“So often, the approach to wellbeing for doctors is impersonal, clinical and resilience-focused. Alison’s is refreshingly personal, holistic and built on empathy and empowerment. She listens deeply and has an almost alchemical way of helping you work through complex feelings to develop a far greater understanding of yourself. She is endlessly supportive and encouraging as you identify and work through specific issues and develop new strategies to deal with them. She always makes a point of acknowledging the progress you are making and the courage it takes to do that. Her kindness, humanity and emotional intelligence are evident in everything she does.”
— ST 5 Doctor Sheffield

coaching

two women walking alongside each other talking coaching in nature, coaching outdoors

Nature led, compassionate one to one coaching for Doctors, and Those working in the caring PROFESSIOns

DO YOU

Want to stay grounded and gain clarity when the world feels like a noisy place full of opinion…?

Have a desire to define your values and be aware of how they shape you…?

Want to learn how to tap into your own inner wisdom…?

Wish you could unravel the chaos into joy, playfulness and creativity…?

Want to discover your true purpose in life, at home, at work…?

Feel curious about what might be holding you back and want to explore tools to manage your inner critic…??

Dream of tuning into your superpower…?

Want to be more focused on the future and wish to take positive steps to make change happen…?

Often wish you could move from overwhelm, exhaustion and anxiety to a place of calm and ease…?

Above all, do you value a space, free from judgement and advice where you can feel empowered to think independently, feel at ease with your body, mind and soul and learn to appreciate your true brilliant self.

Take the leap

BOOK A CALL HERE

A woman with short brown hair and a floral jacket smiling while looking at her phone and writing in a notebook at a wooden table.

Some clients walk with me in the Yorkshire Dales; others prefer the ease of meeting online. Both hold the same depth of listening, to enable you to think well.

When we take some of the bigger questions outdoors, held in a psychologically safe space, there is the potential for magic to happen.

In today’s fast paced world, it’s easy to feel disconnected from nature — long, stressful days spent indoors, away from natural light and often surrounded by technology. Coaching outdoors restores that vital connection to the natural world and to ourselves. It calms the nervous system and makes room for clarity of thought.

Walking shoulder to shoulder, bodies relax and creativity flows. Nature becomes our teacher when we open our hearts and minds to its wisdom. We grow acutely aware of the weather and the turning seasons, accepting rather than fighting all that nature gifts us. In that spaciousness, perspective shifts, and a wider, more balanced view opens up — of ourselves and of the world around us.

Working in healthcare and other caring professions, we know the evidence is growing: walking helps our attention, memory and thinking, and being in nature can lift our energy, our mood and our capacity to solve problems, while helping us tune into our emotions.

READ MY REFLECTIONS FROM A LIFE IN MEDICINE
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Two women engaged in a conversation outdoors in an urban setting, one smiling, wearing a floral patterned shirt and blue jeans, the other with long light brown hair, wearing a brown textured top. Modern buildings and hanging string lights are visible in the background.

My style of coaching is entirely focused on you, your needs and aspirations.

It’s a non hierarchical, compassionate space where you have permission to really think, to feel and to say what you want to.

Coaching unlocks infinite possibilities, with the answers within reach.

So, let me walk alongside you on this journey as you discover your own true pathway in life.

Would you like to find out more about retreats and events?
Girl walking through field

One to one coaching rooted in nature to feel grounded, more connected to your work, life and values and ultimately flourish, beautifully.

I offer sessions in person, on the phone or online.

We can walk together, be outdoors in nature, or bring natural elements inside, whatever feels right for you.

Let's talk
Single tree on a grassy hill with a clear sky in the background.
“No need to hurry. No need to sparkle. No need to be anybody but oneself.”
— Virginia Woolf
Cow parsley illustration

Original artwork gifted by Sarah O’Boyle a former client

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Two women sitting under a tree talking

Frequently Asked Questions

  • I provide a confidential and compassionate space, with dedicated, uninterrupted time to think deeply about your life and work free from fear of judgement or advice. You will be  encouraged to believe and trust in your own ideas, directions, and solutions, fostering a sense of empowerment and ownership.

    There is something about having another person’s complete attention that helps us to think well and move forward in a way that can feel hard or too difficult on our own. I will help you to identify and challenge any limiting assumptions using incisive questions to unlock new possibilities.

    The sessions may challenge your thinking and will enable you to develop your own capacity to think independently and support you to achieve the best possible outcomes you can. My aim is that you leave the session with a greater sense of calm, increased confidence and clarity.

  • Feedback from clients has highlighted a number of reasons.

    My background in Medicine and coaching and all that it stands for in terms of trust, confidentiality, life experience, non judgement and empathy.  Integrity is at the heart of all I do.

    My warmth, compassion and skills in listening. My approach as a Thinking Environment coach, in creating the optimum conditions for clients to do their best thinking.

    My positive regard for others and ability to see the best in people. My connection with people and place. 

    My appreciation of beauty and the desire to share that with others.

  • I hold an ILM 5 Diploma in Coaching, am a Time to Think certified coach. I have completed Nature as Co-facilitator and Positive Psychology coaching training. I have regular supervision and I am committed to ongoing continual professional development. 

    I am a member of the Association for Coaching and I am fully insured for my coaching practice.

    For more information about my qualifications see here

  • A Thinking Environment is an approach developed by Nancy Kline, founder of Time to Think. It is based on the principle that "the quality of everything we do depends on the quality of the thinking we do first." This method focuses on creating an atmosphere where individuals can think deeply, freely, and clearly, enabling them to make well-considered decisions and achieve their full potential. The coach facilitates this environment by providing the conditions necessary for high-quality thinking. Find out more here about the  ten key components here

  • I have had the privilege of coaching hundreds of clients since 2018, the majority being doctors and other health care professionals. My work as a coach with the Yorkshire and Humber Deanery Scheme which provides free coaching to all postgraduate doctors in training and senior educators has been integral to that and I have also worked for many years with the GMPlus mentoring scheme, from their early pilot scheme days , providing one to one coaching and mentoring for General Practitioners and other healthcare professionals in Yorkshire. I am also a Coach for the Trailblazer GP scheme working with recently qualified GP’s who work in areas of deprivation. 

    Whilst it is true that a coach does not necessarily need to know about a clients background or work to be effective, I believe that my background in Medicine provides an inherent understanding of the the unique pressures facing the profession. This shared experience helps to foster a deep sense of connection and trust, allowing for open and honest communication.

  • Undoubtedly everyone brings their own unique circumstances, thoughts and feelings to coaching. However there are often some common themes.

    Feelings of ‘not being good enough’

    Uncertainty about how to make an important decision

    Feeling stuck and unsure of a way forward, lack of clarity

    Thoughts of finding a new career path

    Expectations and assumptions about other peoples opinions having a negative  and or confusing impact on you.

    A desire to improve specific aspects of work and / or personal life

    Feeling that you might not be on the right career path

    A desire to have more confidence in your own abilities

    A sense of something holding you back and stopping you from reaching your true potential 

    Above all, whatever you discover through coaching, be reassured that I will be there to provide a supportive compassionate space, enabling you to better understand whats going on for you and ultimately take positive action to move forward in a way that feels right for you.

  • We can meet face to face, outdoors, walking a particular route or simply being in nature, maybe in a favourite garden or special place where you feel at ease.

    Many of my sessions take place around my home town of Ilkley which provides a beautiful setting, with the backdrop of Ilkley Moor and surrounding areas that are the gateway to the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

    I am happy to discuss travel to other locations and to explore options for outdoor coaching with you.

    Coaching on Zoom is always popular as many clients favour the ease and convenience this provides. Zoom or telephone session with both of us outdoors in different locations also works well and still enables us to benefit from all that being outdoors in nature provides.

  • There is no set number of sessions, this is flexible and dependant on your needs and preference. Most clients have between two and six sessions, how they are spaced again varies on individual preference. There is however in my experience, benefit in keeping momentum going once the coaching process begins. 

  • Coaching sessions are typically 60 to 90 minutes duration, although this is flexible dependant on location and preference.

  • Contact me to discuss your individual requirements and I will provide you with a clear plan dependant on number of sessions and location.

    Please don’t let financial challenge be a barrier to accessing coaching, I am always open to a discussion about how I can make coaching accessibl

  • Book a complimentary 30 minute Zoom call here.

    Or contact me directly:

    alison@earthandbloom.uk

What Others Say

  • “Thank you for the sessions, they have taken me a long way towards maximising my potential. They helped me to think about myself and what I wanted to achieve. You listened actively and I was confident that everything that I shared would be confidential.”

  • “Your questions nudged me to think more deeply about my assumptions and barriers that hindered my progress. The coaching put me in touch with my inner friend, my inner critic and facilitated a negotiation between these two.”

  • “Alison is an amazing coach. She takes an approach of unconditional positive regard that has an extremely powerful impact. She empowers, encourages, and helps you to celebrate your strengths. The safe and positive environment she creates allows her to also challenge in a way that is completely constructive and supportive. Never once did I feel criticised or despondent, but every time I felt challenged to think differently, to explore issues, and to grow.”

  • “Each time I went to a session with a specific issue to discuss, I came out feeling empowered. I grew more confident. I had new perspective as well as motivation, clarity and positivity about how to move forwards.”

  • “I am so very grateful for everything you have done to help me. I cannot sing your praises highly enough! The coaching process, and in particular your style of coaching, has been one of the best things I have taken part in during my leadership year. It has helped me to process a great deal and make some big steps forward.”

  • “I am so glad I had coaching - I found the sessions extremely beneficial both professionally and personally. Alison has a genuinely lovely manner and is skilled at challenging negative thoughts or enquiring about why certain behaviours occur without making you feel bad / embarrassed or ashamed.”

  • “Thank you so much for your support. I found the coaching sessions really useful to allow me to think calmly about what I want at a time of great turbulence for me!”

  • “Alison was easy to talk to, did not feel I was being judged for what I was saying and allowed me to explore my own thoughts and perceptions of things. Her patience and compassion stood out. You really felt as though she wanted the best for you.”

  • “Alison was incredibly warm and what a difference this made in helping me get the most out of each session. She was always very patient and kind. Our sessions felt like a safe space, free of judgement. I have a stronger idea of my values and as a result feel more secure in the decisions I am planning for my career.”

  • “It is not an exaggeration to say that coaching has changed my outlook, my reflective process and my views about myself significantly for the better. The relationship I was able to build with Alison (despite all sessions having to be virtual during lockdown) felt strong, trusted and unlike any other. I have had excellent relationships with supervisors (both clinical and educational) but despite this, the coaching relationship was different. I felt inspired by it, and it motivated me to find things within myself that I had not previously considered or thought about – and to work through them in a way that made sense to me, was supported and allowed me to grow as a doctor, as a leader and as a person.”

  • “The sessions were enjoyable as well as being constructive. I was encouraged to reflect, to think and to develop. I felt supported through this. I also really appreciated that we were able to laugh sometimes (humour always helps!), and when appropriate or needed Alison gave me feedback to enable me to develop my thinking further.”

  • “I approached it initially as something that ‘was recommended so I would do’ and ended up really enjoying the process as well as the outcomes. I was surprised by how much I gained from the process and how much it has impacted me – both as a doctor, as a leader and as a person away from work and the confidence that coaching has given me, to allow myself to be me, to acknowledge my strengths, to continue to grow and develop and to tackle some difficult topics.”

  • “As a result of coaching I have developed a core of skills – quiet confidence, calm attitude, and faith in my own abilities. The peaks and troughs of life and work will still happen, but I now have the tools to keep the core untouched whilst still acknowledging that there will always be good times and bad times. Thank you Alison. Coaching has changed my life.”

  • “I achieved loads as a result of the sessions - such as how to manage difficult situations, to re-structuring a training course and some more global career options and how I might approach them.”

  • “Thank you for your time, patient listening and quiet facilitation.”