What my method comes down to.
The solution focus gives the sessions their frame: we work in partnership, and we build the road to change together. We start from what already works, and keep our attention on the next small step. Compassionate Inquiry, Dr Gábor Máté's method, gives me the way I attend to you: curious, patient and without judgement, to the whole person rather than only to the goal. On the strength of my experience in healthcare and research my work rests on scientific foundations, and I start from the premise that physical and mental wellbeing are closely connected.
We build on what already works.
Solution-focused coaching is a method born out of practice. For years researchers and therapists watched what actually helps people. They kept only what really brought change, and let the rest go. What emerged is a simple, targeted approach that does not build on complicated explanations, but on what already works in people's lives. The basis of it is that we spend most of the time on what you want, not on the problem. We use your own resources as the raw material, and measure progress in small, noticeable steps.
And we make room for what is hard.
Hard situations from the past often shape our decisions, our reactions and our relationships today without our noticing, and at times they leave their mark on our bodies too. Compassionate Inquiry examines those connections with curiosity and compassion: what lived experience may lie behind a recurring reaction, lasting stress or burnout. Understanding that can help us keep the past from limiting us, and treat others and ourselves better. I work in a trauma-informed way: I take into account that earlier burdening experiences can still affect us today. So with me safety comes first: you decide what you share, how much, and when.
We lean on what is evidenced
My experience in healthcare lets me understand questions connected to your state of health, and find the way through the often contradictory information about healthy living. I recognise when a question calls for medical investigation, and in that case I refer you to the right professional. That foundation gives the safety we need to move forward together on nutrition, a change of lifestyle, handling stress or building new routines.
What people say
I recommend Adri as a coach with all my heart. She is attentive, empathetic and really tunes in to you: you can feel that she is there with her whole attention, and that she is genuinely interested in what is going on inside you. She is emotionally supportive and creates a safe atmosphere, while her lightness and good humour ease the tension, and she is beside you on your road.
What people usually ask...
What is the difference between coaching and therapy?
Coaching looks at the present and the future: we look for what already works for you, and where you would like to go. Therapy is about healing, and treats mental illness and disorders, which is not part of my work. Coaching does not replace medical or psychological care. If I see that you would also need another professional's help, I will talk it through with you and help you find the right support.
What is the difference between solution-focused coaching and Compassionate Inquiry, and how do I decide which to choose?
Solution-focused sessions look ahead: we look for what already works, and what the next small step could be. A Compassionate Inquiry session is longer (75 minutes), and gives room to understand how earlier experiences and the signals of your body shape your patterns today. If you know what you want to change, a solution-focused session is a good start. If you keep running into the same situation again and again, Compassionate Inquiry can help. The packages include both: five solution-focused sessions and one Compassionate Inquiry session.
What happens in the first session?
In the first session we get to know each other: you tell me what brought you to me, and what you would like to achieve. Together we look at what is already working in your life, and what the first small step could be. This is also where it becomes clear whether this way of working suits you, and whether you feel comfortable.
Is online as good as meeting in person?
For many clients, yes. In solution-focused and Compassionate Inquiry sessions alike, what matters is that you feel safe and that I really pay attention to you, and that happens over video too. Online is also more flexible: you don't have to travel, you can be in your own familiar surroundings, and it is easier to fit into your day. For the session to go well, it is worth choosing a quiet, undisturbed place where you can speak freely, and using headphones. If you feel that meeting in person would work better for you, tell me, and we will talk about what is possible.
How many sessions will I need?
That depends on your goal and your pace. My packages are six sessions: that is usually enough time for a change to get going and for the new steps to settle into everyday life. In the sixth session we look together at where you have got to, and whether you need more sessions. If for now you just want to try whether this way of working suits you, book a single session.
Let's start with a conversation...
A first 15-minute introductory call tells us whether working together would really help you.