Questions people ask

What happens in the Discovery Session?

It is 30 minutes, online. You tell me where you are and what you want to change, and I ask questions until I understand it. By the end we will both know whether coaching would help and, if it would, which package fits.

If you want to go ahead, I send you a short written proposal afterwards: the package, what we will work on, dates and price. If you want something to bring, try the Values Finder beforehand.

Is it a sales call?

No. It is a conversation about your situation, and I will not push you to buy anything. If I am not the right coach for what you need, I will say so and point you to someone who is.

Who do you work with?

People making progress in their careers, from experienced professionals to executives, in any sector. The usual reasons people get in touch are looking for the next role, stepping up to manage, starting a new role, leading through change, or having just been laid off.

Do I need to be a leader already?

No. Many of the people I work with are experienced professionals thinking about, or just starting, their first management role. The Next Move is built for exactly that.

How many sessions will I need?

It depends on what you want to change. A single challenge can often be talked through in The Sounding Board. A specific career move usually takes the six sessions of The Next Move, and changing how you lead takes the eight sessions over six months of The Leadership Engagement. We work out which fits in the Discovery Session.

Are sessions online or in person?

Online by default, over Google Meet. In person by arrangement: in Dublin, or further afield if travel costs are covered. I work with clients in Ireland, the UK and Europe.

How much does career coaching cost?

Coaching prices vary widely, and many coaches don't publish theirs. Mine are on the packages page: €200 for a single session, €350 for The Sounding Board, €1,200 for The Next Move and €3,000 for The Leadership Engagement. Blocks of four or eight sessions are €720 and €1,360, and the price is the same whoever pays.

How do I pay, and can I pay in instalments?

The Discovery Session is free. Other packages are payable when you book; if you would rather pay by bank transfer, say so and I will send an invoice instead.

Yes to instalments: The Next Move can be paid in two payments of €600, and The Leadership Engagement in three payments of €1,000, each a dated invoice.

Is there a discount for continuing after a programme?

Yes. If you have completed The Next Move or The Leadership Engagement, you can continue with Coaching Sessions in blocks of four for €640 or eight for €1,280, which is €160 a session.

Can my employer pay, and how do I ask?

Yes, and the price is the same whoever pays. Many employers have a learning and development budget, and some managers can approve coaching from a team budget. Ask your manager or your HR team. I can send you a short proposal to forward, with the objectives, the package and the price.

When an employer pays, we start with a three-way conversation to agree objectives. There is more on the For organisations page.

What is your cancellation and rescheduling policy?

If you need to move a session, give me at least 48 hours notice and you can reschedule without charge.

Is what we discuss confidential, including from my employer?

Yes. What we discuss stays between us. If your employer is paying, they get progress against the objectives we agreed together, not the content of our sessions, and we agree what is shared before anything is.

The only exceptions are the ones the Association for Coaching code of ethics sets out, such as a serious risk of harm to you or someone else, or a legal requirement to disclose.

How is coaching different from therapy or mentoring?

Coaching looks forward: it works on what you want to do next and how, starting from where you are now. Therapy works on your wellbeing, often including the past, and if that is what you need I will say so and suggest you find a therapist. A mentor shares their own path; I bring experience too, but the work is built around your situation and your decisions.

Are you accredited?

I am a registered member of the Association for Coaching and hold a Diploma in Executive and Business Coaching (2024).

Do you offer team coaching?

Not at the moment. I work one to one. If your organisation wants coaching for several people, I can put together a proposal for each of them individually.