for therapy or counselling, Stasia is also a trained counsellor.   Complex emotional and psychological issues should only be handled by professionals with appropriate counselling/psychotherapy training and expertise to ensure the safety and well-being of the client. Life coaches without this specialised training too should never attempt to coach people in these areas.  If you would like to understand more how Counselling & Life Coaching differ, you can read our “Life Coaching or Counselling? Choosing a helping career” blog article here.