Life Coaching for Spotlight Members

Applications for free coaching are currently closed however we hope to offer more sessions in the future.

We received such positive feedback from the first sessions we made available in the spring, we are thrilled to again be able to offer these free sessions exclusively to Spotlight members. To ensure that as many members as possible can benefit, we will be prioritising members who've not yet taken part in these sessions.

At this time of heightened uncertainty, having a completely safe, non-judgmental and confidential space feels more important, and more necessary, than ever. We know many of you have lost work and this will be compounding any fears or negativity you may already have about the current situation. We have therefore brought together a group of more than sixty experienced and professional life coaches from across the world to offer you, our members, free support at a time when it is greatly needed.

Each member who is selected randomly will be able to access up to three hours with a coach. 

What is life coaching and what can I expect?

Life coaching is a dynamic and effective way to address many of the challenges life and work can throw at us, and to stay connected to our personal values and best intentions. Coaching will give you a safe and confidential space in which to support your own mental health, to confront challenges and doubt, to improve self-care and to sustain a sense of wellbeing, whilst also helping to clarify your purpose and sense of direction.

Coaching has been proven to help develop new positive neural networks*, helping you to respond more calmly to stress, to make clear choices more confidently, and to access much more of your creative potential. Your coach will not seek to give you advice or to ‘solve’ your problems, but will hold a safe and welcoming space, and ask powerful questions which will help you to think, to feel and to see things more clearly for yourself.

*Co-Active Coaching and the Brain by Ann Betz, CPCC

Sounds great, how can I book my place?

All members who register their interest in this service will be entered into a draw, and places will be allocated randomly. Priority will be given to those who've not yet to take part in these sessions. We’re able to offer this lottery style ticketing on this service as you are required to submit your contact details and interest for this limited additional service, and these sessions are not linked to our Open House events.


Terms and conditions for free coaching for Spotlight members

By applying for coaching, I acknowledge that:

  • This is a service which Spotlight is offering exclusively to its members. By applying to receive free coaching as part of this service I confirm that I have a current Spotlight membership
  • I will submit one application form only (multiple application forms from the same member will be disregarded, and the member’s original application will be voided)
  • It is my responsibility to contact my coach to arrange up to three free hours
  • I will do my best to be honest, straightforward and truthful at all times, in the best interests of both me and my coach
  • The coach’s services are consultative and decisions made and actions taken are my responsibility
  • Coaching is not a substitute for counselling, psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, mental health care or substance abuse treatment and will not be used in place of any form of therapy;
  • I will to the very best of my ability be on time for our sessions. Unless agreed with my coach beforehand, if I am more than 15 minutes late to a session, the session will be deducted from my allocation accordingly;
  • I may be asked for feedback about the service to help Spotlight ensure that future coaching opportunities meet the expectations of our members.

How does it work?

  • Please complete your application form (one application form per member) to receive up to three free hours of coaching by clicking here. Please note this link has been removed as we are not currently accepting new applications.
  • All applications must be received no later than 11pm (BST) on Friday 11th September 2020
  • Successful applicants, chosen at random, will be notified by Wednesday 30th September 2020
  • Each successful applicant will then be matched with a coach (matching is based on availability unless you have requested to be coached in a particular language).

If your application is successful:

  • We will notify you and send your coach’s contact details for you to arrange your sessions. It is your responsibility to contact your coach.
  • If you no longer want your free sessions please let us know as soon as possible by emailing [email protected], so we can offer them to another Spotlight member.
  • Your coaching sessions will take place remotely with your coach via phone, Skype or Zoom.

If your application is unsuccessful:

  • We will notify you that you have been unsuccessful and add you to our waiting list. We will let you know if a coach becomes available during this period.
  • We will get in touch with you if we are able to offer this service (or similar) again in the future.

Any other questions?

Our Membership Support Team is extremely busy at the moment so we kindly request that you do not contact them about this initiative. We will contact every member who applies for coaching, whether your application is successful or not, so please bear with us. If you have any questions about this initiative please email [email protected] and we will get back to you as soon as we can. 

FAQs

What training has my coach undertaken?

The majority of coaches who are taking part in this initiative have undertaken extensive training (200+ hours) with the Co-Active Training Institute (CTI). Many are certified (or are going through certification) and are accredited by the International Coaching Federation (ICF). The Co-Active Coach Training Pathway is considered one of the most rigorous ICF-accredited programmes available for professional coaching development.

Others will have an equivalent level of coaching qualification and will be accredited or certified by the Association for Coaching (AC), the European Mentoring & Coaching Council (EMCC) or the coaching division of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and will have completed at least 100 coaching hours.

All coaches are required to follow the ICF guidelines. 

How much will my coach get paid?

All our coaches are giving their time for free and are receiving no payment from Spotlight or from Spotlight members.

What is the difference between coaching, therapy and mentoring?

Coaching isn’t right for everyone and it’s important to get the right type of support. Whilst coaching, therapy and mentoring have some similarities, there are some important differences.

Coaching tends to focus on where you are now, ​what's next for you and how you want to evolve so that you can fulfil your potential. A coach will work with you to improve performance, wellbeing or a specific area of your life by exploring values and beliefs, and then supporting you to create a plan of action so that you can move forward. Unlike a mentor, a coach does not advise or tell you what to do but uses a variety of tools including powerful questioning to bring about greater awareness and understanding.

Whilst both coaching and therapy work with emotions and feelings, ​coaching is not therapy​. ​Coaching supports you to build a future, whereas therapy is typically retrospective and diagnostic with an emphasis on healing and understanding. Therapy can be particularly helpful at supporting recovery from past traumas or relieving psychological suffering. Another key difference is that a therapy practitioner is generally seen as an authority, whereas coach and client are treated as equal and co-create together.​

Like coaching, mentoring is also focused on supporting you to build a future, however a mentor tends to be an expert in their chosen field and advises or guides the client based on the mentor’s own experiences. A coach may not have any knowledge, skills or experience of the client's field of work. In fact, ignorance can often be an advantage, and may encourage the coach to ask more neutral and less leading questions.

Where will my coach be based?

Our coaches are based all over the world, so your coach might be based in a different country and time zone to you. If your application is successful, we will let you know where your coach is based so you can factor in any time difference when scheduling your sessions.

How long do I have to fit in my sessions with my coach?

Your coach will offer you up to three hours and will likely split the time into two or more sessions over a fortnight, a month or longer. This will be discussed by you and your coach when you make contact with them. If for any reason you are unable to attend your session, please contact your coach as early as possible so it can be rescheduled.

What do I need to bring to my session?

An open mind, curiosity and honesty. Some also find it useful to have a notepad and pen handy. Some coaches may ask you to move around the room so it can be helpful to wear comfortable clothing.

How will I give feedback on my session?

We will contact each member who has received coaching and ask them to complete a feedback form. We may also invite some members to join a focus group to help Spotlight understand and evaluate this initiative’s value to our members.

How long is this initiative running for?

This second round of this free coaching initiative will take place throughout October and November 2020.

I want to continue working with my coach beyond my free sessions; is this possible?

You and your coach are welcome to continue with further sessions together, if this is agreed between you, but any sessions beyond three free hours will no longer form a part of this Spotlight initiative.