Why Choose the Life Dr?
I am Dr Leonaura Rhodes. I am a personal life coach with a private practice in Harpenden, Hertfordshire. I have a Diploma in Life Coaching and have previously trained and worked as a medical doctor. I have also completed two years of counselling training . I believe that my background both professional and personal have equipped me with excellent coaching skills.
As your Life Coach I will work with you to help you identify where you are now and what matters to you. I will support and encourage you to identify what are realistic and achievable goals. I will guide you to plan how you will achieve your goals and know when you have got there and to celebrate your successes. I may use techniques to address specific behaviours, such as stress. I will be committed to your success 100%. I will listen to what you have to say (when was the last time any one listened to you without interrupting or giving their stories and suggestions?). I will question you to check I have completely understood you and to get the whole picture. I will challenge you and help you to motivate yourself. In summary I will help you get the better life you deserve.
My Qualifications:
- Diploma Life Coaching, Newcastle College 2006.
- Certificate in Life Coaching, Newcastle College 2005.
- Certificate in Counselling, University of Hertfordshire 2005.
- Medical: MB ChB, Manchester 1992. MSc Public Health. DRCOG. I worked in Hospital Medicine, General Practice and Public Health.
My attitudes, skills and qualities:
- Listening, questioning and facilitation skills. My background as a GP, my counselling training and my Certificate and Diploma in Life Coaching have provided me with excellent listening, questioning and facilitation skills.
- Confidentiality. This is guaranteed. I keep records to facilitate my planning and review of sessions, these will be kept secure and seen only be me.
- Atmosphere. I work in an atmosphere that is relaxed and peaceful.
- Commitment. I will be committed to working with you and supporting you towards achieving your goals.
- I believe in the power of positive mental attitude. I believe that you can change your life for the better if you really want to.
- Coaching sessions led by you: I believe that you are the expert on you. No other person knows you like you do, no one else has experienced what you have in your life and no one else can truly understand what you want out of life. No-one else can “fix” you like you can fix yourself. Imagine you are a car mechanic, you have made a car from scratch and now it needs mending. Would you take it to a stranger who has never seen a car like this before, or would you fix it yourself? It is vital that you set your own goals and actions, only then will you be motivated to achieve your goals.
Life Coaching Methods
My Life Coaching sessions take the form of conversations and life coaching techniques (including NLP, Neuro Linguistic Programming) including identifying goals, learning new ways of thinking or behaving situations and confidence building. Coaching begins by identifying where you are now, where you want to be and how to get there. Then by providing ongoing support and motivation, I can help you to continue to enhance your life. Examples of goals might be becoming more organised or getting fit.
You may want a few Life Coaching sessions to address a couple of specific issues, a block of several sessions, to address you life as a whole OR have a block and then ongoing more infrequent sessions to keep them motivated and to review their situation. The number of sessions is up to you. In my Life Coaching sessions I will attempt to understand you, as complex and very individual person. Sessions need therefore to be dynamic and fluid, responding to your needs on the day. It is important that you take responsibility for changing your own life. I will facilitate your goal setting and help you plan your actions and you will be able to make powerful and long lasting changes to your life.
Who I work with
I work with people from all walks of life. But I also specialise in working with:
- doctors and other members of the medical profession
- parents of young and school aged children
- parents of children with special educational needs and health problems
Please note that I do not work with people with:
- Drugs or alcohol problems
- Significant mental health problems, under the care of a doctor
As I feel I am not appropriately trained to meet their needs.
Price
Affordable at £45 per hour (2006 rate).
The first session lasts 45 minutes and is free. You will need to complete a questionnaire and provide some background information prior to this session. Face to face sessions are payable on the day by cash, cheque or bank transfer. Telephone/email sessions are payable in advance by cheque or bank transfer.
What will I expect from you?
That you are committed to the coaching process. This means that you will show up for sessions, take notes if need be and keep any agreements made in the sessions. I would also ask that you are open to the potential of coaching and are honest and open with me.
What Life Coaching is not
It is important that you are realistic about what Life Coaching can offer. It is not:
- structured training
- therapy
- psychoanalysis
- psychotherapy
- counselling
- marriage counselling, although we can work on how to improve relationships in general
- It is also not a way of getting someone else to sort out your problems
- Life coaching can not help with specific financial advice or legal issues
About me
I am married with two children.
I am Chair of The Lea School Association (PTA), Harpenden and help organize meetings and advertising for Commonsense, a support group for parents with children with Special Educational Needs.
© 2004, 2005, 2006 Dr Leonaura Rhodes. Design by Andreas Viklund.