Amethyst Accord Life Services

My story is littered with life changing events and happenings!  An interesting childhood in which independence was a necessary survival skill was followed by huge professional satisfaction and success as a music teacher in comprehensive schools and latterly in special education.

I had special needs in the personal confidence and relationship departments though! Coming across as a happy, responsible, capable, the-buck-stops-here type of person masked my ‘chameleon-like’ tendencies to please everyone all of the time.  I didn’t value myself at all.  Everyone else’s needs were always more important than my own.  I couldn’t even recognise what my own needs were, apart from a vague hope that the more I pleased people, the more they might be nice, thoughtful and kind to me.  More than one divorce and several life-threatening and life-changing illnesses later I woke up to the fact that I had to take control and find the real me in amongst all the mud of time!

A diagnosis of the pain and fatigue condition Fibromyalgia in 2002 resulted in my taking early ill-health retirement from my much-loved teaching career.  It proved a huge opportunity to get myself sorted out on a personal level – I could hardly move, so I had to sit, think and work out what I really wanted to do with my life from that time on.  I graduated  with distinction as a life coach with the Life Coaching Academy in 2003 www.the-coaching-academy.com and set up Amethyst Accord Life Services soon afterwards. 

Life balance and health are vital to my own wellbeing and to the lives of the people whom I work alongside as their coach.  I’m really hot on equal opportunities, disability issues, and enabling the individual to enjoy taking responsibility for self.  I have two grown up sons of whom I’m immensely proud. 

My life is no longer in little boxes to be kept separate.  I have a seamless view of things that enables me to be true to myself in whatever I do.  Of course there are times when the old gremlins return, but I have my gremlin-zapping strategies and they really work.  In spite of all the traumas and disasters of the past I’m happy in my own skin at last and I’m having fun along the way.  I look on life as a huge adventure to be met with confidence and a problem-solving mentality.  I guess that’s the real me!

I am now a personal coach, writer, and speaker.  I love the sea and boats, cacti and gardening, doing yoga, Transcendental Meditation, walking, exercise using my Nintendo Wii-Fit program, Portugal, music, dancing, driving, computers and meeting people.

Why I'm the Coach for You 

• I have a special interest in life balance, and the positive management of life-changing circumstances and health issues.
• I write a regular coaching column in FaMily the national magazine and e-zine bringing together all sections of the Fibromyalgia community www.ukfibromyalgia.com
• My book "The Fibromyalgia Coach" deals with issues on managing and enjoying life with chronic illness
• I understand life’s challenges, and have the skills and expertise to help you to make the changes you wish for yourself.
• I am widely experienced in successfully working with people of all ages.  Before becoming a coach, I worked in music and education.
• I know what it takes to make changes from personal experience within a wide range personal and professional areas.
• My approach is confidential, motivating, constructive, supportive, holistic, realistic, always professional and never critical or judgemental.

AS YOUR COACH I WILL HELP YOU TO…

• Find, recognise, develop, and use your personal and unique inner strength effectively, to  improve all areas of your life.
• Create the right balance for your own optimum health, peace and happiness.
• Maintain that balance so that it becomes the new you and remains part of you for as long as you choose.
• Meet new challenges with greater personal confidence and optimism.

GREATEST BENEFITS FROM COACHING HAPPEN WHEN YOU…

•  Have a real desire for change in your life.
•  Understand that there may be lots of small steps to work on in order to arrive at your ultimate self-identified goals.
•  Are ready and prepared to look at things differently.
•  Have commitment to yourself and the changes you wish to make.
•  Are honest, determined and prepared to persevere.

So, remember, whatever you are wrestling with at the moment -

It’s YOUR life, and it’s there to be LIVED!  I look forward to hearing from you!