Julie’s Story

Why work with me?

This is the story of how I became a Personal Recovery Coach after a long and successful career as a nurse & midwife.

Since I was a young child, I’ve been a sensitive, kind, caring and compassionate person with a deep empathy for others. I would be the one who would be there when a friend was upset and would rush to save the poorly animal in the garden.

The nurse in me

I have always been a bookworm and when I was quite young I read the Ladybird book “The Nurse”. It immediately spoke to me, and I knew this would be my vocation.

Nursing Training

I trained at Addenbrookes, the teaching hospital in Cambridge, as a nurse and later as a midwife. I loved caring for my patients when they were scared and in pain helping them to feel better with a kind word or gentle hug. I always knew what they needed.

“It was never my intention to ever leave nursing: I still say that if you cut me through the middle now you would still find that nurse!”

Retraining as a Coach

However, it was in 1999 when a dear friend became a life coach. I remember thinking “What on earth is she doing?”. Coaching really wasn’t a well-known discipline then but she knew that she had some changes to make after many years in a devastatingly unhappy marriage.

Five years later that same coach asked me the question that changed the course of my life: “Have you ever thought of becoming a coach? You would be very good”.

The thought grew into a huge decision to leave my 20-year vocation where I had reached a high grade and was still working with passion and dedication.

Sudden Loss and Bereavement

That was 18 years ago and since then I’ve developed a similar passion and dedication for helping men and women who have experienced sudden bereavement and loss.

I knew from the outset that I would work with people individually, and it transpired that my methods and approach appealed to anyone who needed a safe space to explore and navigate the path they found themselves on.

Changes Forever

Whether that was after a sudden loss of a loved one, a rocky relationship that was ending in divorce and separation, or indeed any other sudden life change. The name of my business is in fact “Changes Forever” and that is exactly what will have happened. Life will have changed forever.

What I wasn’t expecting was my own difficult and, in some cases, traumatic life changes since starting this new career.

Devastation

13 out of the last 18 years have been spent navigating my own and my children’s journey of devastating bereavement and loss. First with the sudden death of their father Richard.

Then the long illness of their stepfather Rob culminating in his untimely death leaving me a widow at the age of 45. Then when I thought life was finally improving, my younger brother Richard died suddenly during the pandemic.

I was once again plunged into having to navigate another challenging journey as his acting Next of Kin.

A client once said to me: “Don’t ever underestimate the power of your lived experience.” It’s only now that I really get what my client meant. I’m unique in my life’s experience and expertise. I have what psychologists call “unconditional positive regard” which means I can work with anyone.

Maybe I will be lucky enough to join you on your journey when you need support and a sympathetic shoulder because your life has suddenly changed forever. Maybe you are emerging blinking in the light and have no idea what just happened after life has a dealt you a devastating blow.

I’m waiting to hear from you with a virtual hug ready to gently guide you towards some kind of peace even when you think that isn’t possible.

You will be in a pair of safe hands with me.