I had a series of 10 sessions with Sarah on the topic of workplace strategy coaching for ADHD. Sarah is very personable, friendly, attentive and hugely experienced as a coach, with much lived experienced of the topics covered, and I can say unequivocally that these sessions, out of all of the counselling, coaching and training sessions I have taken over the last decade or more, have been the most useful and game-changing sessions that I have ever had.
I initially approached the sessions with trepidation that I would be given strategies that in a way, would force me to comply with a neurotypical way of working, and arbitrarily set parameters that would be unsuitable for me. I need not have worried, as Sarah listened with a forensic level of detail and attention to how I approach and manage my life, work and thought processes, and encouraged me to explore these and build upon them, and maximise my chances and opportunities to reach my goals, aims and aspirations in a way that was bespoke to me. A better, more effective version of myself, if you will.
The wealth of strategies offered covered a very broad spectrum, and not all were suitable for me, but nonetheless, it was helpful to know about them. Sarah also inspired the confidence in me to be able to trust my own initiative and speak up about any strategy or system that may not work for me, which was hugely appreciated.
I was able to lead the sessions and their direction, and at all times, I felt like I was in the driving seat, with Sarah acting as a facilitator and a sounding board to look at and identify steps forward. I was typically able to choose the times of the sessions to suit my own needs and availability. Nothing felt forced upon me, and there was never and insinuation that ‘teacher knows best’. Her positive-reinforcement helped me to see that I already had many working strategies in place, and saw her role as supporting me to fine tune and organise these.
Sarah’s knowledge of assistive technology is second to none, and across the sessions, we looked at various applications, software and gadgets, with full demonstrations using my own workload, to give a great example of how they may or may not be applicable to me in my work. As part of the concluding sessions, we revisited many of these and collated them into a handy list with explanations of how they would benefit me. I was able to request these from my employer and/or apply for funding to obtain those deemed most appropriate.
Now that I have a better understanding of how I work and what my needs, styles and tendencies are, I am confident that I can move forward with my career in a way that is more efficacious and ultimately, less stressful.
In my early sessions, I used the analogy that I was constantly pedalling a bicycle ten times faster than my colleagues and peers to achieve 10 percent of the output. Following the sessions, I feel like I am a capable competitor for the Tour de France, such is my improved efficiency and self belief!!!
Thank You Sarah!!
I have just completed 8 x 2 hr Strategy Training sessions with Sarah Fairman to help me cope with cognitive impairment (brain fog) resulting from long COVID. I am a radio producer with the BBC and was really struggling to do my job. I found Sarah to be incredibly intelligent, caring and supportive. She listened intently and tailored the training to suit my own personal challenges. I really felt like I was getting a gold-plated service. Sarah provided me with clever, thoughtful strategies to help me think more clearly, accept my limitations and understand how to manage my work and life with my challenging symptoms. We covered a whole range of strategies - Mind Palaces to help memory, timed concentration sessions to help stop being distracted; and body and mind connections to understand the physical impact of mental stress. Sarah went at the pace that suited me, took copious notes in order to prepare for the next session and explained the processes coherently and comprehensively. Sarah has a real talent with people and a lovely spirit. I cannot recommend her highly enough.
Fiona Roberts, Radio Producer, BBC (Suffering from cognitive impairment (brain fog) resulting from long COVID)
I was assessed as having Dyslexia at the age of 39, so had developed many coping strategies to have a successful career and life to date, but was pleased to be able to access workplace coaching to review my existing strategies, and develop new ones. Having 10 coaching sessions with Sarah has been life changing. I now feel more organised and better prepared for my job, and elements of the coaching have fed into my homelife to create a better balance and self-care. Sarah introduced me to helpful apps, websites and books, of which I have adopted some into my daily life, and others are in my back pocket should I need them in the future. I found that we quickly built a rapport, and Sarah’s wide range of experience was a huge benefit to offer examples and share her knowledge of how resources and strategies can help. She uses an excellent blend of coaching to enable me to consider my own choices and decisions, and where required mentoring to share strategies that would support me moving forward. I feel like a new person that has a better understanding of myself and how I work, and most importantly I am kinder to myself when I find aspects of my work challenging. I really can’t recommend her enough!
Rebecca, University Lecturer.
