Calm at Home

21/11/2025

My work in pictures this week.

Reaseheath looking gorgeous in the late autumnal sunshine on Wednesday, and sun streaming through the office windows for my last corporate massage session with CHEP yesterday.

This afternoon, I give my final client massages.

I'm not renewing my insurance, and I'm closing my self-employed business tomorrow.

It's been an amazing 9 years.

I can't believe it all started - albeit a very rocky start that included a 3 month, almost immediate, return to employed work! 🙈🤣 - back in 2017.

I've put myself through more training and learning as a self-employed person than any employed role ever has.

And even though I'm saying goodbye to my business, all that knowledge and training remain with me.

It'll all be used (whether in my employed roles or to help family and friends on an unpaid basis), and perhaps, one day, as a self-employed person in a new business again.

I started from nothing.

With zero clients and zero understanding or knowledge of how to run a business.

These past few weeks, I've helped the T-level Animal Management Science students I support navigate their learning of business types and structures, all with my first-hand experience to rely on for real-world examples.

No learning is ever wasted.

And so, the time has come to streamline my life and (hopefully!) make it a little easier.

I'll go back to *just* employment, home educating, volunteering and parenting whilst continuing to get to know my new home area! 🤣

Thank you to everyone who supported my business in any way, I really appreciate you.

And thank you all those I met through the self-employment experience. It's been one of the greatest learning and meeting-of-people adventures of my life. ❤️

And absolutely none of it would have been possible without the constant support of my life partner and hubby (who is on no social media and so who will never see this!).

Thank you Paul. ❤️🤗❤️

02/07/2025

20/06/2025

Forest Bathing is amazing, and has sooooo many benefits, but sometimes we don't have a woodland near us, or the time to travel to one.

So what then?

Well, all is not lost!

In this FREE video I show you how to do a Forest Bathing activity at home, with a pot plant 🪴 😀

Look under the FREE Wellbeing Resources tab on my website.

https://calmatworktherapy.com/free-resources/

13/06/2025

Huge thank you to for having me as a guest on her podcast.

It seems such a long time ago we recorded this!

Episode drops Monday 16th June. 🥳

Have a listen and hit me up with any questions.

And a reminder, that while I'm now working part time in FE, I'm still available for delivery of my online and inperson workshops (including the one on Compassionate Communication), coaching, and massage in workplaces and to individuals.

19/03/2025

'The Body Keeps the Score' by Bessel Van Der Kolk. A book I had on my reading list for a LONG time, and one that didn't disappoint!

Bessel here is talking about his teacher, Elvin Semrad, who said,

"The greatest sources of our suffering are the lies we tell ourselves".

In the book, Bessel then goes on to say that Elvin would

'urge us to be honest with ourselves about every facet of our experience. He often said that people can never get better without knowing what they know and feeling what they feel'.

Bessel and Elvin are both talking about psychiatric therapy here, and while coaching is categorically NOT therapy, what strikes me is that if you didn't know the context, you could absolutely assume this quote is about coaching!

To me, this quote sums up a fundamental part of what coaching is all about.

Coaching with me is about getting honest with yourself.

Honest about your dreams AND your blocks.

Honest about what's real and alive in you RIGHT NOW.

Learning how to tap into, recognise, name and then take action on your feelings and needs.

Recognising what is.

Accepting what is.

Feeling what is.

And from here, deciding how and where to face, for the future you want.

If you'd like to find out more about coaching with me, drop me a message.

12/02/2025

Nonviolent Communication (NVC) is a powerful way of connecting. In his teaching, Marshall is of the opinion that this 'giraffe language' is our natural, and first, communication style, but that we have been trained, very effectively, in 'jackal language'.

The problem with speaking jackel, is that we often end up leaving an interaction without having got our needs met AND ALSO allowed the needs of the other person to have been met as well.

Both these things are possible when speaking giraffe. Infact, this is the sole purpose of speaking in giraffe - to enhance life by meeting everyone's needs.

This is simpler than it might first appear.

Once we accept that all humans have the same needs, and that the issues we have arise in the strategies used to try to fulfil those needs, then we can start to see disagreements in terms of unfulfilled needs instead of enemy images - afterall, we all have the exact same needs we're trying to fulfil.

NVC is a way of communicating to ensure connection and understanding. From this, fulfilment of needs naturally flows.

Simple and natural shouldn't however be confused with easy.

To consciously unlearn our taught communication style and relearn our natural, original one, takes effort and commitment.

If you'd like to learn more, coaching with me is an option. Drop me a message or comment below, and we can see if we're a fit. 😁

10/02/2025

Relateable much?! 🙈🤣

What I love soooo much about NVC and the way Marshall teaches it, is that there is no derision or judgement for where you are, where you've been, or the places you fall into, that are not exactly the life enhancing experience you'd hoped for, in your parenting journey.

NVC is ALL about enhancing life - for you AND the other person. Whether that other person is your child, spouse, parent, sibling, work colleague, friend or stranger.

The 'negative' emotions we feel tell us that this most basic need, to enhance life, and for our life to have purpose and meaning, has not been met.

And that information is such a gift.

Because with this awareness we can choose differently.

If you're curious about NVC and how its use can enhance your life experience, why not drop me a message, and we can talk coaching. 😁

05/02/2025

Not everyone leaves a comment after their Seated Acupressure appointment, and I love reading the comments that are left.

Reading "These sessions make my day" put an especially large smile on my face! 😁

To know your work is worthwhile and of benefit to others is surely the marker of a successful days work.

27/01/2025

People work well together when they are driven by the same values, and are working towards a common goal.

The values we have can impact how we react and behave.

Having a more conscious awareness of your own values, and those of the people you work with, can help you notice this.

Understanding yourself and your colleagues in this way can help deepen and strengthen your relationships

When conflict arises, those with strong relationships, that they value, are more likely to have the difficult conversations to resolve the problem, and in so doing strengthen their relationships further.

What are my value-driven behaviours?

What are the value-driven behaviours of my colleagues?

Have these questions as a focus today.

Bring conscious awareness to these questions, and start to notice what you may not have been consciously aware of before.

To find out more email bookings@restorative-practice.co.uk

“Cultivating workplaces where conflict is a catalyst for connection.“

24/01/2025

It can feel a bit funny to share testimonials, but that's what they're there for, right?!

I love reading about how the work people do with me helps them to move towards the life experience they really want.

Because, as Ram Dass says, 'We're all just walking each other home'. ❤

Here's Bec's full testimonial:

"Life coaching with Kate has been life changing for me. She helped me to work through different stressors and situations and tune into feelings that they brought up for me emotionally and physically.

It has been full on, but my awareness is increasing; once you are more aware of your needs it's harder to ignore them, giving you confidence in approaching things in the right way.

I had certain things that I wanted to work through, but hadn't realised what I was going to get from these sessions.

Things that come from yourself, that you may already know, or don't realise, but it all starts to make sense.

And working through it step by step with Kate helps you to learn how to be more in tune with yourself and your body and what it's telling you, to help you to let go of thought patterns, approaching conversations as they arise and aiming to mutually meet needs in the moment.

It's been an amazing start to coaching 🙌 "