“I realise today that nothing in the world is more distasteful to a man than to take the path that leads to himself.”
Hermann Hesse, Demian
When something in life isn't working, most of us look outward first, hoping the answer is out there. It makes sense, and it can bring relief for a while. But the thing underneath usually sits closer to home, somewhere in us, and that can be the last place we want to look.
The other way is quieter, and harder: to turn toward what's actually going on in you, and to stay with it.
That's hard to do on your own. Left to ourselves, we're good at looking away at the last moment, at talking ourselves out of what matters. We clog our ears with podcasts and audiobooks in every spare moment, so we never have to sit with our own inner experience. Another person can change that: someone who listens closely, who won't rush to fix you or tell you what to do, and who can stay with you while you look at what you'd rather avoid.
So what is coaching?
Coaching isn't advice, and it isn't me handing you a method to follow. Methods, guides, and how-tos are everywhere you turn, and you can find endless versions of them. This is different. Here, you're the one in the driver's seat. For one hour a week, you make a commitment: to look inward, to speak truthfully, and to work through the sources of your suffering.
My part is a certain kind of attention. The psychologist Carl Rogers described it better than I can. He was writing about therapy, but it's the same spirit:
“Entering the private perceptual world of the other and becoming thoroughly at home in it. Moving about in it delicately, without making judgments.”
Carl Rogers
That's what I try to offer: a companion in your own world, seeing it with you through fresh eyes. And not a blank wall — when I see something, I'll say it plainly. What you make of it stays yours.
Most people don't come to this out of curiosity. They come because something has stopped working, and they can't tolerate it any more. They need something to change.
Usually they already understand their problem well. Understanding hasn't been enough.
Here is what a few of the people I've worked with have said.
“Edward is a truly exceptional coach. Every time I meet with him, I come away feeling like I've had a deeply impactful and insightful conversation with someone who truly cares. He pays close attention, asks insightful questions, and creates a caring, non-judgmental space where I feel completely comfortable being honest and vulnerable.”
Daniel
“I like how you speak up during our calls. In the past, coaches or therapists often felt like they were just silently listening, which made it feel like I was talking to a wall. This felt natural and more human.”
Hannah
“You've put words to things I've struggled to comprehend myself, and it's given me new clarity.”
Marcus
About me
I coach with Healthy Gamer, certified by the Healthy Gamer Institute and the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching, and studying psychology with the Open University. Before this I worked in fine dining and played poker, and I run an events business in west Wales.
Sessions
£40 for fifty minutes, over video, as often or as rarely as suits you. No fixed schedule and no commitment. Tell me roughly when you're free and we'll find a time.
When you want to talk, this is where to find me.